Price: From R424 085
The Audi Q7 is a nice SUV -“ but goodness gracious-¦ ever tried to park that enormous thing? A bikini wax is more fun. Thankfully, there is a solution to the Q7 dilemma. It is called the Q5, and it’s just as nice and feature-rich as the mighty Q7-¦ but a whole lot smaller and more manoeuvrable. Like the Q7, it boasts exceptional build quality -“ there isn’t a rattle or squeak in sight. In fact, the quality of the entire vehicle is faultless. We have driven far more expensive cars that don’t even come close.
Audi has pegged its new Q5 as an SUV that combines saloon car handling with a versatile interior and a modicum of off-road ability. The subject of a driving impression in the October 2008 issue of CAR magazine, the Q5 is expected to be launched on the SouThe Q5 is 4,63 metres long, 1,88 metres wide, and 1,65 metres high, which according to Audi, proves that “this is an SUV of all-new proportions”. Audi claims that with a wheelbase of 2,81 metres, the Q5 has the roomiest interior in its class. The Q5 can accommodate five people, and has a luggage capacity of 540 litres that can expand to 1 560 litres if the backrests for the rear seats are folded down.
Audi’s signature single-frame grille dominates the front end of the Q5, while the rear of this vehicle features a wraparound tailgate and lights with LED technology. Three external trim options are on offer for the Q5, with the standard option being black, followed by contrasting colour and a full paint finish in the colour of the car. If these aren’t enough for you, Audi also offers two Q5 body packages – the S-line exterior package and an off-road package that includes underbody protection and 19-inch alloys. The standard vehicle comes fitted with 17-inch lightweight forged wheels.
The Q5 is powered by one of three engine variants – one petrol and two turbodiesel units. All units feature direct-injection and are turbocharged. The petrol unit is a four-cylinder 2,0-litre TFSI with Audi’s valvelift system for variable control of valve lift. Power for this unit reaches a maximum of 155 kW, and 350 N.m torque from 1 500 r/min to 4 200 r/min. The zero to 100 km/h sprint can be completed in 7,2 seconds, and the 2,0-lite TFSI Q5 can reach a claimed top speed of 222 km/h.
The common-rail fuel injected 2,0-litre TDI unit has power outputs of 125 kW and 350 N.m of torque that is available between the rev range of 1 750 and 2 500 r/min. It takes this Q5 9,5 seconds to reach 100 km/h from standstill, and can carry on until it reaches its top speed of 204 km/h. Audi claims an average fuel consumption level of 6,7-litres/ 100 km.
The top-of-the-range unit is the 176 kW 3,0-litre V6 TDI powerplant. The 500 N.m of torque in this unit is delivered at 1 500 r/min, and stays there until it reaches 3 000 r/min. This V6 diesel has a claimed zero to 100 km/h sprint time of 6,5 seconds, and can carry on until the needle reaches 225 km/h. On average, Audi claims the 3,0-litre engine consumes a claimed fuel amount of 7,7-litres/100 km.
In the 2,0-litre TDI, drive is sent to all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, while the 3,0-litre TDI and 2,0-litre TFSI make use of Audi’s seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission. Audi claims, “This high-tech component can execute gearshifts in just a fraction of a second while offering exceptional comfort and efficiency.” Gears can also be selected manually via switches on the steering wheel.
As it utilizes the A4/A5 platform, the Q5 features a differential located ahead of the clutch, and immediately behind the engine. This repositions the front axle well forward, resulting in a long wheelbase and an even axle load distribution. The Q5 is also equipped with Audi’s quattro permanent all-wheel drive, which distributes the engine’s power 40:60 between the front and rear wheels in normal conditions. If need be, the quattro powertrain can divert up to 65 percent of the torque to the front wheels, or as much as 85 percent to the rear. The Q5’s five-link front suspension and the trapezoidal-link rear suspension are made substantially from aluminium.
The interior can be appointed in a number of materials such as aluminium, wood, chrome, leather and Alcantara. Such items as the automatic air conditioning and 8-speaker sound system are included as standard. Optional extras include Audi’s MMI navigation plus with hard drive and DVD drive, a Bluetooth phone, a TV tuner, an intelligent speech recognition system, digital radio reception, an interface for an iPod or MP3 player with USB connection, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system. High-tech driver aids include Audi’s parking system with rearview camera, lane assist, which alerts the driver to potential hazards when changing lane and adaptive cruise control.
Hill descent assist is fitted as standard to all models in the Q5 range. This system holds the vehicle’s speed at below 30 km/h when negotiating steep declines. In addition, the Q5’s ESP and ABS systems also use special characteristic maps for off-road driving capable of making adjustments for loose surfaces.
