AUDI Q5 2.0 TFSI
Review by Justin Ong. 09
Audi's march towards the number one premium auto-maker spot continues with the
introduction of their new Q5 crossover, a model that promises (like just about
every new crossover or SUV) to deliver 'real' saloon car dynamics in the shape on
an SUV. So far, there has only been one model in this segment that lives up to that
promise. Now, there are going to be two.
But before we get overexcited about what the Q5 can or cannot do, we need to
remind ourselves that the compact SUV segment has hitherto served up some
rather ordinary examples. Even at the pointy end, BMW's X3 is possibly one of the
brand's poorest models, what more the sea of middle-class also-rans that litter the
market.
Given the underwhelming competition, it would have been easy for Audi to just go
for slightly above par; that would have been enough for the course. But the
Germans have not let the mediocrity of the segment infect them, instead giving us
what will clearly raise the bar for the entire category.
As with the rest of the competition, the Q5 can only lay claim to being a soft-
roader. The Q5 itself doesn't sit very high and it lacks the hardware required for
serious mud-plugging. It can do some light off-roading, sufficient to take the
occasional jaunt off the beaten path but not much further. The mitigating factor is
that this hardly matters to the urban sophisticates who end up buying something
like this.
This is because Audi, like BMW before them, have given their compact SUV a very
definite road-going focus, something that the market has voted overwhelmingly for
with their pocketbooks. So it's no surprise that a lot of the emphasis for the
crossover is on the way behaves on blacktop.
Thanks to its underpinnings that come from the company's B-car platform, the
same that also provides us with the A4, the Q5 offers levels of control that fully
delivers on the promised 'car-like handling'. It even comes close to its rival from
Munich. Close enough, in fact, that the difference would be like splitting hairs.
As with the A4, the crossover also features the company's adaptive dampers that,
along with other aspects such as steering assist and engine mapping, can be
altered at a touch of the Drive Select button. This allows the Q5 to offer variable
degrees of ride and handling to suit both driver and conditions.
Dynamically, the Q5 drives as promised, with very controlled body movements
masking the vehicle's much taller centre of gravity. Although the SUV is some
220mm taller than the A4, it drives well enough that you soon forget that it is so.
With a responsive, even sharp, steering and generous levels of grip and traction,
the Q5 is capable of an entertaining drive.
At higher levels of commitment is where the Audi falls short of what BMW offers.
The front end gives up earlier and while balance is generally very good, the Q5
still comes across as nose-heavy as compared to the X3's more exploitable
chassis. All fine and good since Audi promises you 'car-like handling', and not the
'performance car-like handling' that BMW tends to lean towards.
Although it's no 'performance-car' in corners, the Q5 does come fitted with a
convincingly powerful engine in the form of the 2.0TFSI, with the requisite 211bhp
and 350Nm. From this, the SUV netts an acceleration time of 7.2-seconds to get
from nought to hundred plus a top whack of 222km/h. There's also a fancy
gearbox to go with the stonking engine, a seven-speed S Tronic dual-clutch
transmission that provides better performance and efficiency in one stroke,
{gallery}2009/may/q5/b{/gallery}Thanks to the quick-witted turbocharger and the
surplus of gear ratios, the Q5 always feels on the ball. Mid-range torque gives it
excellent acceleration response, allowing for smart overtaking and quick bursts of
speed. Top-end is not its forte, with the engine getting breathless well before you
hit peak revs.
Beyond just driving well, the Q5 also impresses with its pliable ride comfort. At low
levels, the Audi feels a tad on the firm side but this quickly dissipates with speed.
At its softest, the dampers do a good job of turning the SUV into a capable
highway cruiser though even the hardest Dynamic setting doesn't compromise the
ride as much as it does on the A4. The X3, well, let's not even go there.
On the inside, the precision and quality is sterling and were it not for the fact that
Audi seem have lifted the dashboard almost wholesale from the A4, there would be
little to complain about. Audis have a well-deserved reputation for premium content
and it's no different with the Q5. Intuitively laid out, with excellent tactility and
decent ergonomics, this is what a premium vehicle should feel like.
Once more, we have another Audi sans GPS module and this looks like its unlikely
to change anytime soon. The lack of the GPS is a double-whammy for buyers as
much of the personalisation of the Drive Select system and ancillary functions are
tied into the GPS package. Without it, there's no way to mix and match individual
settings to suit your tastes.
The biggest advantage that Euromobil will have when it comes to shifting these is
the very compelling price point. Weighing in at RM298,000 the Q5 undercuts
BMW's X3 (RM319,800) by a healthy margin while offering a level of quality and
performance that far surpasses it. The uncompetitive pricing of the Freelander 2
(RM271,388) makes it a non-starter.
FACTBOX
Model: Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI
Engine: 1,998cc inline four-cylinder turbocharged petrol
Power/Torque: 211bhp/350Nm
Transmission: 7-speed S Tronic twin-clutch manual
0-100km/h: 7.2-seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 222km/h (claimed)
Consumption: 8.5-litres/100-kilometres (claimed)
Price: RM299,000
It's:
• remarkably good to drive
• quite spacious even if doesn't look it
• typically Audi, well-built
It's not:
• a better drive than the BMW X3
• much off an off-roader
• exactly cheap, even if it is cheaper than the X3.
You should buy it:
• If you're already looking at any other premium compact SUV; this is the
yardstick
You should not buy it:
• If you're keen on off-roading, the Freelander 2 still has the edge in the muck.
