Q5 is a five-seat SUV from Audi that is expensive, but good.
Audi has come late to the luxury mid-sized SUV game with the Q5. Launched in 2008, the car joined a market already in decline. Its main rival, another German machine, the X3 from BMW, is a road-based SUV that is meant to appeal to the masses, but thanks to a very firm ride and high asking price, it has failed to light up the motoring world as the Bavarians had hoped. When the world is flush with cash it is easy to justify expensive cars, but when you can get cars that do exactly the same thing for a fraction of the price it is a different story. So why should anyone buy a Q5 when a Ford Kuga will do nicely?
Okay, there is no denying the Audi is a posher machine and also a brand that makes a clear statement: "I'm a mover and shaker." I'm in the most sensible version of the Q5 this week, namely the 2 litre TDi Q5 with 170bhp. With a few extras fitted it costs over €60,000 - ouch! That's a lot more than a Kuga. Yes, the car's exterior is chunky and very elegant. Sitting above the A4 range pricewise there is a model to suit deep and very deep pockets. At the moment the 3 litre TDi would be the car to choose - its V6 produces 240bhp and 500nm of torque (the same nm as an M5!). It takes just 6.5 seconds to do 0-100km/h and top speed is, well, plenty for an SUV.
Audi is a master at elegant exteriors and although the Q5 is quite conservative in looks this is a car that badge conscious buyers want. Audi made literally a massive statement when it launched the seven-seat Q7 in 2005 as a BMW X5 rival and should have been quicker bringing the Q5 to market, but no one predicted the global collapse (bar George Lee!). The good news is that the more compact Audi Q3 is coming in the not too distant future - in time to give the BMW X1 a run for its money.
The Q5 outside is smart and as you would expect the interior is a class act also. Audi is obsessed with quality and even deliberately uses Bull leather for the interior trim as the male hide is better and more durable. Audi also has a team of six human 'Sniffers' who make sure the scent of Audi interiors including the wood and leather is perfect!
In the Q5 you have a great view as the ride height of the four-wheel drive SUV is excellent. Essentially the car is a jacked up A4 Quattro and this is no slur as the Q5 is very comfortable and competent on the road. The ride and suspension set up works brilliantly in Ireland. The Q5 has the longest wheelbase in its class and as such is very passenger friendly. Motorways are effortless to travel on and B roads fun!
The Q5's boot (540 litres) is massive and deep and when you need to turn the Q5 in to a van there's 1560 litres of cargo space.
When I returned the Q5 I picked up a 2.7 Litre TDi A6 that costs similar money and felt a lot posher again, so the Kuga looks like much better value!
Q5 is a great machine that sadly most people will cross off their list because in these times it is simply too dear.
Michael Sheridan
