Review
/5
- Pros:
- Car-like to drive
- Excellent build quality
- Strong resale values
- Cons:
- Stiff suspension
- High price tag
- Not really designed to go off-road
reviewed by Carbuyer
"The compact Q5 is easy to drive and has a practical interior. However, stiff suspension and a high price dent its overall appeal."
At a glance
- The greenest
- 2.0 TDI quattro 143PS 5dr
£28,025 - The cheapest
- 2.0 TFSI quattro 180PS 5dr
£28,000 - The fastest
- 3.2 FSI quattro S line 5dr
£39,115 - Top of the range
- 3.0 TDI quattro S line Plus 240PS 5dr
£42,140
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Despite a firm ride and limited off-road ability, the Audi Q5 is still a very desirable car. Aimed at the Land Rover Freelander 2, it has the build quality and refinement of an Audi saloon but the practicality and space of a larger 4x4, so it's an excellent compromise. Thanks to big seats, it's very comfortable too. If it weren't for the slightly stiff ride Audi would have built a clear class leader. The choice of engines is good, and the excellent 2.0 TDI diesel is the best of the bunch, as it offers pace and economy in equal measure.
Drive
Accurate steering and reassuring handling
The Q5's accurate steering and reassuring handling are impressive. And because Audi thinks that most Q5 owners won't take the car off-road, it has been specifically tailored to perform best on tarmac. As we have already said, the ride is quite firm. Even so, the steering is very precise, and the optional 'Drive Select' system allows the driver to alter the set-up of the car between sportier or more comfortable settings. It's not designed for extreme adventure, but the Q5 will cope with light off-roading. It has features like hill descent control, and an off-road setting for the traction control to ensure it can cope with muddy tracks and slippery ground.
Comfort
There's plenty of space for passengers
The suspension is stiff, but not to the point where it's uncomfortable. For the most part, the Q5 soaks up bumps and undulations in the road well. There's a little wind noise in the cabin, but not so much that it becomes intrusive. There's plenty of space for passengers in the front and the rear, so long journeys shouldn't be a problem.
Reliability
The Q5 is well put together
The Q5 uses tried and tested engines from existing Audis. Build quality has always been high on the firm's agenda, and things haven't changed with the Q5 – it has a fine high-quality interior with robust materials that are well put together. During Euro NCAP crash testing in 2009 the Audi Q5 received a five-star rating. Watch the crash test video here.
Practicality
There's additional storage space hidden beneath the boot floor
There's 540 litres of boot space with all the seats in place, but fold the rear ones down and that grows to a huge 1,560 litres. Buyers can specify runners for the rear seats that allow them to slide back and forth by 100mm to increase boot or legroom, and there's additional storage space hidden beneath the boot floor. Up front, big door pockets, a large central cubby and a sizeable glovebox are all useful.
Value for money
optional extras are expensive
The Q5's starting price is high and optional extras are expensive, but it has a generous amount of standard kit. Because of the prestige of the Audi badge on the bonnet, the Q5 will be worth more than many equivalent cars, such as the BMW X3 and Land Rover Freelander when you come to sell it on.
Running costs
The 2.0TDI is cheapest to run
We'd recommend the 2.0 TDI diesel, as it's one of the cheapest models to buy and offers the best mix of economy and performance: the entry-level 2.0 TDI quattro returns 43.5mpg on average. Road tax costs are considerably lower than those of the 2.0 TFSI petrol, and the diesel is likely to cling to its value better too.
*Our monthly finance prices are updated on a regular basis, but due to the dynamic nature of the market are not guaranteed accurate. You can always confirm the monthly finance price with FinanceAcar.
