I have owned four Audis in my driving lifetime and loved them all. My favourite was an A6 wagon.
The Q5 is a mid-size SUV and feels roomily cosy rather than cavernous. Its interior smelt like heaven - all that soft, matt charcoal/black leather and the seats were comfortable with easy adjustment electrical buttons rather than the push/pull of manual levers that I can never work.
Driving the car for less than a couple of hours, I can’t comment on whether any derriere numbness may have set in on a longer drive. The seats, though comfy, are not overly soft. Getting in and out of the car is a breeze, too, even for a shorty like me. Mr PN drove around the ‘hood’ for a while. This car eases effortlessly around our local chicanes and, unlike some SUVs, has no ‘tippy’ feeling.
Swapping places with Mr PN, I adjusted mirrors and the driver’s seat. The Q5 practically drives itself. It is extremely quiet and I almost felt like I was flying a plane, it was that smooth. We both agreed how safe we felt sitting up high and knowing there were airbags galore surrounding us. Being up high, visibility is excellent.
The Q5 took to motorway driving like a duck to water. The engine is a 4-cylinder diesel with a common rail injection system and turbocharging system. Great take-off with no real lag. It zoomed up hills like the pro it is. Gone are the old diesel drawbacks. The steering is smooth as butter and the safety features are top-notch - eg, AEB pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, eight airbags. LEDs flash in the door card if a cyclist approaches from behind. This is a spectacular safety feature that would give me peace of mind. I’m nervous about cyclists. And there are more and more on our roads.
The infotainment system looks suave and minimalist, has everything and more you want and need, is easy to use and has an intuitive layout.
Roomy in the back seat, too. This is a vehicle that I would be happy to drive around town or on long distances. It can even go off-road. Plenty of room in the boot for suitcases and more.
The Q5 is premium German motoring. It has definitely swayed me back to Audi. I can happily picture the vehicle parked in my driveway.
Take a test drive, you’ll be impressed, I’m sure. (DEIRDRE THURSTON)