FORM AN ORDERLY Q!
AND they’re off. Showrooms in england and Wales re-opened their doors this week with Covid-compliant measures in place, and I’ve been celebrating behind the wheel of a new Audi SUv. Customers are now allowed back into sanitised showrooms to see new ‘21-plate’ cars in the metal, and to test drive them unaccompanied, with safety measures including appointments, face- coverings and one-way systems. Showrooms in Scotland re-opened on April 5.
Click-and-collect and online deliveries, likely to continue as they’ve proved so successful, helped dealerships keep sales flowing last month, with 283,964 registered sales — up 11.5 per cent on last year.
Ahead of first deliveries next month, I drove Audi’s new Q5 Sportback S-Line 45 TFSI Quattro five-seater, created for families who want a practical
SUv laced with sleek coupe styling. It’s powered by a willing 2.0-litre four-cylinder TFSI petrol engine which develops 265hp giving enough oomph to accelerate with gusto from rest to 62mph in 6.1 seconds up to a top speed of 149 mph. It feels big, but it’s nimble with a sporty, sprightly and dynamic performance. The smooth but energetic automatic dual clutch seven- speed S-Tronic transmission looks after you nicely, but manual paddles on the steering wheel offer handson engagement.
Claimed fuel economy is a decent 33.6 mpg, with CO2 emissions of 192 g/ km, but initial road tax is high.
Although sleeker, sportier and more coupe-like than the standard Q5 SUv, it is almost exactly the same height and width, but slightly longer. Prices for the Q5 Sportback range start from £46,215, and my 45 TFSI model from £47,240. The 2.0-litre diesel 40 TDI Quattro is priced from £46,215, with other models to follow. Mark-up from SUv to Sportback is roughly £2,500. The range-topping vorsprung trim costs from £64,930 to £75,715.
A sliding rear bench seat adds inches to boot or leg space, but sadly is available only in the vorsprung trim. Shame.