The Audi Q5, redesigned in 2018, continues to impress with its safety performance, earning top ratings in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests. These ratings are applicable to the 2018-2025 models, including the stylish Audi Q5 Sportback, and are based on tests conducted by Volkswagen/Audi and assessed by the IIHS. For those considering a 2022 Q5, understanding its safety scores is crucial. Let’s delve into a detailed breakdown of the 2022 Audi Q5’s safety evaluations.
Small Overlap Front: Driver-Side Evaluation
The driver-side small overlap front test simulates a collision where just the front corner of the vehicle impacts another vehicle or a stationary object. The 2022 Q5 performed admirably in this challenging test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Acceptable (A) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower leg/foot | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
Image alt text: 2022 Audi Q5 driver-side small overlap front crash test rating – Good overall rating from IIHS.
Technical measurements from the test provide further insights into the 2022 Q5’s structural integrity and occupant protection.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTN1709 |
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 6 |
| Footrest (cm) | 10 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 8 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 7 |
| Parking brake (cm) | |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 0 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Steering column | 0 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 4 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 10 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 9 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTN1709 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 110 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 22 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.20 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 31 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 3.0 |
| Right | 0.0 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 2 |
| Right | 1 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.64 |
| Right | 0.24 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 2.7 |
| Right | 0.5 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 80 |
| Right | 51 |
These measurements indicate good control of occupant compartment intrusion and low injury risk for the driver in a driver-side small overlap front crash for the 2022 Audi Q5.
Small Overlap Front: Passenger-Side Evaluation
The passenger-side small overlap test mirrors the driver-side test but assesses protection for the front passenger. The 2022 Audi Q5 once again secured a top rating, demonstrating consistent safety performance across the front seating positions.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower leg/foot | Good (G) |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower leg/foot | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
Image alt text: 2022 Audi Q5 passenger-side small overlap front crash test rating – Good overall safety performance.
Detailed technical measurements for the passenger side test are provided below.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1728 |
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 6 |
| Footrest (cm) | 10 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 8 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 4 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 1 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Center dash (cm) | 4 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 4 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 6 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 6 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1728 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 230 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 15 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.20 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 31 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.7 |
| Right | 1.0 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 5 |
| Right | 4 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.46 |
| Right | 0.36 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.5 |
| Right | 1.9 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 59 |
| Right | 81 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTP1728 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 159 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 11 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.24 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 35 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.1 |
| Right | 0.1 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.19 |
| Right | 0.20 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.8 |
| Right | 1.2 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 53 |
| Right | 85 |
These results confirm the 2022 Q5 provides excellent protection for both driver and passenger in small overlap frontal crashes.
Moderate Overlap Front: Original Test
In the moderate overlap front test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a barrier. The 2022 Audi Q5 once again achieved a “Good” rating in this assessment.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Leg/foot, left | Good (G) |
| Leg/foot, right | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
Image alt text: 2022 Audi Q5 moderate overlap front crash test rating – Top score for frontal impact protection.
The technical data from the moderate overlap front test further illustrates the 2022 Q5’s robust safety structure.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTF1713 |
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 1 |
| Left (cm) | 1 |
| Center (cm) | 1 |
| Right (cm) | 1 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 1 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 0 |
| Right (cm) | 0 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | -3 |
| Rearward (cm) | -7 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 0 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTF1713 |
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 159 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 8 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.19 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 29 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force – left (kN) | 0.2 |
| Femur force – right (kN) | 0.2 |
| Knee displacement – left (mm) | 0 |
| Knee displacement – right (mm) | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.18 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.39 |
| Tibia axial force – left (kN) | 1.6 |
| Tibia axial force – right (kN) | 0.8 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 44 |
| Right | 42 |
Minimal intrusion and low injury measures in this test highlight the effectiveness of the 2022 Audi Q5’s frontal crash protection systems.
Side: Original Test
The side impact test assesses how well a vehicle protects occupants in a side collision. The 2022 Audi Q5 earned a “Good” overall rating, although there was an “Acceptable” rating for driver head protection.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis/leg | Good (G) |
| Driver head protection Even though the side curtain and side thorax airbags deployed, they missed contacting and protecting the dummy’s head. Instead, the head was hit by the intruding window sill. According to Volkswagen/Audi, this surface satisfies the federal standard to provide some protection for occupants’ heads. | Acceptable (A) |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis/leg | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good (G) |
Image alt text: 2022 Audi Q5 side impact crash test rating – Good overall, with Acceptable rating for driver head protection.
Technical measurements for the side impact test are detailed below.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | VTS1711 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -22.5 |
| Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline. |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS1711 |
| Head HIC-15 | 184 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.1 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.2 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 25 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.3 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 27 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 24 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.92 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.34 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.7 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.0 |
| Combined force (kN) | 2.5 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.2 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 69 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 24 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Test ID | VTS1711 |
| Head HIC-15 | 239 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.5 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.2 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 29 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.0 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 25 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 19 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.84 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.28 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 1.6 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 0.7 |
| Combined force (kN) | 2.3 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.2 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 78 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 17 |
Despite the “Acceptable” rating for driver head protection, the 2022 Q5 still offers robust side impact protection for occupants overall.
