The Audi Q5, a mid-size SUV from the manufacturer in Ingolstadt, has proven to be a force to be reckoned with. It has captured a great deal of market share from the luxury midsize SUV segment. We are here to determine whether its fuel side is as good as its aesthetics. Let’s do it.
All generations of the Audi Q5 have premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 recommended for optimum performance. However, regular 87-octane gasoline can temporarily be used when premium gasoline is unavailable. Q5 with a diesel engine use ultra-low sulfur diesel number 2.
As stated in the owner’s manual, premium gasoline is recommended. The higher grade will eliminate any power seepage and enhance your engine’s health and life. Let’s look at all the engines for Audi Q5 and see what type of fuel Audi recommends for each of them in more detail.
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Does The Audi Q5 Require Premium Gasoline?
Below, we’ll discuss the fuel requirements for the different generations and the different engine types that have been used in the Q5. But like most Audi vehicles, premium is recommended and that’s true for everything from the sportback A7 to the SUV Q5.
2017 – Present
The current generation of Audi Q5 has been around since 2017. There are three different engines of the same displacement of 2.0-liter that Audi sells these with.
- 2.0-liter 201 horsepower engine.
- 2.0-liter 261 horsepower engine.
- 2.0-liter hybrid with 362 horsepower.
The owner manuals for the 2nd generation Audi Q5 also mention that if the engine’s total output is required, it is better that the car owners use premium fuels. This means running your Audi Q5 on fuels with an octane rating of at least 91.
| Engine | Fuel Requirement |
| 2.0-liter (201 Horsepower) | 87-octane minimum, 91 recommended |
| 2.0-liter (261 Horsepower) | 87-octane minimum, 91 recommended |
| 2.0-liter (362 Horsepower) Gasoline + Electric | 87-octane minimum, 91 recommended |
2009-2017
The engine configurations of the first generation look as follows:
- 3.0-liter diesel engine
- 2.0-liter 4-cylinder
- 3.0-liter 6-cylinder
- 3.2-liter 6-cylinder
In the owner’s manuals for these gasoline engines, Audi again suggests using fuels with higher octane ratings to achieve total rated output. It means operating the Audi Q5 with fuels having an octane rating of 91 minimum. We strongly suggest that this be followed. The reasons are simple, better output and longer and healthier engine life.
| Engine | Fuel Requirement |
| 3.0-liter Diesel | ULSD Number 2 |
| 2.0-liter 4-cylinder Gasoline | 87-octane minimum, 91 recommended |
| 3.0-liter 6-cylinder Gasoline | 87-octane minimum, 91 recommended |
| 3.2-liter 6-cylinder Gasoline | 87-octane minimum, 91 recommended |
If you’re interested in the different gasoline requirements for all Audis, please read the article we just linked.
What Types Of Gasoline Can And Can’t Be Used?
Today, we have various types of gasoline options in the market. Some are blended with octane enhancers, some with other additives, etc. Let us look at some of the available options and see how the Audi Q5 performs when refueled with these options.
Reformulated Gasoline
The focus on environmental pollution and air quality have forced engineers to develop fuels that burn green and clean. And this is rightfully so since the emissions from our vehicles significantly reduce the overall air quality. One type of cleaner gasoline is reformulated gasoline.
Although some car owners prefer RFG to fuel their cars, the best bet is to go with the manufacturer’s word. The owners’ manuals for Audi Q5, and other models like the Q7, or Audi Q3, among others, are silent about using RFG. However, from experience, we know that car maker typically recommend reformulated gasoline whenever available.
Gasoline/Oxygenated Blends
Audi also takes the use of ethanol seriously for their cars. As per the owner’s manual of the Audi Q5, ethanol-blended fuels may be used for the Audi Q5, but to do so, one must ensure that the ethanol blend should not exceed 15%. The remaining 85% is gasoline, with an octane rating of 87 or above.
E-85
Many high-performance vehicles use ethanol-blended fuels for their cars. A very common type of ethanol-blended gasoline is E-85. The 85 in E-85 denotes 85% ethanol blended with 15% regular gasoline. It is a very high ethanol concentration blend, and a vehicle needs to be E-85 compatible to use it.
In the case of the Audi Q5, only some 2.0L 4-cylinder engines are compatible with FlexFuel (E85).
Manufacturers leave different indications or markings of a vehicle’s E-85 compatibility. A common one of these indications is a Flex-Fuel badge found on your vehicle. The other indication is the E-85 marking on the vehicle’s fuel cap. If either of these is available, your vehicle is E-85 compatible.
