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

Warm and cold

Window and mirror heating

Applies to: vehicles with comfort auxiliary climate control and

Symbol Meaning

window and mirror heating

Flammable refrigerant



You can set if the rear window and mirrors should

also be heated during auxiliary climate control.

Make sure all components are dis-

posed of correctly and never install

components in the vehicle that have

been removed from old vehicles or

taken from recycling.

Tips



Applies to: vehicles with comfort auxiliary cli-

mate control: The comfort auxiliary climate

control may be restricted during charging, de-

pending on the charging method that is se-

lected.

Refrigerant oil in the A/C system

The sticker in the engine compartment provides

information about the type and amount of refrig-

erant oil used in the vehicle’s A/C system. For in-

formation about the amount of refrigerant oil

used, contact an authorized Audi dealer or au-

thorized Audi Service Facility.

Messages

Applies to: vehicles with auxiliary climate control

The following messages may appear, depending

on the vehicle equipment:

WARNING



The auxiliary air conditioning is currently un-

The climate control system may only be serv-

iced by qualified and certified technicians who

have been trained according to the country-

specific standards, for example SAE standards

J2845 and J2911.

available due to a malfunction.

If this message appears, there is a system mal-

function. Drive immediately to an authorized

Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility to

have the malfunction corrected.

– Refrigerant is flammable. Keep the vehicle

away from open flames, sparks, and other

ignition sources to reduce the risk of serious

injuries or death.

Fluids in the A/C system

Refrigerant in the A/C system

– The refrigerant is under pressure and can ex-

plode if heated, which increases the risk of

serious injuries or death.

The sticker in the engine compartment provides

information about the type and amount of refrig-

erant used in the vehicle’s A/C system. The stick-

er is located in the front section of the engine

compartment or at the front or back of the hood.

– The refrigerant can create toxic vapors when

it comes in contact with hot surfaces. To re-

duce the risk of serious injuries or death, do

not inhale these vapors.

Symbol Meaning

Warning: the A/C system must only

be serviced by qualified technicians.

Tips



– Never repair the A/C system evaporator with

components from old vehicles or from recy-

cling.

Refrigerant type



– New replacement evaporators for portable

A/C systems must be certified and labeled

as such, so that they comply with the SAE

standard J2842 HFO-1234yf and R744.

Refrigerant oil type

.

Refer to the service information

(only available to authorized Audi



dealers or authorized Audi Service

Facilities)

The A/C system must only be serv-



iced by qualified technicians.

96

Driving

Stopping the engine in an emergency

Driving

If necessary in an emergency, the engine can also

be stopped while driving using the emergency off

function*.

Starting the vehicle

Convenience key

Applies to: vehicles with convenience key

START ENGINE STOP

►

Press the

button twice in

a row or press and hold it one time.

Turning on or off

If you would like to only turn the ignition on or

off without starting the engine, follow these

steps:

START ENGINE STOP

►

Press the

button without

pressing the brake pedal.

Turning off the ignition automatically

Fig. 92 Center console: starting the engine

To prevent the vehicle battery from draining, the

ignition and possibly the exterior lighting may

turn off automatically.

Requirement: the key must be in the vehicle.

Starting the engine

Requirements:

►

Press and hold the brake pedal.

START ENGINE STOP

– Conventional drive system: the Start/Stop sys-

tem must have stopped the engine.

– Plug-in hybrid drive: you must have driven the

vehicle. The combustion engine must not be

running.

►

Press the

button. The en-

gine will start.

Plug-in hybrid drive: the electric drive system is

turned on. The combustion engine only starts

when necessary. The power meter indicates if the

electric drive system is turned on ðpage 17.

– You must have left the vehicle for longer than

30 seconds.

Equipment that uses a lot of electricity is turned

off temporarily when you start the engine. If the

engine does not start immediately, the starting

procedure stops automatically after a short time.

If this is the case, repeat the starting procedure

after approximately 30 seconds.

– The ignition must be turned on.

Among other indicators, the system detects that

you have left the vehicle based on the following

factors:

– The driver's door has been opened.

– The driver's safety belt has been unbuckled.

– The brake pedal is not being pressed.

Stopping the engine

►

Bring the vehicle to a full stop.

The ignition will also be turned off after 30 mi-

nutes or if you lock the vehicle from the outside.

START ENGINE STOP

►

Press the

button. The en-

gine will turn off.

Plug-in-hybrid drive: the electric drive system and

the combustion engine are turned off.

WARNING

– To reduce the risk of asphyxiation, never al-

low the engine to run in confined spaces.

– Never turn off the engine before the vehicle

has come to a complete stop and the “P” po-

sition is engaged. The full functionality of

the brake booster and power steering may

not be available. You would then need to use

more force to steer and brake the vehicle.

Applies to: vehicles with steering lock: The steer-

ing is locked when you turn off the engine and

open the driver's door. The steering lock helps

prevent vehicle theft. The “P” position must be

engaged on vehicles with an automatic transmis-

sion.



97

Driving

no longer in the vehicle, you cannot turn on the

ignition or start the engine once you stop it. You

also cannot lock the vehicle from the outside.

