2016 Audi Q5: MPG and fuel economy
The 2016 Audi Q5 is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 26 combined MPG, with 23 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway. That sits a little above the average car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2016 Audi Q5. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. The EPA rates 3 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- The most efficient car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2016 model year is the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD at 32 MPG.
- The Audi Q5 has gained 7 MPG since its first rated model year, the 2009 Audi Q5 at 20 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $4,750 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2016 Audi Q5. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
When the EPA tests several variants of the same nameplate (for example, a front-wheel-drive version and an all-wheel-drive version), each gets its own rating. The figures shown here are the headline variant, taken as the configuration with the best combined MPG. The trims table further down covers all 3 variants side by side.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 26 MPG |
| City MPG | 23 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 30 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $3,100 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 392 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Diesel |
How the 2016 Audi Q5 compares
The 2016 Audi Q5 returns 26 combined MPG. Cars in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year average 23.3 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 12%.
The most efficient car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2016 model year is the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD at 32 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Audi Q5 alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2016 model year (across all classes) returns 25.9 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2016 model year is on its own page.
Trim variants rated for 2016
The EPA rates 3 separate variants of the 2016 Audi Q5. The differences come from the engine size, transmission type, and drivetrain (front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and so on). The same nameplate can land several MPG apart depending on the configuration you actually buy.
The most efficient configuration on this page returns 26 MPG, while the least efficient returns 21 MPG. That is a spread of 5 MPG between trims of the same nameplate.
| Engine and transmission | Drive | Combined | City | Highway | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3L, 6-cyl, turbo, Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 26 MPG | 23 MPG | 30 MPG | $3,100 |
| 2L, 4-cyl, turbo, Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 22 MPG | 20 MPG | 27 MPG | $3,150 |
| 3L, 6-cyl, supercharged, Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 21 MPG | 18 MPG | 26 MPG | $3,300 |
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for diesel, which is $5.40/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 576.9 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,550 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $3,100 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $5,167 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Audi Q5
The EPA has rated the Audi Q5 across 13 model years, from 2009 Audi Q5 through 2021 Audi Q5. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
The 2009 Audi Q5 returned 20 MPG. The most recent 2021 Audi Q5 returns 27 MPG. That is an improvement of 7 MPG over 12 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 27 MPG | 2021 Audi Q5 |
| 2020 | 27 MPG | 2020 Audi Q5 |
| 2019 | 24 MPG | 2019 Audi Q5 |
| 2018 | 25 MPG | 2018 Audi Q5 |
| 2017 | 22 MPG | 2017 Audi Q5 |
| 2016 | 26 MPG | this page |
| 2015 | 26 MPG | 2015 Audi Q5 |
| 2014 | 26 MPG | 2014 Audi Q5 |
| 2013 | 23 MPG | 2013 Audi Q5 |
| 2012 | 22 MPG | 2012 Audi Q5 |
| 2011 | 22 MPG | 2011 Audi Q5 |
| 2010 | 20 MPG | 2010 Audi Q5 |
| 2009 | 20 MPG | 2009 Audi Q5 |
Compare against other Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD for 2016
If you are cross-shopping the 2016 Audi Q5, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD leads this group at 32 MPG, 6 MPG ahead of the 2016 Audi Q5.
Specifications
The 2016 Audi Q5 runs a 3-liter 6-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a automatic (s8), sending power through all-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
- Engine
- 3L 6-cylinder turbocharged
- Transmission
- Automatic (S8)
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Diesel
- Annual petroleum use
- 13.7 barrels per year
- Start-stop system
- Yes
Common questions about the 2016 Audi Q5
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2016 Audi Q5.
-
Is the 2016 Audi Q5 fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2016 Audi Q5 returns 26 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year by about 12%. -
What MPG does the 2016 Audi Q5 get?
The EPA rates the 2016 Audi Q5 at 26 combined MPG, 23 MPG in city driving, and 30 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Audi Q5 per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,100 for the 2016 Audi Q5. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
What fuel does the 2016 Audi Q5 use?
The EPA lists the 2016 Audi Q5 as running on diesel. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Audi Q5 become more fuel efficient over time?
Yes. The first EPA-rated Audi Q5, the 2009 Audi Q5, returned 20 combined MPG. The most recent 2021 Audi Q5 returns 27 MPG, an improvement of 7 MPG over the run. -
How much CO₂ does the 2016 Audi Q5 emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 392 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 5,880 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2016 Audi Q5?
City driving returns 23 MPG and highway driving returns 30 MPG, a gap of 7 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 2016 Audi Q5?
The 2016 Audi Q5 has a 3-liter 6-cylinder turbocharged engine. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2016 Audi Q5 have?
The 2016 Audi Q5 comes with a automatic (s8) transmission and all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive variants typically read 1 to 3 MPG lower than the front-wheel-drive equivalent of the same engine, since the extra hardware adds weight and parasitic loss. -
How does the 2016 Audi Q5 compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2016 model year is the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD at 32 combined MPG. The Audi Q5 returns 26 MPG, a gap of 6 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.