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No messing. Image by Alisdair Suttie.

No messing
Audi's Q5 is not one for dirt-defying feats, but that doesn't stop it kicking sand in the faces of its rivals.

   



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| Week at the Wheel | Audi Q5 3.0 TDI |

Inside & Out: star star star star star

When you think of German quality and build integrity, Audi quickly springs to mind and the Q5 typifies this approach. Every facet of the Q5's construction, inside and out, reeks of precision engineering, even if this SUV is never likely to see anything more off-road than the parking spot outside your house. The body has been styled to give the look of an SUV (it even has 200mm ground clearance and a wading depth of 500mm), but in reality this is more of an alternative to the A4 Avant wagon. That's no bad thing, in our book, as the Q5 looks good while managing to avoid the negatives often associated with 4x4s.

It's the same story inside, where the Q5 comes across much more as a luxury estate than as something to traverse your country estate. Our SE test car came with leather seats as standard, along with climate control, electric windows and mirrors, rear parking sensors, CD stereo and the optional satellite navigation system. Aside from the lengthy standard kit list, the Q5 provides ample space front and rear to be capable of carrying four adults more comfortably than most rivals. There's also a large boot that's quick and simple to extend for greater load space, while the tailgate swings up to leave a broad and tall opening.

Engine & Transmission: star star star star star

We had to check the speedo on several occasions during our time with the Q5 to realise what speed we were doing. The 237bhp 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel gathers speed with such hushed efficiency that it was easily possible to be travelling 20mph faster than your senses detected. A helping of 368lb.ft of torque that's ladled on from 1,500rpm up to 3,000rpm shares responsibility for the ease of acceleration too, while the engine's superb refinement must also shoulder some 'liability' here. Coupled to gear changes that melt from one to the next with no apparent hesitation in the seven-speed automatic gearbox, the Q5's transmission and engine combo easily outstrips any of its rivals'. It also has more than enough pick-up through the gears for safe overtaking.

Ride & Handling: star star star star star

Trying to reconcile the opposing disciplines of off-roading and fine handling inevitably leads to compromise. In Audi's case, it has spurned the off-road side of things in favour of on-road poise and comfort. We're all for this approach, as the Q5 copes with lumps and ruts far better than most of the competition, though there is a firmness around town that can set up the odd jiggle on more fractious road surfaces.

Our test car came with 18-inch wheels as standard, which are partly to blame as we've noticed lesser models on 17-inch alloys have a slightly more forgiving low-speed ride. However, there's no faulting the handling and traction of the Q5 3.0 V6 TDI. Its quattro four-wheel drive system serves up plenty of grip and confidence during cornering, making the Q5 more than a match for most small executive estates. The Audi's steering is not quite as precise or loaded with feeling as a BMW X3's, but the Q5 is still a great companion on country roads. On multi-lane roads, the Audi is stable, refined and soothing, with only a faint whisper of wind noise at higher speeds to give away the size and shape of the Q5.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money: star star star star star

As mentioned above, the Q5 in SE trim comes with almost all of the equipment you'd want as standard. Climate control, electric windows and door mirrors, leather seats, an excellent CD stereo, rear parking sensors and 18-inch alloy wheels are all included in the price. Satellite navigation isn't cheap at £1,910 and metallic paint costs £585, while cruise control adds £215 and an electric sunroof comes in at £1,075. Still, the Q5 stacks up well against its rivals and rams home the message with fine average economy of 37.6mpg. Carbon dioxide emissions of 199g/km avoid top-rate road and company car tax bands, and this figure also undercuts several of the Audi's key competitors'. Meanwhile, residual values are should see the Q5 retain just over half of its original value after three years and 36,000 miles.

Overall: star star star star star

There is very little to fault the Audi Q5. The only point that nags away at us is: if you want an Audi estate with this level of space, quality and performance, the A4 Avant does it all for almost £3,000 less. Yes, the Q5 offers a little more exclusivity than the A4 Avant, but it doesn't add much more in the way of off-road capability. Don't get us wrong, we really like the Q5 - we're just not sure we'd mess around buying one instead of an A4.

Alisdair Suttie - 16 Jun 2009



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2009 Audi Q5 specifications: (3.0 TDI quattro SE)
Price: £34,650 on-the-road (test car fitted with optional extras). Equivalent in Ireland is about €71,700.
0-62mph: 6.5 seconds
Top speed: 139mph
Combined economy: 37.6mpg
Emissions: 199g/km
Kerb weight: 1865kg

2009 Audi Q5. Image by Audi.2009 Audi Q5. Image by Audi.2009 Audi Q5. Image by Audi.2009 Audi Q5. Image by Audi.2009 Audi Q5. Image by Audi.

2009 Audi Q5. Image by Audi.2009 Audi Q5. Image by Audi.2009 Audi Q5. Image by Audi.2009 Audi Q5. Image by Audi.2009 Audi Q5. Image by Audi.



2009 Audi Q5. Image by Alisdair Suttie.
 

2009 Audi Q5. Image by Alisdair Suttie.
 

2009 Audi Q5. Image by Alisdair Suttie.
 

2009 Audi Q5. Image by Alisdair Suttie.
 

2009 Audi Q5. Image by Alisdair Suttie.
 

2009 Audi Q5. Image by Alisdair Suttie.
 






 

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