The 2009 Audi Q5: Better than an A4?
Since its recent launch, Audi’s little SUV has done nothing but make people happy. First, there are those who can’t buy the Q7 because it’s too expensive and those who want to upgrade to something more versatile than their A4. And of course, there are all the others who don’t yet drive an Audi but are attracted to the Q5’s look and perfect dimensions. Basically, several buyers are finding something they like about this new little Audi.
More harmonious
Unlike the Q7 and its questionable (if certain surveys are to be believed) exterior design, the critics love the Q5’s look. A well balanced and proportionate little high-performance car, it has a refined and fluid design that gives it a solid and aggressive look. Of course, it has the Audi’s trapezoid-shaped front grille with an immense opening that suggests that the engine requires a massive amount of air. It’s well-designed and projects peerless strength and refinement, and lest we forget the LED headlights that give it a healthy dose of sportiness and aggression. The tail end features the same attention to detail with a sloping roof line that gives it a certain dynamism overall.
It’s business as usual on the inside, since it has everything that you’d find in the A4: the controls are similarly arranged and there’s the same careful finish. The seats are very comfortable and they support the occupants admirably. Yet again, the materials reflect the attention paid to quality, since they’re wisely chosen and harmoniously used. Moreover, everything’s laid out ergonomically and requires practically no effort to adjust since the controls are easy to use and intuitive.
A higher A4
Behind the wheel, the Q5 offers the same driving experience as the A4 because it has many of the same mechanical features. However, its centre of gravity is obviously higher than the sedan’s. However, with the Audi drive select option that we had on the test vehicle, the ride comes dangerously close what you get in sedans from rival brands. In fact, once in Dynamic mode (the sportiest mode), the ride feels practically identical to that of an A4 base model, which is an A4 that doesn’t have Audi drive select. Available at a cost of $2,500, this option is worth every penny for those who want a sports car-like ride in spite of the vehicle’s sport utility purpose. This feature makes the suspensions firmer, the high speed steering heavier, and modifies the transmission shift characteristics to make the engine rev higher in order to squeeze as much power as possible from it. Once the system is in Dynamic mode, you’ll forget that you’re driving a small SUV. It has a staggering, even intoxicating effect.
However, those who don’t choose this option will have an excellent machine just the same. The vehicle’s dynamic performances are impressive and it feels very solid. There’s no body noise and rather good soundproofing. The powerful disc brakes stop the car quickly and visibility is good in all directions. It goes without saying that once in Dynamic mode, performances improve markedly. Accelerations are faster (you shave off almost 2 seconds) and the vehicle handling is much more aggressive and sporty since the Q5 literally sticks to the road.
A lot of choice
There’s only one version of the Q5 offered for now: the Quattro all-wheel drive comes standard, just like the 3.2 FSI V6 engine featuring direct fuel injection and 270 hp. The Premium version’s standard equipment also includes a glass panorama sun roof along with BI-XENON headlights. Many options can be added to this package, notably the three-dimensional GPS navigation system, the Bang & Olufsen 14-speaker sound system and Audi drive select. Unfortunately, certain options turn out to be very expensive and rarely used. Music fans will surely opt for the upgraded audio system (very impressive, by the way), while sports fans will go for the Audi drive select. To each his own!
The Q5’s presence is upsetting the competition. Its price ensures that you’ll see a good number of them on our roads despite the large number of compact SUVs on the market. The Q5 base model is practically flawless (I know, nothing’s perfect) and also offers the Audi drive select option that makes the ride tremendously more thrilling than it already was. It has a consistent and compact look and seems solid and stable. The Q5 proves to be a high-performance machine in our northern climate. Only its better ground clearance gives it an advantage over the A4.