While using ethanol-blended fuels, some symptoms and precautions become mandatory. The precautions one needs to ensure are:
- 11 liters minimum of fuel should be filled at the time of refueling
- After refueling, the vehicle should be kept running for at least 7 miles or more
The symptoms linked with the use of E-85 fuel are also attention-worthy. These are:
- Hard starting and unsmooth idling
- Residue build-up and possible corrosion due to deposit formation
Gasoline With Added Materials
Some products that act as additives are also available today, mixed with gasoline. These products serve different purposes. Some are deposit cleaners, cleaning agents, detergents, etc. Based on their level of detergency, the outcome of using such additives can vary quite a bit.
However, it’s good to know that Audi strongly advises against using additives in your Q5. This is because these additives can contain materials such as silicon or metallics that will seriously damage the engine and the fuel system.
Therefore, it’s recommended that you buy fuel that already has all the proper additives mixed into it. This kind of fuel can be purchased at certified TOP TIER gasoline retailers. These retailers sell gasoline that will provide the optimal performance for your engine and clean it as well as possible without damaging it. You can find a retailer at toptiergas.com.
Gasoline With MMT
MMT is also added to regular gasoline and used by several car owners. MMT, or Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, was sold as a supplement at the time of introduction. Later on, it started selling as an octane enhancer. Another octane enhancer, MTBE, is also available today.
Audi does not say much about the MMT, but they mention MTBE in their owner manuals for Audi Q5. MTBE may be blended with regular gasoline only up to 15% with 85% regular gasoline.
Biodiesel
Biodiesels are an excellent option for diesel vehicles in that they are nature-friendly. These are extracted from recycled restaurant grease, soybean oil, animal fat, etc. They tend to be very easy on nature, and many manufacturers suggest using biodiesel fuels. Audi also is in favor of biodiesel usage for their diesel engines.
The only thing they want car owners to pay attention to is that the concentration of biodiesel should not be more than 5%. B11, B20, or B100 are strictly prohibited due to the higher biodiesel concentration.
What If I Hear A Knocking Noise From The Engine After Refilling?
Engine knocking can be caused by using fuels with lower octane grades than recommended. In the case of the Audi Q5, it is associated with fuels at an octane rating lower than 87. This knocking sound is also known as spark knock.
This can easily be fixed by using fuels with higher octane grades. As recommended by Audi in their owner manuals, premium gasoline is something every car owner is encouraged to use. Fuel with octane grades equal to or above 91 is a good fit to fix engine knocking.
However, if you hear loud engine knocking, it´s best to stop the car immediately and call your dealer. Most likely, your car needs to be drained of its fuel, and the fuel filter will need to be replaced.
Finally, it´s good to know that slight engine knocking is a normal occurrence, especially if you´re towing with the car or temporarily using gasoline with an octane rating between 87 – 91 (which is lower than recommended but still safe).
Does The Audi Q5 Have Good Gas Mileage?
As can be expected, the Audi Q5 doesn’t have the best fuel economy; however, considering it’s quite a sizeable SUV, it doesn’t perform that badly.
2017 – Present
| Engine | Lowest Combined MPG | Highest Combined MPG |
| 2.0-liter (201 Horsepower) | 22 | 28 |
| 2.0-liter (261 Horsepower) | 20 | 27 |
| 2.0-liter (362 Horsepower) Gasoline + Electric | 27 | 50 (Combined) |
2007-2017
| Engine | Lowest Combined MPG | Highest Combined MPG |
| 3.0-liter Diesel | 23 | 30 |
| 2.0-liter 4-cylinder Gasoline | 20 | 28 |
| 3.0-liter 6-cylinder Gasoline | 18 | 30 |
| 3.2-liter 6-cylinder Gasoline | 18 | 23 |
What’s The Gas Tank Size Of An Audi Q5?
The gas tank capacity helps a car owner determine how far one may go without the worry of refueling. Given the fuel economy numbers, a full tank on either of the generations of Audi Q5 will keep you worry-free for at least 300 miles. The 300-mile mark is what we feel is a good representation of fuel tank longevity.
| Engine | Gas Tank |
| 2nd generation Audi Q5 | 18.5 Gal |
| 1st generation Audi Q5 | 19.8 Gal |
Sources
- Audi Q5 Owners Manual 2022
- Audi Q5 Owners Manual 2021
- Audi Q5 Owners Manual 2018
- Audi Q5 Owners Manual 2015
- Audi Q5 Owners Manual 2014
- Audi Q5 Owners Manual 2013
- Audi Q5 Owners Manual 2012
- Audi Q5 Owners Manual 2010
- Audi Q5 Owners Manual 2009
- Audi Q5 Wikipedia
- Audi Q5 Fuel Economy
Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.
I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.
Read more about our fantastic team on our about page!