Review by Justin Ong. 09
Audi's march towards the number one premium auto-maker spot continues with the
introduction of their new Q5 crossover, a model that promises (like just about
every new crossover or SUV) to deliver 'real' saloon car dynamics in the shape on
an SUV. So far, there has only been one model in this segment that lives up to that
promise. Now, there are going to be two.
But before we get overexcited about what the Q5 can or cannot do, we need to
remind ourselves that the compact SUV segment has hitherto served up some
rather ordinary examples. Even at the pointy end, BMW's X3 is possibly one of the
brand's poorest models, what more the sea of middle-class also-rans that litter the
market.
Given the underwhelming competition, it would have been easy for Audi to just go
for slightly above par; that would have been enough for the course. But the
Germans have not let the mediocrity of the segment infect them, instead giving us
what will clearly raise the bar for the entire category.
As with the rest of the competition, the Q5 can only lay claim to being a soft-
roader. The Q5 itself doesn't sit very high and it lacks the hardware required for
serious mud-plugging. It can do some light off-roading, sufficient to take the
occasional jaunt off the beaten path but not much further. The mitigating factor is
that this hardly matters to the urban sophisticates who end up buying something
like this.
This is because Audi, like BMW before them, have given their compact SUV a very
definite road-going focus, something that the market has voted overwhelmingly for
with their pocketbooks. So it's no surprise that a lot of the emphasis for the
crossover is on the way behaves on blacktop.
Thanks to its underpinnings that come from the company's B-car platform, the
same that also provides us with the A4, the Q5 offers levels of control that fully
delivers on the promised 'car-like handling'. It even comes close to its rival from
Munich. Close enough, in fact, that the difference would be like splitting hairs.
As with the A4, the crossover also features the company's adaptive dampers that,
along with other aspects such as steering assist and engine mapping, can be
altered at a touch of the Drive Select button. This allows the Q5 to offer variable
degrees of ride and handling to suit both driver and conditions.
Dynamically, the Q5 drives as promised, with very controlled body movements
masking the vehicle's much taller centre of gravity. Although the SUV is some
220mm taller than the A4, it drives well enough that you soon forget that it is so.
With a responsive, even sharp, steering and generous levels of grip and traction,
the Q5 is capable of an entertaining drive.
At higher levels of commitment is where the Audi falls short of what BMW offers.
The front end gives up earlier and while balance is generally very good, the Q5
still comes across as nose-heavy as compared to the X3's more exploitable
chassis. All fine and good since Audi promises you 'car-like handling', and not the
'performance car-like handling' that BMW tends to lean towards.
Although it's no 'performance-car' in corners, the Q5 does come fitted with a
convincingly powerful engine in the form of the 2.0TFSI, with the requisite 211bhp
and 350Nm. From this, the SUV netts an acceleration time of 7.2-seconds to get
from nought to hundred plus a top whack of 222km/h. There's also a fancy
gearbox to go with the stonking engine, a seven-speed S Tronic dual-clutch
transmission that provides better performance and efficiency in one stroke,
{gallery}2009/may/q5/b{/gallery}Thanks to the quick-witted turbocharger and the
surplus of gear ratios, the Q5 always feels on the ball. Mid-range torque gives it
excellent acceleration response, allowing for smart overtaking and quick bursts of
speed. Top-end is not its forte, with the engine getting breathless well before you
hit peak revs.
Beyond just driving well, the Q5 also impresses with its pliable ride comfort. At low
levels, the Audi feels a tad on the firm side but this quickly dissipates with speed.
At its softest, the dampers do a good job of turning the SUV into a capable
highway cruiser though even the hardest Dynamic setting doesn't compromise the
ride as much as it does on the A4. The X3, well, let's not even go there.
On the inside, the precision and quality is sterling and were it not for the fact that
Audi seem have lifted the dashboard almost wholesale from the A4, there would be
little to complain about. Audis have a well-deserved reputation for premium content
and it's no different with the Q5. Intuitively laid out, with excellent tactility and
decent ergonomics, this is what a premium vehicle should feel like.
Once more, we have another Audi sans GPS module and this looks like its unlikely
to change anytime soon. The lack of the GPS is a double-whammy for buyers as
much of the personalisation of the Drive Select system and ancillary functions are
tied into the GPS package. Without it, there's no way to mix and match individual
settings to suit your tastes.
The biggest advantage that Euromobil will have when it comes to shifting these is
the very compelling price point. Weighing in at RM298,000 the Q5 undercuts
BMW's X3 (RM319,800) by a healthy margin while offering a level of quality and
performance that far surpasses it. The uncompetitive pricing of the Freelander 2
(RM271,388) makes it a non-starter.
FACTBOX
Model: Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI
Engine: 1,998cc inline four-cylinder turbocharged petrol
Power/Torque: 211bhp/350Nm
Transmission: 7-speed S Tronic twin-clutch manual
0-100km/h: 7.2-seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 222km/h (claimed)
Consumption: 8.5-litres/100-kilometres (claimed)
Price: RM299,000
It's:
• remarkably good to drive
• quite spacious even if doesn't look it
• typically Audi, well-built
It's not:
• a better drive than the BMW X3
• much off an off-roader
• exactly cheap, even if it is cheaper than the X3.
You should buy it:
• If you're already looking at any other premium compact SUV; this is the
yardstick
You should not buy it:
• If you're keen on off-roading, the Freelander 2 still has the edge in the muck.