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Audi Q5 3.0 TDI Quattro 2009 review

Audi Q5 SUV
EXPERT RATING
8

It may be a latecomer, but Audi is taking no prisoners when it launches its mid-sized luxury soft-roader here next year. The stylish five-seat Q5, baby brother of the seven-seat Q7, will tackle the BMW X3, Volvo XC60, Mercedes-Benz GLK and Land Rover Freelander in the premium SUV market.

Audi is confident it can garner 1000 sales a year for its new coupe-styled quattro SUV. If it succeeds, that will make the Q5 the fourth best-selling model in the brand's Australian line-up behind the A4, A3, and Q7.

Audi makes no apologies for the Q5's late timing which, until now, had given BMW a free hit at the premium market, saying it wanted to establish its core vehicles such as the A3, A4, A6 and TT before concentrating on niche models.

Should BMW be unduly worried about this newcomer? Based on our brief taste test the answer is clearly yes because it beats the X3 in several key areas, including value for money.

Audi will initially launch the permanent all-wheel drive Q5 in April with one level of equipment, one automatic transmission and four fuel-efficient engines two diesels andtwo petrol. Final pricing hasn't been worked out but the start-up price is expected to be just over $60,000 and spread to about $80,000. Other versions of the Q5, such as the sporty S-Line, will come later next year.

Standard equipment across the four variants will be comprehensive, including eight air bags, full leather upholstery, hill-descent control, airconditioning, 17-inch alloy wheels, rear park assist, LED running lights, six-stack six-speaker premium sound system, central locking, an electromechanical parking brake, cruise control and alloy roof rails.

But the options list is just as longand includes Audi's Dynamic Steering system (standard on the V6 petrol version) and Drive Select where you can change the suspension's damper settings from comfort to firmer dynamic. Tick all the boxes and the price of the Q5 will easily nudge $100,000. In what is thought to be a world first, the Q5 can sense if theroof rails are being used to carry extra cargo (limited to 100kg) such as bikes, canoe or storage pod on top of the wagon and will adjust the electronic stability control system to a more conservative setting to take into account the vehicle's higher centreof gravity. As with most SUVs, it also comes with a downhill assist system.

This slows the vehicle on steep slopes. But Audi has calibrated its system for European ice and snow conditions and it is expected to be changed for Australia. At present it operates at 9-30km/h, speeds that are too high for off-road work.

The coupe styling with its long nose, curved roof and short tail masks just how big the wagon is. Nose to tail it stretches 4.6m, is 1.8m wide and has a wheelbase of 2.8m. These dimensions make it longer and wider (and mean it stands lower) than its opposition.

In standard form, cargo space is surprisingly roomy and big enough to swallow four sets of golf clubs and there's good under floor storage but at the cost of a full-sized spare wheel.

All four models feature direct injection fuel motors and the latest versionof Audi's seven-speed S tronic, its version of VWs DSG dual clutch manual/automatic gearbox.

The range will open with a 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection petrol engine (TFSi) with Audi's new fuel-saving valve lift system and a 2.0-litre turbodiesel (TDi).

Those wanting more power can have a 3.0-litre V6 TDi diesel or the 3.2-litre V6 turbo petrol range topper. Diesel is expected to be 60 per cent of sales.

On first impression, there's much to like about the Q5. It's a competent, stylish and comfortable wagon with the quality of fit and finish expected from the innovative German brand.

This is an easy wagon to live with in the urban jungle. It has good visibility, although the rear headrests and a narrow rear window make using the rear park assist a welcome additionto the equipment list.

Good sound insulation largely cocoons the cabin from outside noise.

The A4-styled interior is plush and workable thanks to a flexible seating layout — including rear seats that can be folded and adjusted fore and aft and a flat-folding front passengerseat that is a first for Audi.

As for its dynamics, we will leave the final verdict on the Q5s rideuntil we get a chance to drive iton Australian roads. It handles Spain's dead-flat sealed secondary roads with aplomb but we couldn't test the Q5's performance off-road because the Spanish government refused Audi permission to go bush.

This was allegedly because of the summer fire hazard. But a narrow, corrugated dirt road we did find similar to what we have in rural Australia — and it showed that Audi may still have some recalibrating to do on the softish suspension.

Left in auto mode, the wagon produced an uneasy loping ride with plenty of suspension travel.

To be fair, however, the gravel road was too short to make any objective judgment. On sealed country roads the Q5 was just the opposite — agile and comfortable at normal speeds, but bit ragged beyond the envelope.

The 3.0-litre diesel with its seven-speed S tronic transmission from the Audi TT is clearly the pick of the engines, overcoming the wagon's 1.8 tonne weight which takes the edgeoff both 2.0-litre motors.

The 3.0-litre diesel uses just 7.5 litres per 100km and a sprint time of 6.5 seconds for 0-100km/h.

Peak torque of 500Nm from 1500rpm to 3000rpm gives it almost instant acceleration across the normal speed ranges.

The dual clutch S tronic transmission is a beauty but you do need to work at getting the Q5 off the line.

 

Pricing guides

$12,999
Based on 25 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months
Lowest Price
$9,500
Highest Price
$17,995

Range and Specs

VehicleSpecsPrice*
2.0 TFSI Quattro 2.0L, PULP, 7 SP AUTO $10,010 – 13,640 2009 Audi Q5 2009 2.0 TFSI Quattro Pricing and Specs
2.0 TDI Quattro 2.0L, Diesel, 7 SP AUTO $10,010 – 13,640 2009 Audi Q5 2009 2.0 TDI Quattro Pricing and Specs
3.0 TDI Quattro 3.0L, Diesel, 7 SP AUTO $10,230 – 13,970 2009 Audi Q5 2009 3.0 TDI Quattro Pricing and Specs
3.2 FSI Quattro 3.2L, PULP, 7 SP AUTO $11,880 – 15,840 2009 Audi Q5 2009 3.2 FSI Quattro Pricing and Specs
EXPERT RATING
8
Pricing Guide

$9,500

Lowest price, based on 22 car listings in the last 6 months

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