Road test report --- March 2009 --------------- by Kevin Fenix.

Audi Q5 2.0 TDI Quattro

Prior to collecting the Q5, I had been driving another car with a 2.0 litre diesel engine, which I liked very much. Sitting into the Q5, my initial impression, was that this was a very big and awkward machine. It took me a while to readjust to the new surroundings and as I did so, the car no longer felt so big and awkward. Sitting up high was certainly far more comfortable in city traffic and the size of the car helped to prevent other drivers flying up the bus lane and then forcing themselves over into your path, as soon as they saw a small gap between you and the car ahead. Very soon I was thoroughly comfortable and at home in the Q5. Its real merits soon became even more apparent, when I had to travel around the county from one small town or village to another. This car was perfectly at home in these surroundings and seemed to be the perfect answer to these motoring conditions. Noticing the number of other 4x4/SUVs on the roads, quickly made me realise that a huge majority of ordinary Irish motorists have come to the same conclusions that I have, regarding these vehicles. The height of the car allows you to step comfortably into it and out again at the end of your journey. You do not have to lower yourself in and then have to haul yourself up and out again. In the manner we have come to expect from Audi, the car was beautifully finished, well laid out, comfortable to travel in, easy to drive and it had an effortless performance. No wonder Audi has become the number one premium brand in this country.

Sitting into the driver’s seat, all the instruments are clearly laid out and easy to reach. The leather covered steering wheel has a superb, high quality feel to it. It adjusts for both reach and height. Both front seats have a full range of adjustments, all done electrically. It is thus easy to get a very comfortable position, to suit a wide variety of tastes and requirements. The test car came with a six speed manual gearbox. The shifts are smooth and precise, but I must admit, that given the choice, I personally would have preferred the superb new seven speed double clutch transmission, available on the 2.0 FSI petrol powered model and the 3.0 TDI diesel. I am not sure whether this transmission is available with the two litre diesel.

On the road the car rides and drives like a luxury limousine. The steering has a variable ratio and is speed sensitive, so it feels nicely precise out on the open road, yet it is absolutely effortless for manoeuvring at slow speeds in confined spaces. It is geared to give three turns from lock to lock, absolutely effortlessly.
The suspension provides a comfortable well controlled ride, over a wide variety of road surfaces. A car of this size was never designed to be a sports racing car, yet it can be driven at respectable speeds over twisting roads with confidence.
Power is transmitted to all four wheels by the Quattro all wheel drive system. The normal distribution of power is 40% front, 60% rear, but the central limited slip differential can vary this distribution according to road conditions. The electronic stability programme assists in making the driving both safer and easier by providing a Hill Holder Assist, to prevent the car running backwards, when moving off on an incline. It also has a Hill Descent Control, which avoids overheating the brakes in long steep declines, both on and off the road.
For off-road driving the electronic stability programme can be switched to an alternative map designed specifically to cater for a wide variety of conditions. The Q5 has a ground clearance of 200 mm and a wading depth of 500 mm, both of which help to underscore its off-road abilities. For off-road driving it has a useful approach angle of 25 degrees, departure angle of 26 degrees, breakover angle of 17.5 degrees and a maximum inclination angle of 25 degrees. These compare favourably with highly respected vehicles like the Land-Rover Freelander 2, which is acknowledged for its outstanding off-road abilities.

The test car came without a spare wheel, although the driver’s handbook says that it should have a fold-up rear tyre. However, it should be mentioned that these spare tyres are not suitable for use if you are towing, or I should imagine if you are driving in serious off-road conditions.
In relation to towing, the 2.0 diesel Q5 can manage braked trailers up to 2,000 kg in weight, or unbraked trailers of up to 750 kg. It can also accommodate up to 100 kg in a suitable container on the roof. Normal luggage space between the floor and the underside of the removable rear shelf is 0.540 cubic metres. This includes a special container below the floor, while maximum space, with the rear seats folded and shelf removed, so as to allow loading to the roof, is 1.560 cubic metres.

Above left : Normal luggage space ------------------ Above right : Maximum luggage space

Left : Underfloor storage but no spare

One of the features I particularly liked, was the automatic opening and closing of the luggage access door. To open, you simply press a button in the ignition pad/remote controlled locking device, while to close it once opened, you press a button in the internal lower edge of the door itself and the door closes itself.

This 2.0 litre, turbocharged diesel is beautifully, quiet, refined and powerful. It is tuned to deliver 63.516 kW/lt, with an excellent 177.845 Nm/lt. This is sufficient for a potential top speed of 204 kph (126 mph) with 0-100 kph acceleration in a zippy 9.5 seconds. To put this into perspective, three years ago I tested an absolutely superb, sleek, 2.7 litre V6 diesel coupe and it took 9.0 seconds for the same sprint. So for this big spacious, 4x4, with a smaller engine, to manage the same acceleration in just half a second more, is an excellent achievement.

This Q5 2.0 litre diesel is also remarkably abstemious in its thirst for fuel. It has been tested to give 34 mpg (8.2 lt/100 km) on the urban cycle, stretching to 48 mpg (5.8 lt/100 km) on the extra urban and averaging 42 mpg (6.7 lt/100 km) on the combined cycle. These figures give an average carbon dioxide exhaust emission of 175 gm/km. This places the 2.0 litre, diesel Q5 in class E for Irish road tax purposes.
My test car came with the optional Sport package, which adds Euro 4,900 to the price. Apart from the superbly comfortable, sports style seats and leather upholstery, the sport package also includes large 19 inches diameter wheels. These were shod with Dunlop Sport 235/55 R 19 tyres.

Overall, the longer I had the Q5 the more I got to like it. It has very attractive, modern good looks. It is superbly practical for everyday family use. It is an absolute pleasure to drive and it comes fully equipped with a range of modern electronic gadgets and devices like a Bluetooth mobile telephone system.
As a result I now find myself with a massive dilemma. If financial restraints were no obstacle, would I buy myself a fully personalised Q5 for my own daily use, or would I buy my long time aspirational dream car, the Audi S5 convertible, also personalised to my own requirements ? I can assure you I am going to spend many sleepless nights trying to find a solution to that quandary.

Technical data

**************************************************

Picture gallery

************ END ************