Get Driving -> Drive system Guide for Audi S Q5 SUV Third Generation (2025-2026)

Driving

Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive

Depending on the equipment, you may be able to

adjust the haptic feedback for the accelerator

pedal in the MMI.

Launch control

Applies to: vehicles with launch control

Launch control provides the best possible accel-

eration when starting from a stop.

– Select on the home screen: VEHICLE > (Charg-

ing & Efficiency) > Efficiency assist > (Interac-

tive accelerator).

Requirements

– The engine must be at operating temperature.

– The steering wheel must not be turned.

– Start/Stop system* must be deactivated

ðpage 108.

Accelerator pedal feedback

Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive

– ESC must be limited ðpage 120.

– The “S” driving program ðpage 100 and the

dynamic Audi drive select* mode must be se-

lected ðpage 116.

Haptic feedback in the accelerator pedal indi-

cates when you should take your foot off the ac-

celerator pedal to drive more efficiently.

Combustion engine startup

Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive

Using launch control

A haptic pressure point indicates when the com-

bustion engine will be started. The pressure

point is variable and depends on the high-voltage

battery charge level.

– Press the brake pedal with your left foot and

hold it all the way down for at least one second.

– With the brake pedal pressed, press the accel-

erator pedal all the way down with your right

foot at the same time.

Recuperation

– Once the engine reaches a constant speed, re-

move your foot from the brake pedal.

Power by electric motor

Pressure point

Once the vehicle has started moving or the accel-

eration process is finished, reactivate the ESC so

that it is fully functional.

Power by combustion engine

Maximum acceleration

WARNING

If you press the accelerator pedal all the way

down, the engine’s full power will be used and

you will reach maximum acceleration, also called

“kick-down”.

Only use launch control when road and traffic

conditions allow it and other road users will

not be endangered or impacted by your driv-

ing and the vehicle's acceleration. The driving

wheels could spin and the vehicle could

swerve, especially on slick or slippery road

surfaces, which increases the risk of an acci-

dent.

Applies to: vehicles with boost function: The elec-

tric motor can turn on for a brief period if the ac-

celerator pedal is pressed all the way down in the

“D” and “S” driving program. The availability of

this function depends on the charge level of the

high-voltage battery and the temperature of the

drive system components, among other things.

Note

– When accelerating using launch control, all

vehicle components are subject to heavy

loads. This can result in increased wear.

– To reduce the risk of damaging the vehicle,

trailer, and cargo, avoid using launch control

while in trailer towing mode.

WARNING

The driving wheels could spin and the vehicle

could swerve on slick or slippery road surfaces

when using kick-down, which increases the

risk of an accident.



102

Driving

– Only activate the manual release while on a

Tips

level surface or a slight slope.

– To reduce the risk of an accident, you must

not drive when the manual release is activat-

ed.

After accelerating using launch control, the

temperature of some vehicle components

may increase greatly. If that happens, the

function will not be available for a few mi-

nutes to reduce the risk of damage. After a

cool-down period, launch control will be avail-

able again.

Messages

The following messages may appear, depending

on the vehicle equipment:

Manually releasing the parking lock

 Transmission: malfunction! Safely stop vehi-

cle

Do not continue driving. Stop the vehicle as soon

as possible in a safe location and secure it so it

does not roll ðpage 98. See an authorized Audi

dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-

sistance.

 Transmission: too hot. Please stop vehicle

Do not continue driving. Select the "P" position

and contact an authorized Audi dealer or author-

ized Audi Service Facility for assistance.

Fig. 97 Driver's side footwell: releasing the parking lock

using the manual release

The manual release is located under the floor

mat on the driver's side.

 Transmission: too hot. Please adapt driving

style

The transmission temperature has increased sig-

nificantly. Drive very cautiously or take a break

from driving until the temperature returns to the

normal range and the indicator light turns off.

Releasing the parking lock using the manual

release

►

Secure the vehicle against rolling ðpage 98.

►

Pry the cover off the opening using the screw-

driver inserted in the slot.

 Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-

►

Insert the socket wrench from the vehicle tool

ue driving. See owner's manual

kit into the opening.

Turn the socket wrench clockwise until it stops

1 and press it downward until it locks into

place 2 .

Leave the socket wrench inserted.

There is a system malfunction in the transmis-

sion. You may continue driving. Drive to an au-

thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service

Facility soon to have the malfunction corrected.

►

 Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-

ue driving with limited function. Please contact

Service

Resetting the parking lock

►

Grasp the socket wrench with both hands and

carefully pull it upward to remove.

Install the cover.

There is a system malfunction in the transmis-

sion. The transmission is switching to emergency

mode. This mode only shifts into certain gears or

may no longer shift at all. The engine may stall.

Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized

Audi Service Facility immediately to have the

malfunction corrected.

►

WARNING

– Only use the parking lock manual release if

the vehicle is secured against rolling

ðpage 98. An unsecured vehicle may roll,

which increases the risk of an accident.



103

Driving

 Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-

ue driving with limited function. No reverse

gear

There is a system malfunction in the selector.

Drive immediately to an authorized Audi dealer

or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the

malfunction corrected.

There is a system malfunction in the transmis-

sion. The transmission is switching to emergency

mode. This mode only shifts into certain gears or

may no longer shift at all. The engine may stall.

You cannot engage the reverse gear. Drive to an

authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service

Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor-

rected.

 P button: malfunction! Auto P when engine

off. Please contact Service

There is a malfunction in the parking brake but-

ton on the transmission selector. The “P” position

engages automatically when you turn off the en-

gine. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or au-

thorized Audi Service Facility immediately to have

the malfunction corrected.

 Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-

ue driving in D until engine is off

 Move selector lever to automatic position

There is a system malfunction in the transmis-

sion. The transmission is switching to emergency

mode. If you turn the engine off, you will not be

able to select any other selector positions after

restarting the engine. Drive to an authorized Audi

dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility immedi-

ately to have the malfunction corrected.

There is a malfunction in the tiptronic mode. End

tiptronic mode by pushing the selector to the left

into the "D/S" position.

Drive system

Breaking in

 Danger of rolling away! P not possible.

Please apply parking brake

A new vehicle must be broken in within the first

1,000 miles (1,500 km) so that all moving parts

work smoothly together, which helps to increase

the service life of the engine and other drive com-

ponents.

– The parking lock was released using the manual

release ðpage 103. Or

– The parking lock can no longer be engaged.

Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or author-

ized Audi Service Facility immediately to have

the malfunction corrected. Secure the vehicle

against rolling before exiting the vehicle

ðpage 98.

Do not drive higher than two-thirds of the maxi-

mum permitted engine RPM during the first 600

miles (1,000 km) and do not use full accelera-

tion. The engine can be increased RPM gradually

during the next 300 miles (500 km).

 Selector lever: malfunction! Gear change on-

ly possible using both shift paddles

Plug-in hybrid drive

Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive

There is a system malfunction in the selector. You

can continue driving with limited functionality.

The selector is not working. Selector positions

can only be selected by tapping both shift pad-

dles at the same time when the vehicle is station-

ary. The “P” position engages automatically when

you turn off the engine. Drive to an authorized

Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility im-

mediately to have the malfunction corrected.

With plug-in hybrid drive, you can select between

the electric and combustion engine drive systems

or combine them ðpage 105, ðpage 101.

Recuperation

Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive

The vehicle is able to recover energy using recu-

peration. This converts the majority of the move-

ment energy into electric energy, which is stored

in the hybrid drive system battery. In addition to

the engine braking effect from the combustion

 Selector lever: malfunction! You can contin-

ue driving. Please contact Service



104

Driving

engine, the vehicle is braked by recuperation. Re-

cuperation can activate when in the “D” position

if you press the brake pedal or take your foot off

the accelerator pedal.

 Battery Hold – The vehicle is driven predomi-

nantly with the combustion engine to maintain

the high-voltage battery charge level for as long

as possible.