The fact that you cannot steer and brake as

usual may increase the risk of accidents and

serious injuries.

– Secure the vehicle against rolling before ex-

iting the vehicle ðpage 98.

 Remote control key: hold back of key

against the designated area. See owner's man-

ual

Note

The battery in the vehicle key may be drained or

there may be a malfunction. To start the vehicle,

you must also hold the vehicle key against the lo-

cation shown  ðpage 97, fig. 92.

– Avoid high engine speed, full throttle, and

heavy engine load if the engine has not

reached operating temperature yet. You

could damage the engine.

If the malfunction remains, drive immediately to

an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi

Service Facility to have the malfunction correct-

ed.

– If the engine has been under heavy load for

an extended period of time, heat builds up

in the engine compartment after the engine

is turned off and there is a risk of damaging

the engine. For this reason, let the engine

run at idle for approximately two minutes

before shutting it off.

When driving

Starting to drive, stopping, and parking

Tips

Starting from a stop

– Brief noises are normal when starting and

parking the vehicle and are no cause for

concern.

►

Press and hold the brake pedal.

Start the engine.

Select the “D” or “R” position.

►

– For up to 10 minutes after stopping the en-

gine, the radiator fan may turn on again au-

tomatically or it may continue to run, even if

the ignition is turned off.

►

Release the parking brake.

Release the brake pedal. The vehicle may roll.

Press the accelerator pedal to accelerate.

►

Securing the vehicle against rolling

– It may not be possible to start the vehicle in

extremely low temperatures.

Secure your vehicle to prevent it from rolling be-

fore exiting the vehicle.

– Power will be fully available once the engine

is at operating temperature.

►

Set the parking brake.

►

Select the “P” position.

Messages

►

If parking on a steep road, turn the steering

wheel so that your vehicle will roll against the

curb in case it should start to move.

The following messages may appear, depending

on the vehicle equipment:

If one of these measures is not possible, for ex-

ample because there is no vehicle power, you

must secure your vehicle against rolling using ad-

ditional measures.



Engine start system: malfunction! Please

contact Service

There is a malfunction in the engine start system.

Drive immediately to an authorized Audi dealer

or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the

malfunction corrected.

►

Only park the vehicle on a level surface.

►

Use suitable objects to block the front and rear

wheels.



Remote control key: key not detected. Is the

Set the parking brake before selecting the “P” po-

sition. This prevents too much stress from being

put on the locking mechanism when parking on a

steep surface.

key still in the vehicle?

The vehicle key was removed from the vehicle

while the engine is running. If the vehicle key is



98

Driving

Requirement: the driver's door must be closed,

the engine must be on, and the vehicle must be

traveling uphill.

WARNING

– Always set the parking brake when leaving

your vehicle, even if only for a short period

of time. If the parking brake is not set, the

vehicle could roll, increasing the risk of an

accident.

►

To activate hill hold assist, press and hold the

brake pedal for several seconds while the vehi-

cle is stationary.

– Do not leave your vehicle unattended while

the engine is running, because this increases

the risk of an accident.

WARNING

– If you do not begin driving immediately after

releasing the brake pedal, your vehicle may

begin to roll backward. Press the brake ped-

al or set the parking brake immediately.

– The hill hold assist cannot hold the vehicle

on inclines in every scenario (for example,

on slippery or icy ground).

– If the parking brake is set, it can release au-

tomatically when the accelerator pedal is

pressed. To reduce the risk of an accident,

do not inadvertently press the accelerator

pedal and always shift into the “P” position

when the vehicle is stopped.

– If you leave the vehicle, turn off the ignition

and take the key with you. This is especially

important when leaving persons or animals

in the vehicle. Otherwise, the vehicle could

start unintentionally, the parking brake

could release, or electronic equipment could

activate, which increases the risk of an acci-

dent.

Transmission selector positions and driving

programs

– No persons or animals should be left in a

locked vehicle. Locked doors make it more

difficult for emergency workers to enter the

vehicle, which increases the risk of death.

– If you do not begin driving immediately after

releasing the brake pedal, your vehicle may

begin to roll backward. Press the brake ped-

al or set the parking brake immediately.

Fig. 93 Center console: transmission selector

The automatic transmission shifts automatically

depending on the selected position and the cur-

rent driving style. When driving with a moderate

driving style, upshifting early and downshifting

late will help to improve fuel economy. When

driving with a sporty driving style, the transmis-

sion permits higher RPMs.

Note

If you have to stop on an incline, always press

the brake pedal to hold the vehicle in place to

reduce the risk of the vehicle rolling back-

ward. Do not try to hold the vehicle in place

by pressing and holding the accelerator pedal.

The transmission can overheat, which increas-

es the risk of damage.

Transmission selector positions

The selector positions are displayed next to the

transmission selector.

– P (Park): parking lock

Hill hold assist

– R (Reverse): driving in reverse

– N (Neutral): idling

If you take your foot off of the brake pedal when

driving on hills, the braking force will be held for

several seconds. At that time, you can start driv-

ing without the vehicle rolling backward.

