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Vehicle Tests > First Drive - Audi Q5
First Drive - Audi Q5
Issue: May 2009
Report by Mathieu Raudonikis
Audi expands its SUV offerings with the biggish 'compact' the Q5.
Compact SUVs are growing rapidly, both in their popularity and their size. They are not the little 4WDs they once were but have become a true alternative to the family car and the choice of models is growing in line with this. In recent months the luxury end of the compact SUV segment has seen significant growth. Not long ago it was the sole domain of BMW's X3 wagon then Land Rover launched its Freelander 2, which stepped up a class and more recently Volvo has produced its XC60. Now Audi enters the fray with its Q5 - a smaller sibling to its huge Q7.
Like other modern 'compact' SUVs, the Q5, at 4.6-meters long and 1.8 wide, isn't really compact at all. It's only 500mm shorter and 200 narrower than the seven seat Q7 but it is on par with others in this market that also includes Lexus's new RX350. The size of the Q5 allows for a smaller SUV in the range and you don't have to think to hard to guess there will be a Q3 coming in the not to distant future.
Q5 QUARTET
Q5 arrives in four variants with a pair of turbo diesels and a pair of petrol engines although just the 2.0TFSI quattro and 3.0TDI quattro are available now: the 2.0TDI and 3.2FSI variants will be available from around April/May.
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All Q5 variants are five-seat and feature leather or leatherette seats and trim, active stability and traction control, Audi's renowned quattro all wheel drive system with 40:60 front to rear axle bias, hill decent control, climate control airconditioning, and a full array of power convenience features. Both the ABS and stability control have an off road setting that tailors their calibration to suit loose surfaces.
Other clever features that are optional include side-view assist ($1998) with lane departure warning ($2300) that warns drivers of vehicle in their blind spot or if they are drifting out of their lane and active cruise control ($2230). A very clever feature that is standard on all Q5 is the roof bars. When the roof bars are mounted on the roof rails, they signal the vehicle control systems that there could be a load on the roof that would raise the vehicle's centre of gravity. The control systems then alter the calibration of the stability control system to take this into consideration. With the roof bars in place the stability control becomes more sensitive as a higher centre of gravity makes the vehicle less dynamic.
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Report by Mathieu Raudonikis
Audi expands its SUV offerings with the biggish 'compact' the Q5.
Compact SUVs are growing rapidly, both in their popularity and their size. They are not the little 4WDs they once were but have become a true alternative to the family car and the choice of models is growing in line with this. In recent months the luxury end of the compact SUV segment has seen significant growth. Not long ago it was the sole domain of BMW's X3 wagon then Land Rover launched its Freelander 2, which stepped up a class and more recently Volvo has produced its XC60. Now Audi enters the fray with its Q5 - a smaller sibling to its huge Q7.
Like other modern 'compact' SUVs, the Q5, at 4.6-meters long and 1.8 wide, isn't really compact at all. It's only 500mm shorter and 200 narrower than the seven seat Q7 but it is on par with others in this market that also includes Lexus's new RX350. The size of the Q5 allows for a smaller SUV in the range and you don't have to think to hard to guess there will be a Q3 coming in the not to distant future.
Q5 QUARTET
Q5 arrives in four variants with a pair of turbo diesels and a pair of petrol engines although just the 2.0TFSI quattro and 3.0TDI quattro are available now: the 2.0TDI and 3.2FSI variants will be available from around April/May.
read on below advertisement
All Q5 variants are five-seat and feature leather or leatherette seats and trim, active stability and traction control, Audi's renowned quattro all wheel drive system with 40:60 front to rear axle bias, hill decent control, climate control airconditioning, and a full array of power convenience features. Both the ABS and stability control have an off road setting that tailors their calibration to suit loose surfaces.
Other clever features that are optional include side-view assist ($1998) with lane departure warning ($2300) that warns drivers of vehicle in their blind spot or if they are drifting out of their lane and active cruise control ($2230). A very clever feature that is standard on all Q5 is the roof bars. When the roof bars are mounted on the roof rails, they signal the vehicle control systems that there could be a load on the roof that would raise the vehicle's centre of gravity. The control systems then alter the calibration of the stability control system to take this into consideration. With the roof bars in place the stability control becomes more sensitive as a higher centre of gravity makes the vehicle less dynamic.
next page »