When you press the brake pedal, recuperation is

used to brake the vehicle. The brakes will only be

activated if necessary. Driving with a moderate

style makes it possible to brake almost to a stop

using only recuperation.

If  is displayed, the navigation route guidance

is active and the vehicle is taking the route data

into account for selecting the drive mode. The ve-

hicle will calculate what sections of the route

should be driven on using electric power in order

to achieve the most efficient driving style that is

possible. Electric driving is preferred for sections

of the route predicted to have lower speeds, such

as in towns or traffic jams.

WARNING

In certain situations, recuperation may brake

proactively. However, the recuperation brak-

ing effect is limited. Always be ready to brake

to reduce the risk of an accident.

Electric driving

The  button will turn green when EV mode is

turned on. The vehicle can be driven by the elec-

tric motor if the conditions for this have been

met ðpage 105, Conditions for electric driving.

Tips

If the ESC is limited or turned off, automatic

recuperation is not available and it will not

brake the vehicle.

Conditions for electric driving

– The high-voltage battery charge level and tem-

perature must be sufficient.

Plug-in hybrid mode

Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive

– Driving program “S” must not be selected.

– The driving speed must be below approximately

85 mph (140 km/h).

Switching the plug-in hybrid mode

The  button is located in front of the trans-

mission selector in the center console.

– The accelerator pedal must not be pressed too

hard.

►

Press  to switch between electric and hybrid

Indicator lights

driving.

Symbol Meaning

Hybrid driving

EV mode is turned on and active.

If the  button does not turn on, you are driv-

ing in hybrid mode. The vehicle can be driven

with the combustion engine or with the electric

motor if the conditions for it have been met

ðpage 105, Conditions for electric driving.





You are driving only with electric

power.

EV mode is turned on, but is tempo-

rarily in standby mode. Once the

conditions are met again, electric

driving will resume.

Depending on the motor, you may be able to

switch among various hybrid modes:

EV mode is not available, because

the conditions for electric driving

have not been met.

►

Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:

VEHICLE > Charging & Efficiency > e-tron

mode.



The combustion engine is running.

The Battery Hold hybrid mode is ac-

tive.

 Auto Hybrid – The electric motor and combus-

tion engine work efficiently together. This mode

is particularly effective for long trips.





105

Driving

– Green: recuperation

Symbol Meaning

The Auto Hybrid hybrid mode is ac-

tive.



Tips

The energy flow display can also be displayed

in the instrument cluster under the vehicle

functions tab.

The Auto Hybrid hybrid mode is ac-

tive. Navigation data will be consid-

ered.



Range monitor

Tips

Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive

– Depending on the driving style, the high-

voltage battery charge level may still go

down when in Battery Hold mode.

– When map data is outdated, no navigation

data will be considered.

– If you select a destination in the navigation

that is outside of the electric range, the ve-

hicle may exit EV mode.

Fig. 99 Range monitor

Energy flow display

Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive

You can display the projected range of the vehi-

cle.

►

Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:

VEHICLE > Vehicle data.

►

You may need to scroll down to the Range

monitor display.

Range potential (value)

Range potential (graphic)

Total range (graphic)

Total range (value)

Fig. 98 MMI: energy flow display

You can display the current energy distribution of

the vehicle.

Electric range (value)

►

Range potential: the value indicates an addition-

al amount of distance that can be gained by turn-

ing off certain convenience functions. The con-

venience functions with high energy usage are

listed in the display.

Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:

VEHICLE > Vehicle data.

You may need to scroll down to the Energy flow

display.

►

Combustion engine

– Orange: motor on

Tips

– Gray: motor off

– The range can also be displayed in the trip

computer in the instrument cluster.

High-voltage battery

– Green: charge level

– The range that is indicated is based on the

previous and predicted consumption values.

For example, these can be affected if con-

venience functions are turned on.

– Gray: drive system not turned on

Directional arrow

– Green: electric driving

– Orange: driving with combustion engine

– Green-orange: driving with boost function

Directional arrow

106

Driving -> Drive system for Your Audi S Q5 SUV Third Generation (2025-2026)

Related Topics

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals