Audi Q5

Expert Rating:

Introduction

Now that Audi seemingly has a car in every niche, the Q5 SUV has plenty of competition from within the company's own line-up. It's good enough to stand out on merit though, the compact SUV adding some rugged appeal to the range without being compromised on the road, where it will spend all of its time.

What are its rivals?

There are plenty of SUVs out there to pick from. In the premium marketplace the Q5 competes with cars like BMW's X3, Land Rover's Freelander and Volvo's XC60. Widen the spread to cover mainstream machines and there are lots to pick from: everything from the Nissan X-Trail to Toyota RAV4 via Ford's Kuga and the Vauxhall Antara all promise to do everything the Audi does - without the badge kudos.

How does it drive?

The Q5 drives quite unlike an SUV. Feeling more like a tall hatchback than a lofty off-roader the Audi delivers impressive dynamic ability despite its all-round ability. The ride is composed, the steering precise and the body control good in the bends. It's all rather impressive and easy to forget you're driving something that can clamber over rocks and traverse fields. Not that any Q5 drivers are ever going to be doing those things; Audi's mid-sized SUV is never likely to tackle anything more challenging than an unpaved drive at a country retreat.

The 2.0-litre TDI engine really is all the powerplant you could ask for in the Q5. It provides excellent pulling power and it's actually deceptively rapid. Add the Q5's unusual dynamism in the bends and it's a rather pleasing drive overall. Economy is sensible too, the official 43.5mpg figure on the combined cycle not unachievable - it's easy to get a near 40mpg average without trying.

What's impressive?

Aside from the rather un-SUV dynamics the Q5 impresses with its quiet refinement - the 2.0-litre TDI is noticeably hushed when on the road. Build quality remains an Audi byword, the Q5 delivering with a cabin that not only feels supremely solid, but exudes a quality and class that few rival manufacturers can match. The optional satnav, with its 3D buildings and excellent interface is among the best systems we've tried and the stereo is excellent too. All in all the Q5 is a nice place to spend a lot of time in.

What's not?

The Q5 isn't cheap, especially when you start adding options like that satnav into the mix. S-Line trim is a necessity if you want it to stand out too, as although a handsome machine in standard guise it can look a bit anonymous. Despite ample proportions it's not that vast inside though, the boot floor high and the rear seats being more cosy than commodious. One big niggle is with the electronic parking brake, it never seeming to operate with any consistency. Sometimes it doesn't disengage automatically, other times it does.

It is an over-complication of something that shouldn't be, despite actually being included to make life easier. In fairness Audi's electronic parking brake isn't alone in frustrating as they tend to be bad universally. Audi's usual user-friendliness isn't helped by the inclusion of the push-in key fob rather than a proper key, either. It's utterly hopeless, sometime failing to disengage, meaning you have to start up the engine to shut it down again just to release the key. Why?

Should I buy one?

We'd put the Q5 right at the top of our list of premium SUVs. It's a very competent all-rounder, its key competence being its ability as a road car. If we needed rugged off-road ability then Land Rover's Freelander would top it, but as few owners do then the Q5 is an attractive choice among its rivals.

Kyle Fortune