The Audi Q5 is a compact luxury SUV that does pretty much everything well. We
could leave it at that but in honor of Miss Davis, my high school English
teacher who used to always say Mr. Muzio you're not looking deep enough let's dig
a little deeper. First the fawning praise. The interior
merges top-quality materials with a crisp, modern aesthetic. As if the dude
who designs Bond villain lairs chose to dabble in the automotive realm. Modernism
aside, the cockpit is a usable space with unfussy controls, supportive long-haul
worthy standard powered front seats, and a long list of indulgent features we'll
get to shortly. The back seats are every bit as plush as the front seats. Oh look like at the
nice material quality. But I do have some notes. The second row slides and
declines but even in the most laid-back position I could use a little more lean.
And if you're banished to the middle seat this incredibly high center tunnel
means you either adopt this ludicrous position or you put your feet on the
floor where they jam up against the front seat rails. If you'll excuse me I'm
going to move back here.
The takeaway, save the middle spot for child duty and the rear quarters work
just fine. Add the optional panoramic moonroof and the already delightful
cabin feels bright open and even more delightful. Before leaving the interior
though some of our editors dislike these small cupholders. If you're a cup holder
aficionado, you have been warned. Outside, despite a Mr. Potato Head
application of signature Audi design elements, when splashed across a Q5-sized
canvas the result is a handsome, sculpted, and
desirable SUV. Underneath this Q7-like clamshell hatch we find a nicely shaped
26.8 cubic foot cargo hold. Lowering the 40/20/40 split rear seats more-than
doubles that figure, though before pulling we conveniently placed releases
you might want to remove the headrests. Powering the Audi Q5 is a turbocharged,
2-liter four-cylinder engine providing a max tow rating of 4,400 pounds and fuel
economy that, while not amazing for a compact SUV, is actually quite good for a
compact luxury SUV. In action the turbo-4 delivers refined power delivery and when
the situation demands spirited acceleration. Handling gear changes is a
7-speed dual clutch transmission and in operation it delivers the kind of rapid
shifts you'd expect from a dual clutch. Very seamless operation slightly marred
by a little bit of a surging tendency from the turbocharged engine.
From the transmission power is channeled to a standard Quattro all-wheel drive
system that, for improved efficiency, directs torque to the front wheels
during normal driving. However, when needed, an electromechanical
multi-plate clutch and rear prop shaft clutch engage to rapidly send up to
100% of the engines output rearward; imparting the Q5 with lively handling and
all-weather grip. Just so you know, the Q5 has a dedicated off-road mode and 8.2
inches of ground clearance. If you actually use your fancy SUV to go bash
through the rugged wilderness please tweet me a picture.
In an appropriately civilized environment the Q5 exhibits outstanding
driving manners, skillfully negotiated the chasm between comfort and sport.
Performance (whispered). Performance.
Helping the !5 navigate that chasm is an incredibly quiet cabin, clear outward
visibility for the driver, and strong brakes offering excellent feel. In
simplest terms the Audi Q5 is an absolute pleasure to drive, whether you
drive like me or my grandmother. And she's dead, which gives you an idea how slow she
drives. For an even more comfortable ride the Q5 can be equipped with an
optional adaptive damping suspension that alters its reactions in concert
with the five drive modes provided by the standard Audi Drive Select's...uh...selector.
If you crave an even quicker Q5 your wish is granted by the Audi SQ5. With a
turbocharged V6, 8-speed automatic, action-packed styling, and an adaptive air
suspension the roughly $55,000 SQ5 is a seriously fun way to SUV. Yes, I made SUV
a verb. As mentioned earlier the standard 42 and a half thousand dollar Audi Q5
comes packed with features like three-zone climate control, a power tailgate, a
10-speaker audio system, a backup camera, smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay
and Android Auto, and Audi Pre-Sense, which can pre tension the seatbelts and apply
the brakes to mitigate an impact with a car or pedestrian. Audi's MMI
infotainment system also comes standard and it usually works pretty well. There's
a knob here that you use to control it but I will say I kind of wish this was a
touchscreen and it is not. For example, when you go into Apple CarPlay, which is
standard and lovely, I can't just hit podcast. I have to rotate and then select.
Audi partially addresses the lack of touchscreen functionality with this
optional haptic feedback pad. You can do swipe and zoom maneuvers, which is great,
but man a touchscreen would be nice. Especially for my Apple CarPlay, which I
love so much. Oh, Duffer Brothers podcast. How can I select you?
Open your wallet and the Q5 can be further outfitted with neat options
including a 360 degree camera system, front and rear parking sensors,
ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a hands-free tailgate, a brilliant 16-
speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system, navigation with an 8.3-inch
display replacing the standard 7 inch unit, and Audi's Virtual
Cockpit, whose vivid reconfigurable 12.3 inch display replaces
a traditional gauge cluster. Audi also offers driver aids including blind spot
warning and a driver assistance package that bundles automatic high beams, Lane
keep assist, and full-speed adaptive cruise control with low speed steering
guidance so you can invest just a little less brain power into your morning
commute. Maximally loaded the Audi Q5's MSRP rises to around $57,000.
Drop that kind of cash and you'll be thankful Audi's traditionally hold their
value well. When accounting for the Q5's standard all-wheel drive its base price
lands in the same domain as the Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3 Jaguar F-Pace, and
Volvo xc60. Broaden your SUV search and the Cadillac XT5,
Acura RDX, or Lincoln MKC represent value-priced alternatives. Unlike some of its
sport or comfort focused competitors the Audi Q5 isn't a specialist, unless it's
possible to specialize in everything. The Q5 is sporty, comfortable, agreeable, and
enticing. And all those charms only intensify the deeper you dig. If you're
looking for a truly well-rounded compact luxury SUV, this is it.