My Week with the Audi Q5

For my recent trip to the FIA World Endurance Championship race at Spa-Francorchamps the Audi UK Press Office provided me with a car for the week, which an Audi Q5 2.0 TDI quattro S line S tronic in 'Ice Silver'.  I did a blog with my initial thoughts while in Belgium but now I have had time to do a proper review of my time with the car.

Being a 4x4 my first impressions from behind the wheel of the Q5 was it was an imposing car. You sit up higher than in a 'normal' car but the layout of the controls is typically Audi, very logical, with everything falling where you expect it to be.  This S Line version also had full leather, which was sublimely comfortable on the long trip to Belgium.

To drive the Q5 was a joy.  I expected it to be a lumbering beast but, again, the drive was very 'Audi', sure footed and precise.  It had a bit more body roll in the corners than I usually like but I soon got used to.  The figures for top speed and acceleration are not mind blowing (top speed 124mph and 0-62 in 9 seconds) but the Q5 certainly felt quick enough in the real world.

The 7 speed S tronic automatic gearbox was a pleasure to use, especially in 'dynamic' mode which made the changes a bit more sporty.  You also had the option of using the gearbox in manual mode with the flappy paddles behind the steering wheel.  I used them a couple of times but stuck to the full auto when cruising along the European motorways.

The 170bhp 2.0 litre diesel was punchy enough and also relatively economical, I managed an average of 45mpg even when pushed hard.   I certainly didn't feel short changed have a 2.0 litre engine in such a large car.  

Space wise the cabin felt roomy with plenty of room for five adults but with luggage the boot soon filled up and the best compromise was four adults with some of the smaller of items of luggage spilling over into the back seats.  

All in all the Audi Q5 is a great car to take on a long drive to Spa-Francorchamps with plenty of room, a punchy diesel engine to cruise along the motorways and also economical enough not to break the bank everytime you stop for fuel.  

Thanks again Audi, now what shall I ask for in 2014? Hmmm....

 WHAT DOES IT COST?

CO2 emissions		159	g/km
Tax band		G
										Price (£)
Model		Q5 2.0 TDI quattro S line (177PS) S tronic								35,015.00
Exterior Colour		Ice Silver								615.00
Interior		Black Fine Nappa leather								-
Options		Storage package								125.00
		Interior light package								150.00
		Audi drive select								220.00
		Removable net partition								90.00
		Power-operated tailgate								385.00
		Rear bench seat plus								175.00
		Tyre pressure loss indicator								75.00
		High-beam assist								110.00
		Audi music interface								255.00
		*Satellite navigation - DVD Based								1,525.00
TOTAL										38740.00

Technical Data - Audi Q5 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic (177PS)
Status: May 2012
Engine / electronics
Engine type	Inline 4-cylinder diesel engine with VTG turbocharger, DOHC; TDI direct injection
Valve gear / number of valves per cylinder	Roller cam followers with hydraulic valve play compensation / 4
Displacement in cc	1968 / 81.0 x 95.5 / 16.0
Max. power output in PS / at rpm	177 / 4200
Max. torque in Nm (lb-ft) / at rpm	380 (280.27) / 1750 – 2500
Mixture preparation	Common rail injection system, 1800 bar with solenoid valve injectors, direct injection with eight-hole nozzles, VTG turbocharger with intercooler; swirl and tangential intake ports; volume, injection start, charge pressure, low temperature EGR control
Exhaust emission control	Oxidizing catalytic converter, SCR catalytic converter, water-cooled exhaust gas recirculation, coated maintenance-free diesel particulate filter
Emissions class	EU5
Alternator in A / battery in A/Ah	180 / 520/92
Start-stop system	Switches the engine off if the vehicle is stationary and the brake is engaged.
Drivetrain / transmission
Drive type	quattro permanent all-wheel drive with self-locking center differential, electronic stabilization control ESC
Clutch	Two electrohydraulically controlled multi-plate clutches in an oil bath
Transmission type	7-speed S tronic with electrohydraulic control
Gear ratio in 1st gear / 2nd gear	3.692 / 2.150
Gear ratio in 3rd gear / 4th gear	1.344 / 0.974
Gear ratio in 5th gear / 6th gear	0.739 / 0.574
Gear ratio in 7th gear	0.462
Reverse gear / final drive ratio	2.944 / 4.657
Suspension / steering / brakes
Front suspension	Five-link front suspension, upper and lower wishbones, tubular anti-roll bar
Rear suspension	Independent-wheel, trapezoidal-link rear suspension with resiliently mounted subframe, tubular anti-roll bar
Steering / steering ratio / turning circle in meters (D102) (feet)	Electromechanical steering with speed-dependent power assistance / 15.9 / 11.6 (38.06)
Brake system	Dual-circuit brake system with diagonal split, ABS/EBD and electronic stabilization control (ESC) with brake assist; tandem brake booster; front: ventilated disks / rear: disks
Performance / consumption / acoustics
Top speed in mph	124
Acceleration, 0-62mph in sec	9.0
Fuel / octane value	Diesel, according to EN 590 and DIN 51628 /
Fuel consumption: urban / extra urban / combined, mpg	41.5 / 50.4 / 47.1
CO2 mass emission, g/km	159
Idling / drive-past exterior noise level in dB (A)	69 / 70
Servicing / warranty
LongLife Service after max. miles	According to service indicator up to 19,000 or 2 years
Vehicle / paint / rust perforation guarantee	3 years or 60,000 miles / 3 years / 12 years
Weights / loads
Unladen weight according to EU (excluding driver) / (including driver) / gross weight limit in kg	1820 / 1895 / 2430
Axle load limit at front / rear in kg	1225  / 1340
Trailer load limit on 8% / 12% gradient, braked / unbraked in kg	2400  / 2000 (4409.25) / 750 (1653.47)
Roof load limit / permissible nose weight; in kg	75 (165.35) / 100 (220.46)
Capacities
Engine oil capacity (including filter) in litres	5
Fuel tank capacity in litres	75 / SCR tank: 23
Body / dimensions
Body type / number of doors / seats	Galvanized, unitary steel body, crumple zones at front and rear / 5 / 5
Drag coefficient Cd / frontal area A in m2	0.33 / 2.65
Length (L103) / width excluding mirrors (W103) / height (H101-M), mm	4629 / 1898 / 1655
Wheelbase (L101) / track at front/rear (W101-1/W101-2), mm	2807 / 1617 / 1614
Height of loading lip in mm (H196)	694
Luggage capacity in litres (cubic feet), according to VDA block method (V211) / rear seat bench folded	540 (19.07) (V211-2) / loaded up to roof with rear seat folded down: 1560 (55.09) (V214-1)