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By MURRAY
HUBBARD
23 March 2009
With
large car sales under the pump in recent years, there's one market
segment that has bucked the trend rather well: large SUVs.
Vehicles like VW Touareg, Porsche Cayenne and Audi's Q7.
With the trend to smaller vehicles gaining traction, thanks to
uncertain fuel prices and the slowing economy, is it possible the
large SUVs could lose their glitter ... and buyers look to
downsize into less expensive, cheaper-to-run SUVs?
Audi has entered the compact luxury segment BMW created with the
X3, with the new Q5 range. These are luxury compact to mid-size
SUVs, although the Audi is closer in most respects to a large
sporty hatch than the monolithic Q7.
It is powered by four engine options, all sporty, and all
economical.
Pricing starts from under $60,000 and Audi believes it will find
new Australian homes for around 1000 Q5s this year, as long as the
economy doesn't fall flat on its face.
The vehicle's styling is far from the boxy trend that has crept
into SUV design lately and the Q5 has a frontal resemblance to A6
Avant, while the rear view is decidedly hatchback, with a
wraparound tailgate, similar to the Q7, and some styling cues
similar to the TT. It's a smart package by any gauge.
While the skin is attractive, the Q5 gets better as you drive it
with its A4 heritage shining through where it matters, in
performance.
The Audi Q5 hits our shores with two frugal, but sporty engines to
start with, the V6 3.0 litre turbo-diesel (176 kW power/500 Nm
torque) also found in the much larger Q7, and the highly respected
2.0 TFSI petrol (155 kW/350 Nm).
In April/May these engines will be joined by a 2.0-litre TDI (125
kW/350 Nm) engine that uses just 6.8 litres per 100 kilometres and
a grunty 3.2-litre FSI petrol engine(199 kW/330 Nm).
All engines are linked to a seven-speed S tronic dual clutch
sports gearbox.
Sales will be led by the entry level variants, the 2.0-litre TDI
and 2.0-litre TFSI which hit the road, before on costs, at $59,990
and are expected to make up 70 per cent of Q5 sales.
The 3.0 litre TDI is expected to capture 25 per cent and will set
you back $71,900 while the 3.2-litre FSI will grab just five per
cent and cost $69,900.
But the cost of the Audi Q5 can quickly escalate if you take on
board Audi's extensive option list. It's not difficult to blow to
budget out to around $90,000 as some of vehicles trucked into the
press launch revealed.
Audi's option list includes: Folding front passenger seat $350;
Navigation system $6200; TV reception $2175; 20-inch rims and
tyres $4675 (on entry level variants); Audi Drive Select with
adaptive dampers $3050; Audi Drive Select with adaptive dampers
and dynamic steering $5215; Audi side-assist and lane-departure
warning $2300; electric tailgate $1065 and adaptive cruise control
$2230.
Both the 3.0 TDI and 2.0 TFSI suffer from slight turbo-lag when
you plant the right foot from a standing start. Then, however,
it's all business as the cars hit highway speed in 6.5 seconds and
7.2 seconds, according to Audi. However, we found the timing
closer to 8.1 seconds and 8.6 seconds when we ran our own tests.
Both engines are small and refined and Audi has NVH (Noise,
vibration and harshness) well and truly sorted.
Cruising at 100 km/h by sound alone it is impossible to
distinguish what is under the bonnet, petrol or diesel.
Audi Q5 is equally at home on the open road, twisty hill climbs or
moderately rough bush tracks.
The suspension irons out dreaded off-road corrugations with no
hint of tail slide and you have the option of using the manual
gearshift changes or paddles, or leaving it in automatic.
Hill Descent Control is standard across the four variants and
works in gear, in neutral and in reverse up to 30 km/h, but as low
as 7 km/h on the steep descents. The reality is most Q5s are
unlikely to see too much rough stuff.
The car comes with ESP and ABS and the ESP adjusts to a higher
centre of gravity when roof rails are fitted, cutting in more
quickly should it be needed in an emergency.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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