My family and other animals
The goldfish has just died. But all the remaining members of the household have plenty to say about the Q5 Sportback.
It wasn’t all that long ago that CAR was inundated by a letter from Disgruntled of Penge who complained I was using Our Cars reports to let you all know what the other members of my family thought of the current incumbent.
A motoring writer having the temerity to differentiate between a first drive and a long-term report by actually including the views of other regular users of the car...?
So, by way of a slightly tearful goodbye to this much enjoyed jalopy, here are the carefully considered views of every resident of ff-C Towers on life with a Q5…
The missus loves the Audi. For her it cuts exactly the right dash among the Mudfordshire set. She relishes a specification that obviates the requirement to spend five minutes switching stuff off every time she climbs aboard, and delights in analogue air-con controls which, with the turn of a dial, may be instantly harmonised with her own thermostat.
A car nut, the elder hooligan finds the rear seats more comfortable than those up front for longer journeys, though claims the rear climate controls ‘don’t really do anything.’ He thinks the Bang & Olufsen sound system is sensational. Bluetooth pairing takes longer than it should and is far too hard to find within the screen menus. And the powered tailgate is very sensitive to obstructions.
The younger hooligan enjoys a heated front seat, but is unhappy with the B&O sound astern. This may have quite a bit to do with the fact that he never takes his earphones out…
The evil-smelling dog has so little interest in passing panoramas that the rear screen is spared slobber, and is grateful for a carpeted loadspace which cuts down on scrabbling during hard cornering. The punishment for the latter is, however, sufficiently noxious to leave other occupants somewhat lacking in gratitude.
The cat shows no interest in the Audi other than the occasional disdainful sniff of a front bumper. The Q5’s ground clearance does, though, create an agreeably spacious loggia within which to toy with lightly killed mice.
Me? All of the above. Well, except the mouse thing. I love the fact that the Q5 properly takes off when you put your foot down, and hate the all too frequent cost of adding another 500 miles at the pumps.
Count the cost
Cost new £55,235 Part-exchange £41,664 Cost per mile 22.4p Cost per mile including depreciation £2.43 Audi Q5 Sportback 45 TFSI 265PS S-line S-tronic Month 6
The story so far
Arrivederci Audi. It’s been a slice ★ Sensible specification; analogue control content; performance - Wallet-wincingly thirsty under a careless right foot
Logbook
Price £49,990 (£55,235 (as tested)
Performance 1984cc turbocharged four-cylinder, 261bhp, 6.1sec 0-62mph, 149mph Efficiency 32.5mpg (official), 28.8mpg (tested), 197g/km CO2 Energy cost 24.7 per mile Miles this month 771 Total miles 7375