Roof Strength
The roof strength test evaluates the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. The 2022 Audi Q5 achieved the highest rating of “Good”.
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 4,114 lbs |
| Peak force | 21,215 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.16 |
Image alt text: 2022 Audi Q5 roof strength test rating – Good rating, indicating strong roof structure.
A strong roof is crucial for occupant protection in rollover scenarios, and the 2022 Q5 demonstrates excellent roof strength.
Head Restraints & Seats
Whiplash protection is assessed through head restraint and seat evaluations. The 2022 Audi Q5 with power leather seats received a “Good” overall rating.
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | Good (G) |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | Good (G) |
Technical measurements for head restraints and seats are as follows:
| Seat type | Power leather seat |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 25 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | 5 |
| Seat design parameters | |
| Pass/fail | Pass |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 12.5 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 65 |
| Force rating | 1 |
| Neck forces | |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 0 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 387 |
The “Good” rating in head restraints & seats signifies effective whiplash protection in rear-end collisions for the 2022 Audi Q5.
Headlights
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime safety. The IIHS tested two headlight variations available on the 2022 Audi Q5.
Prestige Trim Headlights
The Prestige trim of the 2022 Q5 features LED projector low beams and high beams and earned a “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | Good (G) |
Image alt text: 2022 Audi Q5 Prestige trim headlight rating – Good overall rating for LED projector headlights.
Premium and Premium Plus Trim Headlights
The Premium and Premium Plus trims of the 2022 Q5, equipped with LED projector low beams and LED reflector high beams, achieved an “Acceptable” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | Acceptable (A) |
Image alt text: 2022 Audi Q5 Premium and Premium Plus trim headlight rating – Acceptable rating for LED projector low beams and LED reflector high beams.
While both headlight systems offer decent performance, the Prestige trim’s LED projectors provide superior illumination, earning a “Good” rating, important for 2022 Q5 buyers to consider.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems are designed to mitigate or prevent collisions. The 2022 Audi Q5 has two available systems: standard Audi Pre Sense City and optional Audi Pre Sense Front (standard on Premium Plus and Prestige trims). Both systems earned “Superior” ratings.
Optional Audi Pre Sense Front
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
|---|---|
| Forward collision warning | Meets requirements |
| 12 mph test | Nearly avoided collision |
| 25 mph test | Avoided collision |
Standard Audi Pre Sense City
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
|---|---|
| Forward collision warning | Meets requirements |
| 12 mph test | Avoided collision |
| 25 mph test | Impact speed reduced by 21 mph |
Image alt text: 2022 Audi Q5 front crash prevention vehicle-to-vehicle rating – Superior rating for both standard and optional systems.
The “Superior” ratings for both front crash prevention systems in the 2022 Q5 demonstrate effective technology in preventing or reducing the severity of vehicle-to-vehicle frontal crashes.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian (Day)
Pedestrian detection systems are increasingly important safety features. The standard Pre Sense City system on the 2022 Audi Q5 earned an “Advanced” rating for daytime pedestrian detection.
| Overall evaluation | Advanced |
|---|---|
| Crossing child (12 mph) | Avoided collision |
| Crossing child (25 mph) | Impact speed reduced by 22 mph |
| Crossing adult (12 mph) | Impact speed reduced by 8 mph |
| Crossing adult (25 mph) | Impact speed reduced by 21 mph |
| Parallel adult (25 mph) | Avoided collision |
| Parallel adult (37 mph) | Impact speed reduced by 29 mph (warning issued) |
Image alt text: 2022 Audi Q5 front crash prevention pedestrian day rating – Advanced rating for pedestrian detection capabilities.
The “Advanced” rating for pedestrian front crash prevention highlights the 2022 Q5‘s capability to detect pedestrians and mitigate potential collisions.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchor ease of use is important for families. The 2022 Audi Q5 received a “Good” rating for its LATCH system.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
| Vehicle trim | 2.0T Premium Plus |
| Seat type | leather |
Image alt text: 2022 Audi Q5 child seat anchors LATCH rating – Good rating for ease of use and accessibility.
The 2022 Q5 has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor, making it family-friendly in terms of child seat installation.
Conclusion
The 2022 Audi Q5 demonstrates strong safety performance across a range of IIHS crash tests. With “Good” ratings in most crashworthiness evaluations, “Superior” front crash prevention systems, and a “Good” rating for LATCH, the 2022 Q5 is a safe choice for drivers and families. While headlight ratings vary by trim, the overall safety profile of the 2022 Audi Q5 is impressive, making it a compelling option in the luxury SUV segment for safety-conscious buyers.
Reference:
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – Audi Q5
