What We Like
A fast yet relaxed and comfortable car to drive
Cabin is a work of art
2.0-litre engine is a gem
Stiff suspension setup helps with fast cornering
Genuinely well put together
What We Dislike
While perfect for cornering, the stiff setup equates to shuddering ride over broken roads in town
What you're looking at is the second generation Audi Q5 - a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) that goes against the likes of the Porsche Macan, the BMW X3, the Mercedes-Benz GLC and the upcoming Range Rover Velar.
I've had the opportunity to drive quite a number of different cars over the past eight years and I seldom return a fully pumped test car with a quarter tank left, even when I have the car over three days.
We drive a fair bit, of course, to ensure we get the accurate notes of the car for the story, but seldom to the extend of driving close to 500km over such a short period of time.
With the Q5, however, that was what I did.
It's that good, huh?
Unfortunately, the story is not going to go the way you think it's going to be. I mean, the Q5 is good, but there's nothing to shout about. It's a predictable machine that will get the job done but every journey isn't going to be an occasion.
If you were to compare it with, say, the Porsche Macan or the Jaguar F-PACE, the Audi kind of loses out in terms of dynamic driveability, mainly due to the lack of steering involvement.
Then if you were to pit it against a mid-size modernity like the Range Rover Velar, you cannot help but to feel the Q5's aging dullness of its nevertheless clean and sharp styling.
But therein lies its charm, methinks.
I've had the opportunity to drive quite a number of different cars over the past eight years and I seldom return a fully pumped test car with a quarter tank left, even when I have the car over three days.
We drive a fair bit, of course, to ensure we get the accurate notes of the car for the story, but seldom to the extend of driving close to 500km over such a short period of time.
With the Q5, however, that was what I did.
It's that good, huh?
Unfortunately, the story is not going to go the way you think it's going to be. I mean, the Q5 is good, but there's nothing to shout about. It's a predictable machine that will get the job done but every journey isn't going to be an occasion.
If you were to compare it with, say, the Porsche Macan or the Jaguar F-PACE, the Audi kind of loses out in terms of dynamic driveability, mainly due to the lack of steering involvement.
Then if you were to pit it against a mid-size modernity like the Range Rover Velar, you cannot help but to feel the Q5's aging dullness of its nevertheless clean and sharp styling.
But therein lies its charm, methinks.
An example to follow
Step into the car and you'll immediately feel the exceptional sense of ingenuity. It's different from stepping into a Lexus or a Rolls-Royce where words like luxury, plush and lavish come into play. With the Q5, it's like getting an Apple iPhone or a MacBook. There's a simple reason for everything that's made and a reason behind another reason for the sake of functionality.
Take for instance the shape of the shift lever. The flat-top is made for you to rest your wrist on it while you use the touch pad. This makes it a lot easier for you to write on the touch pad or to control the rotary knob. Another example is how the doors are stretched all the way down. This ergonomically-sound design eliminates the dirtying of your calves when you get out of the car.
It's these very simple yet elegant design elements that add up to make the whole experience of owning a car like the Audi Q5 that much more enjoyable. It's almost like Audi is setting an example of how cars' cabins should be like.
More importantly, there's clarity in the dials and buttons. Unlike some cars where there's a need to second guess, everything in here is logically positioned and clearly labelled, allowing for a stress-free, straightforward operation even when on the move.
Step into the car and you'll immediately feel the exceptional sense of ingenuity. It's different from stepping into a Lexus or a Rolls-Royce where words like luxury, plush and lavish come into play. With the Q5, it's like getting an Apple iPhone or a MacBook. There's a simple reason for everything that's made and a reason behind another reason for the sake of functionality.
Take for instance the shape of the shift lever. The flat-top is made for you to rest your wrist on it while you use the touch pad. This makes it a lot easier for you to write on the touch pad or to control the rotary knob. Another example is how the doors are stretched all the way down. This ergonomically-sound design eliminates the dirtying of your calves when you get out of the car.
It's these very simple yet elegant design elements that add up to make the whole experience of owning a car like the Audi Q5 that much more enjoyable. It's almost like Audi is setting an example of how cars' cabins should be like.
More importantly, there's clarity in the dials and buttons. Unlike some cars where there's a need to second guess, everything in here is logically positioned and clearly labelled, allowing for a stress-free, straightforward operation even when on the move.
Speaking of on the move...
Just because it's predictable doesn't mean it's not capable of a pleasurable drive. The Audi Q5 will confidently soar down the highway should you decide to mash the throttle, thanks to the 252 horses and 370Nm of torque that come from the hardworking and energetic 2.0-litre powerplant.
But you don't get into a frenzy like how you would in a sports car because the SUV speeds down roads in a very relaxed and comfortable manner. Couple this with the quick-shifting and accurate seven-speed gearbox that never fails to find the right gear every time, and you get a car that's perfect for everyday city driving.
While many will argue that it lacks the drama, we reckon that's the kind of excitement that should be reserved for the Audi SQ5.
Around town, you don't get to feel its sizeable proportions, even if the car has grown a tad. That's because the steering, while unrewarding during spirited driving, remains to be accurate and precise, which makes it easy to place the car on the road.
Just because it's predictable doesn't mean it's not capable of a pleasurable drive. The Audi Q5 will confidently soar down the highway should you decide to mash the throttle, thanks to the 252 horses and 370Nm of torque that come from the hardworking and energetic 2.0-litre powerplant.
But you don't get into a frenzy like how you would in a sports car because the SUV speeds down roads in a very relaxed and comfortable manner. Couple this with the quick-shifting and accurate seven-speed gearbox that never fails to find the right gear every time, and you get a car that's perfect for everyday city driving.
While many will argue that it lacks the drama, we reckon that's the kind of excitement that should be reserved for the Audi SQ5.
Around town, you don't get to feel its sizeable proportions, even if the car has grown a tad. That's because the steering, while unrewarding during spirited driving, remains to be accurate and precise, which makes it easy to place the car on the road.
The only quibble we can think of is the rather stiff setup, even when the drive mode is toggled to Comfort. This makes the ride a little shuddering when going over broken bitumen, which is common due to the massive road construction that's happening at every corner in Singapore.
Show me the money and I’ll show you the...
right direction to a capable car. If I had $250,000 lying around in my bank, I wouldn't consider the Audi Q5. But that's only because I like my Japanese rides and I love them fast and furious.
However, if I'm looking for something that's intelligently well put together, seriously capable of hauling four other passengers with space to boot and has a ride quality that genuinely reminds me this isn't just any casual brand of car I'm piloting, then the Audi Q5 will be on my list.
After all, this is one of those rare times when I enjoyed driving the car so much that I successfully managed to clock close to 500km over just three days.
Show me the money and I’ll show you the...
right direction to a capable car. If I had $250,000 lying around in my bank, I wouldn't consider the Audi Q5. But that's only because I like my Japanese rides and I love them fast and furious.
However, if I'm looking for something that's intelligently well put together, seriously capable of hauling four other passengers with space to boot and has a ride quality that genuinely reminds me this isn't just any casual brand of car I'm piloting, then the Audi Q5 will be on my list.
After all, this is one of those rare times when I enjoyed driving the car so much that I successfully managed to clock close to 500km over just three days.
