Audi Q5 3.0 TDi Quattro

The Q5 has won our hearts

Published on Sep 07, 2009 07:00:00 AM

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From the moment you grip the nicely sculpted wheel of the Q5, you know that this Audi is no slouch. The dashboard design is really interesting too. The red backlit buttons look like an aircraft cabin at night and, barring a few bits of patchy plastic, it is a cabin high on quality and expensive feel. It’s well specced too – you get a reverse camera, a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, Audi’s MMI system and fully powered seats with seat memory.

However, we didn’t like the optional panoramic sunroof – good as it is on a full moon night, it’s the reason the car gets unbearably hot when parked. The air-con takes longer to cool the cabin too. Save yourself some money and perspiration – leave this box unchecked. That said, the cabin is impressively spacious, with plenty of leg- and headroom for four adults, five at a push (the high and wide centre tunnel means the rear centre passenger has to sit with his legs splayed).

The rear seats are comfortable enough to ensure longer journeys will pass without complaint. The deep 540-litre load bay is big and in tune with its activity vehicle tag; the boot has a useful selection of hooks, power sockets and fastenings to keep things tied down. The seats are comfy and the cushioning is almost perfect. However, people of bigger build might find the Audi’s seat contours a bit too narrow.