All-new Audi Q5 grows larger but lighter
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transfer up to 100 percent of drive to the rear wheels as needed.
A new electromechanical power steering system is standard, and buyers can opt for Audi’s variable-ratio ‘Dynamic’ steering.
The new Audi Q5 rides on fivelink suspension all round, with either steel springs and selectable damper control through up to seven modes, or adaptive air suspension that adds the ability to vary the ride height through five stages.
Inside, the optional virtual cockpit displays the instrumentation on a 31cm screen in your choice of classic mode, with two large round dials for speed and revs, or a digital mode where the navigation map or lists dominate.
The MMI operating logic is based on the flat hierarchies used in smartphones, bringing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into the new Q5, along with a phone box that not only wirelessly connects your phone to the car’s system, but also charges it inductively at the same time.
The base Q5, in either petrol or diesel format, is trimmed in a mix of genuine and artificial leather, with 17” wheels, an ambient lighting package with 30 colours, drive select, three-zone automatic air-conditioning, cruise control, pre-sense city with pedestrian alert and automatic emergency braking, dynamic suspension, tyre pressure monitoring, rear parking sensors and display, a leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel, and a stainless steel scuff plate on the tailgate sill among other features.
The Sport trim spec adds 18” rims, aluminium door-sill trims, full body colour bumpers, high gloss exterior trim and aluminium interior trim inlays, LED headlights, sports seats and a chrometrimmed steering wheel.
Options for either model include adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, active lane assist, distance warning alert, cross traffic assist rear, exit warning, collision avoidance assist and turn assist.
The big brother of the Q5 family boasts a 2995cc V6 TFSI with a twin-scroll turbocharger (replacing the the mechanical compressor of the previous engine) nestled in the 90 degree V between the cylinder banks.
It’s rated for 260kW and 500Nm from 1370-4500rpm and it’ll take the SQ5 from a standstill to 100km/h in a claimed 5.4 seconds, with terminal velocity electronically governed to 250 km/h.
Unlike its two-litre sisters, the eight-speed tiptronic transmission feeds drive to a traditional quattro permanent all-wheel drive layout, with a slight rear-axle bias as its default mode.
Torque control gently brakes the inside wheels in hard cornering to negate understeer, while the optional sports rear differential literally pushes the car into a curve, and sends more drive to the outside rear wheel when accelerating out of tight corners.
With the standard steel springs, continuous damping control settings are integrated into the drive select system along with the engine, steering, tiptronic and optional sport differential.
The optional S-specific adaptive air suspension also lets you adjust ride according to the driving situation. PRICES: Q5 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic - R698 000 Q5 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic Sport - R748 000 Q5 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic - R747 500 Q5 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic Sport - R797 500 SQ5 3.0 TFSI quattro Tiptronic - R1 044 000 Prices include 5 year/100 000km Audi Freeway Plan