2017 Audi Q5 new car review

There is, as Oscar Wilde said, a certain element of importance in being earnest. And there is no more earnest a car than Audi's second-generation Q5 soft roader.

It is a serious machine, not just for the German car maker but also for the booming luxury SUV segment.

Just how important it is to Audi was exemplified this week as the local division confirmed it has air freighted a fleet of the new models to Australia months ahead of its official showroom arrival. A handful of them will be used by Audi Australia for promotional activities, but most have been delivered to dealerships across the country as early demonstrator models to lure customers as stock of the superseded model has almost dried up.

The second-generation Q5 will initially be available from June in three distinct models, two diesel-powered four cylinder variants and a petrol four cylinder alternative with the high-performance SQ5 (which has switched from diesel to petrol power) likely to arrive at the same time, but still to be confirmed.

All of them feature a more advanced quattro all-wheel drive transmission and are built on a new platform that despite having a larger footprint is lighter and stronger than the previous car. There is also extra standard equipment in each variant as well as a more comprehensive suite of electronic safety systems.

The range starts at $65,900 (plus on-road costs) for the 2.0 TDI quattro S Tronic in entry-level Design trim, an increase of $2300 over its predecessor and within $100 of matching the Mercedes-Benz GLC. In its most basic specification, the Q5 rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and has tri-zone climate control, partial leather seats, keyless entry, powered tailgate with gesture command opening and a 7.0-inch multimedia display with sat nav, digital radio, Bluetooth and smartphone mirroring.

In terms of safety systems, it comes equipped with eight airbags, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear cross traffic assistance, blind spot and exit warnings and automated parking assistance with reverse camera.

The turbo diesel can also be had in Sport trim, which costs $70,700 (plus on-roads) and adds larger 20-inch alloys, adaptive LED headlights, full coloured body enhancements, sports front seats, a higher grade 10-speaker audio system and a larger 8.3-inch multimedia display with upgraded navigation and a DVD player. It also brings Audi's 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster as well as adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality for heavy traffic, automatic high beams and Audi's turn assist system.

The same level of equipment is offered on the 2.0 TFSI quattro S Tronic Sport that costs $73,500 (plus on-roads). The only difference is it is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo charged petrol engine that produces 185kW and 370Nm whereas the TDI variants have a turbo diesel engine of the same capacity that generates 140kW and 400Nm. The former is the faster of the two options, with a claimed ability to sprint from 0-100km/h in just 6.3 seconds, while the latter is more efficient, consuming a claimed average of 5.3L/100km.

As part of Audi's pre-launch activities we got to sample two versions of the TDI Sport during a preview drive program around Canberra this week.And first impressions are extremely positive.

The original, current, or superseded Q5 (depending on how you look at it) already sat in the Goldilocks zone among Audi's expanding range of SUVs, in terms of offering decent space for small families and solid driving dynamics. But, considering the rapid development of connectivity systems since it first arrived almost a decade ago, its cabin had started to become fairly outdated.

The new Q5 addresses all of that, and more, while improving the flexibility and capacity of its interior and refining its road manners.

For starters, the dashboard is more modern in its design with all the key controls logically laid out via beautifully crafted buttons and knobs. There's also excellent small item storage with deep door bins in both the front and rear, a small binnacle at the base of the dash for a mobile phone and a clever tray under the lid of the centre console that slides back and forth to reveal, or cover, the twin cupholders.

The basic ergonomics are well thought out too, with the wide but comfortable front seats offering plenty of adjustment and great forward vision through the expansive windscreen. There's good space in the rear for a couple of adults to travel without too much discomfort, particularly when fitted with the sliding fore-and-aft adjustment as part of the $1900 Comfort Pack that also brings electric adjustment for the steering column, memory function for the driver's seat and heated and folding wing mirrors.

The Virtual Cockpit display is crisp and clear even under direct sunlight, the multimedia system offers much more functionality than before and is easier to navigate around via the rotary controller and touch pad located ahead of the gearlever in the centre console.

As for how it drives, first impressions are that it could set a few class benchmarks in terms of overall refinement. We'll reserve final judgement until we put it up against its rivals - such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW X3 - after it has officially arrived in showrooms, but it is impressively quiet on the road and offers a nice balance between overall comfort and surefooted handling.

The steering is typical of Audi in that it is light and lacking direct communication with the front wheels in the default Comfort setting, but in any case it is precise and agile, making it easy to manouevre through tight urban areas and yet it feels surefooted and stable when hurried out on the open road.

We sampled two cars in Canberra, one fitted with conventional single-rate dampers in the suspension and the other with the optional adaptive dampers that cost $1654. While there was a subtle improvement in body control when the electronic dampers were switched to their sportiest setting, it wasn't necessarily definitive enough to warrant the extra spend, particularly when the basic set-up is as well-sorted as it is. There is still some pattering over small bumps and body roll under hard cornering, but it is generally pretty comfortable in most environments.

The diesel engine adds to the effortless character of the car when on the move, thanks to its strong surge of mid-range pulling power. It is also amazingly quiet at highway speeds and produces a rorty note (for its type) under heavy acceleration.

The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic invisibly swap cogs when left to its own devices, but the driver can also take over and use the paddle shifters for manual operation.

It's not all perfect though, as one gripe that kept on bugging me was its hesitation to move away swiftly from a standstill. It feels like it takes an eternity for its stop-start system to awaken the engine, then for the clutches in the seven-speed gearbox to engage while the engine builds turbo boost at low engine speeds. It can be overcome by switching the stop-start off, or pre-empting the traffic lights going green, for example, but it also feels like it could be better calibrated.

Anyway, apart from that, the Audi Q5 is an impressive machine in a critical segment of the luxury market.

It might not be wild, but it is importantly very earnest. And very good. 

2017 Audi Q5 TDI Sport price and specifications

Price: $70,700 (plus on-road costs)

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel

Power: 140kW at 3800-4200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1750-3000rpm

Transmission: 7-spd dual-clutch automatic, AWD

Fuel use: 5.3L/100km

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