2021 AUDI Q5 Hill

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Driving

— When driving down hills, you can activate the
hill descent control if you press the brake pedal
while driving in “D” gear. The automatic trans-
mission will select a gear suitable for driving
down the hill and will attempt to maintain the
speed at which the vehicle was traveling at the
time the brake pedal was pressed. Press the
brake pedal if necessary. The hill descent con-
trol will switch off once the hill levels out or
you press the accelerator pedal.
— Utilize the engine braking effect when driving
downhill by selecting the “S” driving program
=> page 100. This especially applies when tow-
ing a trailer. This reduces the load on the
brakes.
— Applies to: plug-in hybrid drive: In high temper-
atures, make sure the high-voltage battery is
charged to at least 1/4 if towing a trailer while
driving on long stretches of roads with hills.
This relieves some of the load on the cooling
system.
— Apply the brakes in intervals and do not press
the brake pedal continuously.
— Use the hill hold assist > page 114.
Inclinometer
Applies to: vehicles with a tilt angle display
You can display the vehicle's sideways angle and
lengthwise angle in relation to the horizon.
— Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:
VEHICLE > Vehicle data.
— You may need to scroll down to the Inclinome-
ter display.
The sideways angle of your vehicle should not ex-
ceed the yellow range in the gauge. If it reaches
the red range, there is a risk that the vehicle
might tip.
The steering wheel angle, the elevation, the com-
pass direction, and the geo-coordinates of the
current vehicle position are displayed in addition
to the current vehicle angle. You will also receive
information about the maximum sideways and
lengthwise angle that was reached in the current
driving cycle. These values are reset when the ig-
nition is switched off.
Note that the accuracy of the display depends on
the driving situation.

ZX WARNING
— Only drive on inclines that your vehicle is de-
signed to handle. Do not exceed the hill
climbing ability of your vehicle. Your vehicle
could tip or slide.
— Do not drive at an angle on steep inclines
and hills. If your vehicle is about to tip, you
must immediately start steering in the di-
rection of the downward slope to reduce the
risk of an accident.
— Always be ready to brake when using the hill
descent control function.
— Applies to: vehicles with an inclinometer: Do
not rely only on the inclinometer when as-
sessing the driving situation.
Offroad driving
Your vehicle is not an offroad vehicle. Note the
following points when driving offroad:

— Drive slowly and carefully.
—To reduce the risk of underbody damage, pay
attention to the vehicle's ground clearance and
drive across raised areas of the ground with the
wheels on one side of the vehicle, instead of al-
lowing the center of the vehicle to pass over the
raised areas.
—To reduce the risk of becoming stuck, drive
through sandy or swampy areas at a steady
speed and without stopping, if possible.
If necessary, use the following functions:
— Audi drive select* Offroad mode > page 115
— Hill hold assist* > page 114
— Limit ESC > page 120

ZA\ WARNING
Only drive in terrain that is suitable for the ve-
hicle and your driving ability.

(@) For the sake of the environment
Avoid actions that are damaging to the envi-
ronment. Show respect for the natural envi-
ronment and remain on marked routes.
113

Driving

@) Tips
Clean your vehicle after driving offroad. Dirt
and stones falling off your vehicle can affect
other road users.
PUN Male Ruel e le
If you must drive through water, follow these in-
structions:
— Check the stability of the ground, the current,
and the water depth. If the ground is unstable,
there is a strong current, or there are waves,
the water must only reach up to the lower edge
of the body at the most.
— Deactivate the Start/Stop system*.
— Drive carefully and no faster than at walking
speeds to prevent the front of the vehicle from
creating waves, because they could splash
above the lower edge of the body. Oncoming
vehicles could also create waves.
— Do not stop the vehicle while in the water.
— Drive in reverse.
— Do not turn the engine off.

