When it comes to a marriage of performance and luxury, Audi fans insist no other brand does it better. And the 2021 Audi Q5 45 is proving to be a powerhouse in the Audi family of sweet rides that both look great and know how to hustle. A refresh this year brings new shapes to headlights and subtle design changes. There are a couple of bold new colors available for exterior paint too. But those fresh hues don’t come for free. The boldest-looking Audi Q5 45 colors come at a price.

An impressive menu of color options

Car and Driver points out in their first-driver review that the new 2021 Audi Q5 45 comes in various greyscale and dark blue shades, including Manhattan Grey, for anyone looking for that classic or more traditional look.

But new this year, a couple of additional color options are available for anyone more concerned with making a statement. Adding vibrancy to the palette, the Q5 roster comes with an Ultra Blue and a Distinct Green, perfect for matching your personality. You might even want an Audi Q5 45 to match your eyes.

There’s one caveat to choosing one of these new shades

If you have your eyes on one of those more vibrant exterior paint options, you’ll need to be prepared to pay for them. Audi limits the Ultra Blue and Distinct Green versions to the more expensive SQ5 and PHEV models. The Audi Q5 55 is the plug-in hybrid variation and adds another $8,000 to the base Q5 price tag of $43,300. The SQ5 version tacks on another $8,500 or so, according to Forbes.

Performance upgrades for the 2021 Audi Q5 45

Car and Driver might have been slightly disappointed with the limited availability of the new vibrant colors for the Audi Q5 45. But they certainly had a change of perception on the track evaluating the get-up-and-go with this luxury crossover. The 2021 Audi Q5 45 comes with all-wheel drive standard and a turbocharged, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine that critics say is one of the best on the market today. Tweaking this year allows for a few more horses under the hood. The Q5 45 achieves 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. The SQ5 gets the turbo V6 upgrade for anyone interested in a sportier version of this refreshed SUV.

Weighing slightly more this year by five pounds, the Q5 45 can reach 60 mph in a mere 5.5-seconds. The Car and Driver team covered the quarter-mile run in 14.2-seconds, roughly 0.2-seconds faster than 2018 models. These SUVs are anything but sleepy and seem to keep in true Audi performance form.

An Audi enthusiast’s dream come true

Aside from horsepower and paint colors, there is plenty to love about the 2021 Audi Q5 45. One big update includes the 10.1-inch center touchscreen where drivers can interact with the latest MIB 3 software. There are aesthetically pleasing buttons, and knobs for climate control, offering an uncluttered appearance, too. Experience real wood grains, sleek metals, and a nicely appointed second row. Leather comes standard, and you wouldn’t expect anything less.

The 2021 Audi Q5 45 is a compelling addition to the Audi lineup. Edmunds says the technology, including driver aids, voice recognition, and the Bang & Olufsen surround-sound system stereo systems, are top-notch. Everything feels like authentic quality, which is a driving force behind this best-selling SUV. Just know if you want those more exotic colors, you’ll have to bump up configurations and price to get them.