Scaled down Q7?
The Q5's looks are hardly groundbreaking; overall it looks like a scaled down Q7 which is probably what Audi intended. Neatest parts of the styling? Well, the front is smart enough wih the Audi family grille well intergrated and there's cool lights with LEDS. The rear styling is more anonymous, but the wraparound tailgate and rear lights mark the Q5 out. The rear lights are really futuristic and bright with the LEDs. The Q5 is on sale now and priced from £29,140 - £37,540, and stands out from its rivals with its exterior and interior technology.
High-tech highlights
To keep up with other new rivals in this class, such as the Volvo XC60, the Q5 can be ordered with blind spot and lane departure warning systems, plus adaptive cruise control. Other technology available includes the Drive Select active damping system which was first debuted on the new A4 earlier this year and a dynamic steering system. There's even a £100 climate cup holder available, which can heat or chill your drinks.
More subtle looks will appeal to more buyers.
Overall, I think that the new Q5 is attractive. Although it looks good, it doesn't really stand out from its rivals.
The inside story
The inside of the new Q5 is typical Audi, but there's little to distinguish it from the A4 and A5. The dashboard is similar in layout to the A4, and has Audi's MMI control system and an electronic parking brake. The tall driving position is easy to get comfortable with and all-round vision is generally good. Space in the back is a bit tight, but boot space is good and can be fitted with useful runner and load securing strips.
Extensive safety kit
Fitted with the full compliment of safety kit, including airbags, ABS and Electronic Stability Control (ESP) with advanced hill descent control as standard. The Q5 hasn't been crash tested yet, but it's likely to get a full five-star rating.
Which engine?
I drove the 170ps 2.0-litre TDi, the 240ps 3.0-litre diesel units, and the 211ps 2.0-litre TFSi petrol. The 2.0-litre TDi is estimated to be the top seller and makes a convincing case for itself, striking a good balance between performance and economy. Claims of 42.1mpg and impressively low CO2 emissions (175g/km)are likely to make the 2.0-litre TDi a popular company car option. There's little to choose between the other two engines in terms of performance, but the 3.0 TDi's economy figures will have many buyers opting for the diesel.
What's it like to drive?
The Q5 is probably the best to drive in this class. To make the most of the exceptional ride and handling I'd suggest you go for the optional Audi Drive Select, with which you can tune the suspension, throttle responce, steering and transmission. It's expensive at over £1,000, but the three options all make a difference to the Q5 drive. Comfort softens the ride, but the overall handling is still sharp. Sport does exactly what it says, and sharpens up everything to give a sportier drive while Dynamic seems to offer a mix of the other two modes. The Q5 has first-rate body control, sharp steering and a fine chassis.
Summing up
Is it as good as class best? Well, if off-roading isn't your first priority the Q5 might be the small SUV for you. It's great to drive, well made and with its low emissions it seems like a fine buy. Can Audi do any wrong?
Fancy a closer look? Check out our Audi Q5 gallery
