2022 Audi Q5 E-Tron revealed; exclusive to China

Audi has unveiled the 2022 Q5 E-Tron at the 2021 Guangzhou Auto Show this week.

The reveal comes just months after we first saw the Audi Concept Shanghai – a near-production prototype that previewed the Chinese three-row electric SUV.

Not to be confused with the ‘MLB evo’-based international Q5 or the upcoming Q6 E-Tron underpinned by the Volkswagen Group’s new ‘PPE’ electric vehicle architecture, the Q5 E-Tron is based on the ‘MEB’ platform, and has close ties to the seven-seat Volkswagen ID.6 X and its smaller Q4 E-Tron sibling.

The Q5 E-Tron is the second Audi model developed exclusively for China from the SAIC-Volkswagen joint-venture, following the unveiling of the Audi A7 L sedan earlier this year – with most other Audi models in China produced under the separate FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co. partnership.

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As the name suggests, the Q5 E-Tron sits just above the Q4 E-Tron in the People’s Republic Audi line-up, while sharing its 2965mm wheelbase and 4876mm length with the ID.6 X – meaning the Q5 E-Tron is essentially a premium version of the Volkswagen, but with styling elements closely reminiscent of the Q4 E-Tron.

Up front, the Q5 E-Tron features Audi’s single-frame grille design, along with dual LED headlights. Optional two-tone paint, gloss black cladding and bicoloured alloy wheels round out the side profile, with the rear end sporting slim full-width LED tail-lights and a bulky rear diffuser.

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With the dashboard taken from the Q4 E-Tron, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and 11.6-inch infotainment screen is available, along with LED ambient lighting and a floating centre stack. A seven-seat interior will be standard, with Audi also offering a six-seat option featuring captain’s chairs in the second-row.

Despite no announcement surrounding powertrain details, official pictures suggest the Q5 E-Tron will be available with two different electric powertrain guises, the single-motor 150kW Q5 40 E-Tron with rear-wheel drive and dual-motor 225kW Q5 50 E-Tron with all-wheel drive.

Exact details surrounding the battery size and claimed driving range are yet to be announced, although Motor1 reports the Q5 E-Tron gets an 83.4kWh battery pack. An entry-level Q5 35 E-Tron variant will also be available, with 131kW of power and a smaller 55kWh battery.

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With the Q5 E-Tron likely to remain exclusive to China, attention turns to the Q6 E-Tron expected to be unveiled next year as Audi’s first electric vehicle underpinned by the Volkswagen Group’s new ‘PPE’ platform, shared with the next-generation Porsche Macan.

This model is expected to replace the current eponymous E-Tron electric SUV – which is based on an adapted version of the internal-combustion ‘MLB’ platform found on the Q5 and Q7 – in the global Audi line-up.