It’s been around since 2017, this second generation of the Audi Q5 SUV but it has been given a bit of a facelift to help it to keep up with rivals, including the BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC.
Based on the same MLB platform of siblings, the A4 and A5, the use of more aluminium in the chassis has reduced weight by a useful 90kg, which benefits both fuel economy and road manners.
In truth, little enough has been done to the exterior. You’d be hard pressed to notice the new LED lights and tweaked grille and I don’t think I’d be able to tell old from new at the rear.
That’s no bad thing as the Q5 is a handsome vehicle and it will please existing owners and newcomers to the brand.
My test car came in a very handsome green colour. Some would describe it as army green but I’d prefer hunter welly green or Barbour green. I really liked it and judging by the many people who commented favourably on it unsolicited, it’s a real crown pleaser and suits the car very well.
Inside, there’s a bit more going on, with a bigger 10” touch screen mounted in the dashboard. In a slightly retrograde step, Audi have got rid of their clickwheel which used to reside between the seats. Instead, you rely only on the touchscreen to control various systems in the car and I think that’s a mistake. Once you get used to the menus, it’s far easier to use a physical wheel without having to take your eyes off the road as much. Of course, there’s voice control but I tend to use that only to dial phone numbers.
My test car didn’t have satellite navigation built in but that was no great problem as wireless Apple CarPlay is standard so Google maps did a fine job in its place. The only issue was that you often had to switch off the car and restart it for the CarPlay system to connect. Apparently it’s a common problem so a firmware update might be able to resolve it.
In other ways, the interior is a really nice place to spend time in, with comfortable heated seats, covered in an attractive cloth. There’s plenty of room both front and rear and a 550 litre boot swallows a lot of luggage, a fact that I appreciated as we went on a staycation the week I had the Q5.
The car doesn’t set out to be a sports car, a mistake many SUVs succumb to. Instead it majors on comfort and convenience, attributes much more important to buyers of these vehicles. Your heart won’t skip a beat at the sublime way the car scythes through a corner, but neither will you or your passengers find anything to complain about when it comes to comfort.
There are a range of engine options, including a plug in hybrid TFSI e, but most buyers will probably end up with one of two 2.0 litre turbodiesels with either 150 or 190bhp. My test car came with the 150bhp version of this engine and performance was entirely adequate, especially with the automatic gearbox ensuring that you were always in the right gear. At times it seemed a bit reluctant to change down, but a healthy shove on the accelerator sorted that. I was pleasantly surprised too by the fuel economy, which regularly dipped below 6l/100km, making this a fine long distance tourer.
Priced from €56,975, there’s a choice between SE and S Line trims. Standard equipment includes items such as 18” alloys, 3 zone air conditioning, front and rear parking sensors, rear camera, cruise control, heated seats and the Audi smartphone interface.
S Line adds front sports seats, S line interior and exterior styling, black headlining, privacy glass and stainless steel pedals.
The standard car comes with front wheel drive but of course, being an Audi, there are quattro options available as well.
Also available is the Q5 Sportback, which adds coupé like styling to the rear of the car, but otherwise is pretty much the same under the skin. For those who need more performance, there’s the SQ5 with its 3.0 litre V6 diesel engine. I’ve tried this powertrain in the A4 and it’s a real peach.
Something for all tastes then.
