Form an orderly Q for new Audi

Pop quiz: what’s Audi’s best selling car worldwide?

Nope, it’s not the A3 or A4, or even its cheapest model the A1. It’s the Q5.

Which makes this a very important car. It was first launched almost a decade ago, in 2008. A mid-life refresh happened around five years ago and now the all-new second generation model has come along.

It sits on the same platform as the A4 but uses some bits from the much more expensive Q7. It’s lighter than before, with subtly sharper looks and bags more technology inside.

Unlike many rivals, all models are four-wheel drive. Audi has ditched manual gearboxes in the Q5 and the second gen model comes with seven or eight-speed automatic transmission.

There’s a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine with 286bhp, which is a sublime unit, and a 252bhp 2.0-litre petrol, which is likely to sell in paltry numbers.

The overwhelming number of Q5 buyers will have the same engine as my test car, a 190bhp 2.0-litre diesel.

It doesn’t have the abundance of power the big V6 brings to the table but it’s on par or better than rivals’ 2.0-litre units. It manages a strong 56.5mpg.

My girlfriend and I run a five-year-old Q5 – which we love – but the leap forward over both was obvious in a back-to-back drive.

The new model improves when it comes to ride comfort, refinement and handling, with a much sharper feel when you turn in to corners.

The raised driving position gives a terrific view of the road and it’s a tremendous mile muncher.

The new one’s ever so slightly bigger too, and has been cleverly repackaged to boost rear space. There still isn’t as much room as a Land Rover Discovery Sport (which comes with seven seats) but it’s as good as a BMW X3 or Volvo XC60. You can also specify a sliding rear seat to prioritise rear legroom or boot space.

The interior is crammed with technology, beautifully laid out, and easy to use. The infotainment screen does everything from sat nav, radio and music streaming to mirroring what’s on your phone screen. There’s also Audi’s excellent Virtual Cockpit, a 12.3in display in place of the usual dashboard, which puts most of that info in front of the driver’s eyes.

With prices starting around £38,000 the Q5 isn’t cheap, but with four-wheel drive and auto transmission as standard it features plenty its rivals charge extra for.

The new model improves when it comes to ride comfort, refinement and handling