2012 Audi Q5

Audi Q5

Audi’s Q5 slots into the premium midsize SUV space, squaring off with the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Volvo XC60. You’re buying German badge appeal, sure, but it’s the day-to-day practicality that actually shifts units here. Diesel is the order of the day — the 40 TDI badge is everywhere, and honestly, that’s what you’ll find at most dealers. Petrol is there if you hunt, but it’s rare. Forget the brochures talking about manuals and dual-clutch options; in reality, S tronic dominates. You’ll see 36 listings with prices from R115,000 right up to R1,341,600. That median price sits near R700k, which reveals just how many Q5s are used — 24 used versus 12 new, with cars going as far back as 2009. If you’re patient, there are bargains. Average mileage on the used side? Just over 74,000 km, which is par for the segment and nothing to be scared of. Most new-car action happens in the Sportback Black Edition 40 TDI quattro, between R1,019,995 and R1,341,600. That’s where you’ll find the fresh metal, but the real value sits lower down. Standard 40 TDI Advanced quattro models can be had from R449,900, and older years drag the price down further. South Africans favour the Q5 over an X3 for that interior — Audi’s virtual cockpit and proper rotary dials don’t age as badly as some rivals’ screens. Quattro, too, actually matters when Joburg throws a thunderstorm at your commute. On paper at least, the GLC matches Audi’s badge snobbery, but Q5s lose value faster — which makes them a smarter buy used, and that’s the point.