Two of Audi’s plug-in hybrids have received a major upgrade for the 2022 model year. The 2022 Audi Q5 PHEV and A7 PHEV get a larger 17.9-kWh lithium-ion battery. This replaces the Q5’s current 14.1-kWh unit and the 14.9-kWh pack in the A7. As a result, both cars can travel farther in EV mode at 23 miles for the Q5 PHEV and 26 miles for the A7 PHEV. Charging times are slightly longer at 3 hours to go from 0 to 100 percent using a level 2 AC charger.
Power ratings, however, don’t change despite the addition of a larger battery. The 2.0-liter turbo-four and electric motor still make 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque combined. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is the only transmission available. Unlike the Lexus’ hybrid models, which use an electric motor mounted on the rear axle to turn the wheels, the Audi Q5 PHEV and A7 PHEV utilize the same Quattro AWD system as their non-electrified counterparts, which is a mechanical setup. That means the front and rear axles are connected by a drive shaft and that you’ll always have plenty of traction because the powertrain puts power down through all four wheels.
The EPA rates the 2022 Q5 PHEV at 25/27/26 mpg city/highway/combined. With a full tank and a fully charged battery, the 2022 Q5 PHEV is good for 390 miles. Versus the outgoing 2021 model, the 2022 model’s range is 10 miles shorter and its EPA ratings are down 2 and 1 mpg on the highway and combined cycles respectively.
The 2022 Audi A7 PHEV also gets lower EPA ratings versus the 2021 model at 25/31/27 mpg. That’s a drop of 1, 3, and 2 mpg for the city, highway, and combined cycles respectively. With a full tank and a full charge, the 2022 A7 PHEV can travel up to 410 miles, which is 30 miles less than the 2021 model.
We’re suspecting that the weight added by the larger battery is the reason why both vehicles have lower ratings and total range in the EPA cycle. Whether that’s worth it depends on the driving conditions you see on your daily commute and how you’re going to use the vehicle. Fuel tank size, on the other hand, doesn’t change at 14.3 gallons for the Q5 PHEV and 14.0 gallons for the A7 PHEV.
Regardless of which version you’re comparing, the 2022 Audi Q5 PHEV is still able to travel farther than the BMW X3 xDrive30e and is also more efficient. However, the Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge remains at the top when it comes to the combined driving range at well over 500 miles while offering similar EPA ratings as the Q5 in the EPA cycle.
The closest rival to the 2022 Audi A7 PHEV is the BMW 530e but the former has a hatch, making it more practical. The A7 also has 74 hp and 59 lb-ft more and can travel farther because the 530e is only able to travel 320 to 340 miles with a full tank and a full charge depending on whether you get RWD or AWD.
