Is The Q5 A Good Choice For A Luxury SUV?
I had the keys to this Q5 for a week. Here are my thoughts.
This year for our 2-year wedding anniversary, my wife and I took a road trip to Nashville, Tennessee. A trip of 1,800 miles in total. Driving there, around the area, and back I mean. In that time of having the Q5, I learned a few things about it that I liked about it and what I didn't like. As we all know, Audi is one of the major manufacturers of luxury. So, let me tell you what I think.
Exterior Styling
"...extra bit of..."
The exterior styling of the Q5 is simple. It doesn't offer much beauty but where it lies is what makes it an Audi. Sure, the curves and lines make it easy to look at, but when gazing upon the headlights, that is where one could get fixed. Why? It is because the headlights add that extra bit of flair and character to the front fascia. It makes it look more aggressive.
Interior Design
"...to fidget around..."
The interior design in the Q5 is traditional Audi. Wood and leather trim alongside some plastic and metal in the right areas. Plenty of cabin space to sit comfortably in every seat. Tons of space in the trunk to hold a few suitcases, or a month's worth of groceries. The seats offer plenty of comfort and support, but only for short trips, and I mean short. About an hour and a half into the drive to Tennessee (13-hour total drive) I was already quite uncomfortable to the point of having to fidget around to maintain some form of comfort. I used the heated seats, which were not useful nor did they give off much warmth. Eventually, I must've gone numb from being uncomfortable because the rest of the drive to Tennessee, around the area, and back it didn't seem to bother me much.
Pricing and Options
So, how much does this Audi Q5 cost? After adding everything up, the total cost comes to $53,040. What does that get a potential owner? For safety, the Q5 comes with advanced airbag protection, ABS with brake assist, TPMS, front and rear parking sensors with camera, electronic stability control, Audi pre-sense basic collision detection, Audi pre-sense city forward collision warning, and avoidance assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic warning, adaptive cruise control, active lane assist, and 360-degree camera system. For comfort and convenience, the Q5 comes with sat-nav, powered and heated front seats with memory position for the driver, heated tilt and telescoping steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, Bang & Olufsen sound system with 3D sound, infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay compatibility, and nothing much else to report on.
Performance
"...for the most..."
The 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder produces 261-horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels thanks to the Quattro system. With my driving habits and the long road trip, I was able to achieve 28 miles per gallon for its fuel economy. As far as ride comfort went, everything but the seats were for the most part great. The suspension didn't allow any drama or instability. The steering was light and direct at the same time. For braking, the weight of the Q5 can be felt but the brakes worked really well.
Conclusion
"...it would not..."
So, is the Q5 the choice for a luxury SUV? In short, yes. But only because it is all functional for luxury. But it would not be my choice. The Q5 did not feel luxurious in all aspects. Especially for the price. The uncomfortable seats. The overall feel of the interior. Sure, wood, metal, and leather are all fine and dandy, but the quality feels cheap. And that's where the price comes in. The Q5 is overpriced, in my opinion. Why? Because there are cheaper cars to buy that feel just as nice, if not, nicer than the Q5. So, in the words of Shania Twain, "That don't impress me much."
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Comments (12)
A Nice, Simple, and Effecient Review. Good Job!
Thank you!
Surprised the seats were crap. The A6 allroad I had some time ago had excellent seats. Drove the car back-and-forth across USA several times, and felt as fresh in the evening as I did in the morning.
The Cadillac CTS all wheel drive wagon, otoh, that I had later had shitty seats - could never get comfortable in them.
But it was a drop dead gorgeous car. Cried when I sold it. Drove it a few time across USA as well back-pain and all.
And it was very reliable. the Audi went through 3 sets of suspension air bags in a matter of two years. One day the wipers stopped working on it, because the hazard flasher switch died, LOl!
Damn. That's crazy. I would love to drive across the US. Especially since my starting point is already NJ.
Well, I80 starts in NYC, and goes all the way to San Francisco.
See real "America" when you drive that highway.
Go for it!
@tribe New article is up! What do you think? I know it's been a while.