As with its larger sibling, the Q5 is not a serious off-road tool, but rather the Audi for those who want a mid-sized estate but prefer an elevated driving position and enhanced ability in slippery conditions like snow or sand. The model is Ingolstadt’s response to the Land Rover Freelander 2, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60.
The petrol options are two flavours of 2.0 TFSI, the more powerful of which gets the a seven-speed incarnation of S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox, as do the 3.2-litre petrol V6 and the larger of the two diesels, the 3.0-litre V6.
Want to change gears yourself? Then you need either the lowest-powered TFSI or one of the two 2.0 TDIs.
Despite looking very much like a three-quarter-scale Q7, the Q5 is engineered from quite different building blocks. The Q7 owes its heritage to the Porsche Cayenne/Volkswagen Touareg, the Q5 to Audi’s new A4. The major differentiating factor is height – the Q5 is some 210mm taller than the A4 – but in other respects the two share similar dimensions, with practically identical wheelbases, while the Q5 is fractionally wider and, surprisingly, a little shorter.
For anyone with even a passing familiarity with current Audi products, the Q5 cabin is instantly recognisable. In many ways this is a good thing, for in all but one key element the Q5’s cabin is an example of excellent ergonomics. The dials and the air-con and entertainment controls are all cleanly designed, logically placed and, for the most part, manufactured from quality materials. It is, however, disappointing that the cabin isn’t more tailored for the Q5; other than the slightly taller dash, you could be in an A4. There is none of the flair you find, for example, in the VW Touareg, with its enlarged controls.
Audi’s excellent MMI control system, however, continues to impress with its ease of use, and in this third generation the graphics are much improved, particularly for the satellite navigation.
The critical flaw in the Q5’s cabin, and one inherited from the A4, is the driving position. In the translation to RHD, the gearbox bell housing pushes the pedal box to the right. Although the Q5’s higher-set driving position means this is less problematic than in the A4, it still necessitates an uncomfortable twist in the lower body, damaging long-distance comfort. For a premium manufacturer, this is a surprisingly basic mistake.
Elsewhere, the cabin is impressively spacious, with plenty of leg and headroom for four adults, five at a push. The rear seats – which split 60/40 and both slide and recline if you’ve specified the Rear Seat Plus option, are comfortable enough to ensure longer journeys will pass without complaint.
The deep 540-litre load bay is the biggest in its class, shading even the XC60's and putting the Freelander’s 405 litres to shame. As standard, the boot has a useful selection of hooks, power sockets and fastenings, which can be added to with Audi’s rail-mounted load securing system.
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