– D (Drive): driving forward



99

Driving

Driving programs

“P” engages automatically if you turn off the en-

gine while the “D” or “R” position is selected. If

you turn off the engine while in the “N” position,

“P” will engage automatically after approximate-

ly 30 minutes.

Various driving programs can be selected when in

the “D” position. These programs influence, for

example, when the transmission shifts and how

the accelerator pedal responds.

Conventional drive system: If you want to switch

from “P” to the “D” or “R” position, the engine

must be running.

The selected driving program is displayed in the

instrument cluster.

– D (Drive): normal driving mode

– S (Sport): sporty driving mode

Plug-in hybrid drive system: If you want to switch

from “P” to the “D” or “R” position, the electric

drive system must be turned on or the motor

must be running.

Selecting a position

Requirement: the ignition must be turned on.

If you cannot shift out of the “P” position, for ex-

ample because the vehicle has no power, you may

need to use the manual release for the parking

lock ðpage 103.

– Bring the vehicle to a full stop and press the

brake pedal.

– Press the release button 1 on the selector.

– To select the nearest position, move the selec-

tor forward or back until you feel the first pres-

sure point.

Selecting a driving program

To switch between the current driving program

and “S”, push the selector toward the rear.

– To skip a position (for example, to move from

“D” directly to “R”), move the selector past the

pressure point in the desired direction.

– The label next to the selector for the selected

position will illuminate.

If you select the dynamic mode in Audi drive se-

lect*, the “S” driving program will be activated.

When the ignition is turned off, the driving pro-

gram may be reset to “D”.

“N” (Neutral) position

The S driving program might not be available in

the Audi drive select* offroad mode.

In the “N” position, power is not transmitted to

the driving wheels. Use the “N” position in a car

wash (with conveyor belts), for example.

Plug-in hybrid drive system: Not all plug-in hy-

brid modes are available in the “S” driving pro-

gram. The driving program or plug-in hybrid

mode will be automatically adjusted if it is not

compatible with an operation.

If you unintentionally select the “N” position

while driving (faster than 1 mph (2 km/h)), you

can select “D” again without pressing the brake

pedal.

WARNING

For safety reasons, the vehicle cannot be locked

when the "N” position is selected.

– Before you start driving, check if the label

for the desired selector position next to the

transmission selector is illuminated.

– Secure the vehicle against rolling before ex-

iting the vehicle ðpage 98.

“P” (Park) position

Requirement: the ignition must be turned on.

The parking lock secures the vehicle from rolling

when the “P” position is selected. The parking

lock is a mechanical locking mechanism in the

transmission.

– Power is still transmitted to the wheels

when the engine is running at idle. To pre-

vent the vehicle from “creeping”, you must

keep your foot on the brake in all selector

positions (except "P" and "N") when the en-

gine is running.

– Bring the vehicle to a full stop and press the

brake pedal.



– Press the “P” button 2 on the selector.

– The “P” next to the selector will illuminate.

100

Driving

Shifting with the transmission selector

– To reduce the risk of an accident, do not

press the accelerator pedal when changing

selector positions if the vehicle is stationary

and the engine is running.

►

To switch to manual shifting mode, tilt the se-

lector toward the front passenger's side

ðfig. 94. “M” will be displayed in the instru-

ment cluster.

– Never select the “R" position while driving.

Doing so could cause an accident.

– The vehicle can roll even if the ignition is

turned off.

►

Upshifting: push the selector forward + .

Downshifting: push the selector toward the

rear – .

►

To switch back to automatic mode, tilt the se-

lector toward the driver's side.

Tips

– If you shift back and forth between the “D”

and “R” position within one second, you do

not need to press the brake pedal. This

makes it possible to “rock free” the vehicle

if it is stuck, for example.

Shifting with the shift paddles

Applies to: vehicles with shift paddles

►

Upshifting: press the

Downshifting: press the

+

shift paddle ðfig. 95.

shift paddle.

To switch back to automatic mode, press and

hold the shift paddle or push the selector to-

ward the rear.

►

–

– Audi recommends the “D” driving program

for everyday driving.

+

If you stop using the shift paddles temporarily,

the transmission will switch back to automatic

mode. To keep shifting manually, tilt the selector

toward the front passenger's side.

Manual shifting

Tips

– The transmission only allows manual shift-

ing when the engine speed is within the per-

mitted range.

– The transmission automatically shifts up or

down before critical engine speed is

reached.

Fig. 94 Center console: shifting manually with the trans-

mission selector

Accelerator pedal

Fig. 95 Steering wheel: shift paddles*

You can shift the gears manually when in the “D”

position. The transmission is in tiptronic mode

and “M” is displayed in the instrument cluster.

You can shift into manual shifting mode while the

vehicle is stationary or while driving.

Fig. 96 Footwell: accelerator pedal

You can accelerate the vehicle using the accelera-

tor pedal.



101

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.

1

2

3

4

5

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 -> When driving for Your Audi S Q5 SUV Third Generation (2025-2026)

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