ZA\ WARNING
After driving through water, press the brake
pedal carefully to dry the brakes so that the
full braking effect will be restored.
@) Note
Vehicle components such as the motor, drive
system, suspension, or electrical system can
be severely damaged by driving through wa-
t

er.
Tips
If possible, avoid driving through salt water
because it increases the risk of corrosion. Use
fresh water to clean any vehicle components
that come into contact with salt water.
Hill descent assist
Applies to: vehicles with hill hold assist
The “@ button is located above the selector lever
in the center console. It lights up when the sys-
tem is turned on.
114
Hill descent assist can assist you when driving
down hills by maintaining a constant vehicle
speed by automatically braking all four wheels.
You can adjust the speed using the accelerator
and brake pedals. The regulation depends on the
hill and the vehicle speed.
> Switching on: press “2.
> Switching off: press “2 again.
Active regulation
Regulation begins shortly after you start driving
and is possible at speeds up to approximately 19
mph (30 km/h) and on hills that have an approxi-
mately 6-60% grade. If these conditions are met,
regulation will be activated and the BJ indicator
light will turn on.
Ready mode
If one of the requirements for active regulation is
not met, the system will be in ready mode. The
indicator
light will turn on. Once the require-
ments are met again, the system will be able to
provide active regulation again.

Z\ WARNING
— Be ready to apply the brakes at all times
when using the hill hold assist.
— Always adjust the speed to the visibility,
weather, road, and traffic conditions. The
system cannot replace the driver's atten-
tion.
— The system cannot maintain a constant vehi-
cle speed in all situations, for example when
on smooth or slippery ground. This can in-
crease the risk of an accident.

G) Tips
If you select the Audi drive select* Offroad
mode, hill descent assist will switch on.

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Driving dynamic

Driving dynamic
Audi drive select
Introduction
Applies to: vehicles with Audi drive select
Drive select makes it possible to experience dif-
ferent types of vehicle characteristics in one vehi-
cle. With different driving modes, the driver can
switch the setting, for example from sporty to
comfortable. This allows you to adjust the set-
tings to your personal preferences. This makes it
possible to combine settings such as a sporty
drivetrain setting with comfortable steering.
Selecting an Audi drive select mode
Applies to: vehicles with Audi drive select
The size button is located above the selector lever
in the center console.
> Press the left or right arrow key until the de-
sired mode appears in the MMI. Or:
> Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Audi drive select.
You can change the driving mode when the vehi-
cle is stationary or while driving. If traffic per-
mits, briefly remove your foot from the accelera-
tor pedal after changing modes so that the mode
you have selected will be activated for the drive
system.
The following modes may be available depending
on the equipment:
Offroad - Provides assistance when driving off-
road. The vehicle will be raised to the second-
highest level using the air suspension*. The ESC
will be restricted and the hill descent assist* will
be activated. The vehicle will exit this mode after
the ignition is switched off.
allroad - Provides balanced vehicle handling. The
vehicle will be raised to the second-highest level
using the air suspension*.
Comfort - Provides a comfort-oriented vehicle
setup and is suited for long drives on highways.
Auto - Provides an overall comfortable yet dy-
namic driving feel and is suited for everyday use.
Dynamic - Gives the driver a sporty driving feel
and is suited to a sporty driving style. The “S”
driving program is selected.
Individual - Provides the option for personalized
vehicle settings. Press ¥ to configure the mode
=> page 115, Individual settings.
G) Tips
When the ignition is being switched on, indi-
vidual systems, such as the drive system, will
be reset to a balanced setting. Select the cur-
rent mode again to attain its full configura-
tion.
Individual settings
Applies to: vehicles with Audi drive select
The equipment in your vehicle will determine
which settings you can adjust.
Drive
The drive system will react to accelerator pedal
moves more quickly or in a more balanced man-
ner. The shift points are located in higher or low-
er engine speed ranges on vehicles with automat-
ic transmissions.
Depending on the setting, the drive power at the
rear axle will be distributed with the sport differ-
ential* to be more sporty or moderate
=> page 118.
Steering
The power steering will adapt. Light steering is
suitable for long trips on highways or smooth
driving around curves, for example.
Suspension
The suspension adjusts to be tighter or more
comfort-oriented when it comes to compensat-
ing for uneven spots on the road.
The vehicle ground clearance is adjusted by the
air suspension* based on the setting.
Engine sound
The engine sound adapts and can be subtle to
sporty. In the automatic setting, the engine
sound depends on the selected driving program.
115

Driving dynamic


these control systems are installed and this
can affect driving stability and increase the
risk of a collision.
— As the vehicle load increases, especially the
roof load, the vehicle's center of gravity also
increases along with the risk of the vehicle
tipping. To reduce the risk of an accident, al-
ways adapt your driving style to the current
conditions and avoid sudden driving maneu-
vers.

G) Tips
The ABS and ASR only function correctly when
all four wheels have a similar wear condition.
Different tire sizes can lead to a reduction in
motor power.
The So* button (or #, depending on the model)
for controlling the ESC is located in the center
console, in front of the selector lever. The ESC is
automatically switched on when the ignition is
switched on.
Limiting ESC
It may make sense in some situations to limit the
ESC stabilization functions so that the wheels can
spin:
— Rocking the vehicle to free it when it is stuck
— Driving in deep snow, on unpaved ground, or
with snow chains
— Driving downhill while braking on loose ground
— Driving with axle articulation
The ESC can be limited in order to allow the
wheels to spin.
—To limit the ESC, press the So button briefly.
The B indicator light will turn on.
—To completely reactivate the ESC stabilization
function, press the button again. The indicator
light turns off.
If you select the Offroad Audi drive select mode,
the Offroad ESC mode will be automatically
used. This mode is suited for driving offroad and
is designed for uneven terrain or loose ground.
120
Switching off ESC
For a more active control of the vehicle where the
stabilizing functions of the ESC cannot intervene,
the ESC can be switched off.
— To switch off the ESC, press and hold the Sor
button for more than three seconds. The B
and aa indicator lights turn on.
—To completely reactivate the ESC stabilization
function, press the button again. The indicator
lights turn off.

ZA\ WARNING
— When the ESC is switched off or limited,
there will be no vehicle stabilization or it will
be limited. The driving wheels could spin
and the vehicle could swerve, especially on
slick or slippery road surfaces. When there is
a heavy vehicle load and sudden driving ma-
neuvers, it may not be possible to prevent
the vehicle from tipping under certain cir-
cumstances, which increases the risk of an
accident.
— Because of the increased risk of an accident,
only drive with the ESC switched off or Limit-
ed when it is necessary. Reactivate the ESC
as soon as possible.
G) Tips
— If you select the Audi drive select* Offroad
mode, hill descent assist will switch on.
— If the ESC is limited, switched off, or mal-
functioning, systems with an automatic
braking intervention function may not be
fully available.
— If malfunctions occur in other systems or
certain driver assist systems are active, the
ESC must be switched on by the system. The
ESC
may switch on automatically and can-
not be operated with the button.
B fs / B © Stabilization control (ESC/
ABS): malfunction! See owner's manual

There is a malfunction in the ABS or EDL. This al-
so causes the ESC to malfunction. The brakes still >

Trailer towing

Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
er else)
Your vehicle is primarily intended for transport-
ing people and luggage. However, if you drive
with a trailer, follow the technical requirements,
the operation and driving tips, and the legal reg-
ulations.
Driving with a trailer affects the vehicle's energy
usage, performance, and wear. It also requires
higher concentration from the driver.

ZA\ WARNING
Do not transport any people in a trailer due to
the risk of fatal injury.
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch

Only use a trailer hitch with a removable ball
hitch mount and ball hitch. The trailer hitch must
be permitted for the vehicle, the trailer and the
permitted total weight of the trailer being
pulled. Above all, it must be securely and safely
attached to the vehicle trailer.
Never mount a trailer hitch on the bumper. The
trailer hitch must be mounted in a way that does
not impair the function of the bumper. Do not
make any changes to the exhaust system and the
brake system.
Check regularly if the trailer hitch is securely
mounted. Always follow the instructions given by
the trailer hitch manufacturer.
Trailer brakes
If the trailer has its own brake system, then fol-
low the manufacturer specifications. However,
the brake system on the trailer must never be
connected to the vehicle brake system.
Engine cooling system
Driving with a trailer means a higher load on the
engine and the cooling system. The cooling sys-
tem must be designed for additional load and
contain enough coolant > @.
138

ZA\ WARNING
— Never mount a "weight-distributing" or
"load-balancing" trailer coupler as the trailer
hitch. The vehicle was not designed for
these types of trailer hitches. The trailer
hitch can malfunction and the trailer can
break off from the vehicle.
— If the trailer is equipped with electronic
brakes, these brakes cannot be activated by
a factory-installed control system, which in-
creases the risk of an accident.
—To reduce the risk of injury, always remove
the ball hitch mount if no trailer is mount-
ed
@) Note
Longer inclines cannot be driven without a
suitable cooling system, especially if the out-
side temperatures are high. Otherwise, this
increases the risk of engine damage.
ey emia aCe
Towing capacity

The permitted towing capacity must not be ex-
ceeded under any circumstances > page 314.
You can drive up larger inclines if you are not us-
ing the maximum towing capacity.
The specified towing weights only apply at eleva-
tions up to 3,200 feet (1,000 m) above sea level.
As the elevation increases, the engine power de-
creases due to the decreasing air pressure. This
reduces the hill climbing ability and towing ca-
pacity. For every additional 3,200 ft (1,000 m),
the maximum permitted towing weight must be
reduced by approximately 10%. The permitted
towing weight is the combined weight of the
(loaded) vehicle and the (loaded) trailer.
Tongue weight
The maximum permitted tongue weight of the
trailer drawbar on the trailer hitch ball head must
not be exceeded.
For driving safety, Audi recommends always us-
ing
the maximum permitted tongue weight, but
do not exceed this weight. Distributing the cargo >

Trailer towing

You can also increase ground clearance by select-
ing the Audi drive select* Offroad or allroad
modes > page 115.
@) Note
Applies to: vehicles with air suspension
— Changes in temperature or load can affect
the height of the vehicle.
— If the standard vehicle height is not used,
the tongue weight specification is no longer
applicable.
©) Note
Attachments retrofitted on the vehicle may
cause damage, especially on the trailer hitch
ball head. In cases of damage, have the func-
tion checked by an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility.
@) Tips
— Block the wheels with chocks when parking
on inclines if the trailer is loaded.
— Audi recommends having the vehicle in-
spected between the inspection intervals if
you tow a trailer frequently.
— Avoid driving with a trailer during the vehi-
cle break-in period.
PTL RR CT Coe
Driving with a trailer requires extra caution.
Speed
Adhere to the legal speed limits. Follow the legal
regulations that are applicable in the country
where you are operating the vehicle.
As the speed increases, the driving stability of
the trailer decreases. Therefore you should not
exceed the maximum legal speed limit when
there are unfavorable road, weather, and/or wind
conditions. This especially applies when driving
downhill.
Hill
When you start driving uphill or downhill, trailers
may tilt or sway sooner than when driving ona
level surface. If small swaying movements have
140
already occurred, you can stabilize the trailer by
firmly braking immediately. Never attempt to
“straighten out” the trailer by accelerating.
Downshift before driving on hills to utilize the en-
gine braking effect > A\.
Brakes
When using a trailer with overrun brakes, first
brake gently then quickly. This reduces the risk of
jerking while braking if the trailer wheels lock up.
Engine coolant temperature
Pay attention specifically to the coolant tempera-
ture display when there are high outside temper-
atures, and when driving on long inclines
= page 14. Shift to a higher gear in a timely man-
ner.

Z\ WARNING
Constant braking causes the brakes to over-
heat and can substantially reduce braking per-
formance, increase braking distance, or cause
complete failure of the brake system.

Driver assistance
Switching the system on
Applies to: vehicles with cruise control system

Driver assistance

Cruise control system
Applies to: vehicles with cruise control system

BFV-0220
The cruise control system assists the driver in
80B012721BA
maintaining a constant speed above approxi-
mately 15 mph (20 km/h). The system maintains
the desired speed by braking and accelerating.

ZA WARNING
— Always pay attention to the traffic around
your vehicle when the cruise control system
is in operation. As the driver, you are always
responsible for controlling your vehicle
speed and the distance between your vehicle
and
other vehicles.
— For safety reasons, cruise control should not
be used in the city, in stop-and-go traffic, on
winding roads, and when road conditions are
poor (such as ice, fog, gravel, heavy rain,
and conditions that could lead to hydroplan-
ing), because this increases the risk of an ac-
cident.
— Switch the cruise control off temporarily
when driving in turning lanes, highway exits,
or in construction zones.
—To reduce the risk of an accident, you should
only resume the stored speed if it is suitable
for the current traffic conditions.


() Note
— Conventional drive system:Before driving
downhill a long distance on a steep hill, de-
crease your speed and select a lower gear.
This makes use of the engine braking effect
and reduces the load placed on the brakes.
— Plug-in hybrid drive: Before driving downhill
a long distance on a steep hill, decrease
your speed and use the recuperation braking
effect > page 104. This reduces the load on
the brakes.
@ Tips
The brake lights turn on when the brakes are
applied automatically.



Fig. 116 Operating lever: switching the system on
Requirement: the ignition must be switched on.
> To switch the system on, pull the lever toward
you to position ©.
The Gia or i$) indicator light and the corre-
sponding message will appear in the instrument
cluster.

ZA\ WARNING
If the brakes are malfunctioning (for example,
overheating) while the cruise control system
is switched on, the regulating functions may
shut off automatically.



Preselecting or activating a cruise con
speed
Applies to: vehicles with cruise control system
When the vehicle is stationary, you can preselect
the cruise control speed or activate the speed
while driving.
Requirement: the system must be switched on.
> To preselect a cruise control speed when the ve-
hicle is stationary, tap the lever toward @)/G)
=>page 151, fig. 116.
> To activate the cruise control speed, pull the
lever
toward position @ while driving.
> To set the current driving speed as the cruise
control speed, press the button @) on the lever.
The active cruise control speed is indicated with
the Gg or kl indicator light in the instrument
cluster.
151

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Driver assistance


taking risks. This could increase your risk of
a collision.
— Audi pre sense city does not react to certain
objects, such as animals, crossing or oncom-
ing vehicles, bars, railings, or railcars.
— Audi pre sense may be limited or unavailable
in curves or when it is dark.
— Loose objects can be thrown around the ve-
hicle interior during sudden driving or brak-
ing maneuvers, which increases the risk of
an accident. Store objects securely while
driving.
— In trailer mode, the braking behavior of the
trailer can be different than usual during au-
tomatic braking.

@) Tips
Certain system functions may not be available
if the ESC is limited or switched off
=> page 120, if there is a malfunction, or if the
hill hold assist* is switched on > page 114.
Audi pre sense front
Applies to: vehicles with Audi pre sense front
Audi pre sense front provides the same scope of
functions as Audi pre sense city, with a few ex-
ceptions > page 168. The system has an exten-
sive field of view due to additional sensors that
are installed. Because of this, vehicles that are
braking or traveling significantly more slowly can
be detected earlier and more clearly, depending
on the limits of the system.
The following features apply to Audi pre sense
front:
— Automatic braking interventions are available
at vehicle speeds up to approximately 155 mph
(250 km/h)
— The system does not detect pedestrians

Z\ WARNING
— Observe the safety precautions > A\ in Audi
pre sense city on page 168.
— Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 141.

— Audi pre sense front does not react to cer-
tain objects, such as pedestrians, animals,
crossing or oncoming vehicles, bars, railings,
or railcars.
Audi pre sense rear
Applies to: vehicles with Audi pre sense rear

Within the limits of the system, Audi pre sense
rear uses data from radar sensors at the rear cor-
ners of the vehicle and calculates the probability
of a rear-end collision with the vehicle behind
you.
Audi pre sense preemptive safety measures can
be initiated if the risk of a collision with the vehi-
cle behind you is detected.

Z\ WARNING
— Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 141.
— Audi pre sense rear does not react to pedes-
trians, animals, crossing objects, and ob-
jects not detected as vehicles.
@) Tips
— Audi pre sense rear functions switch off
when trailer mode is detected. There is no
guarantee the functions will switch off
when using a retrofitted trailer hitch.
— Audi pre sense rear functions may also
switch off if there is a malfunction in the
side assist system.
ai
Applies to: vehicles with swerve assist

The swerve assist can help you to steer the vehi-
cle around an obstacle detected in a critical area.
If you avoid an obstacle after the acute warning,
then the swerve assist assists you by applying
slight steering adjustment to correct your steer-
ing wheel angle as long as you are actively steer-
ing. Swerve assist is available at speeds between
approximately 20 mph (30 km/h) and 90 mph
(150 km/h).
169