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With Audi, the driving experience is always one little notch above the competition. You always enjoy a little more fun anytime you drive one of these sporty, weather-busting German cars. In fact, thrills behind the wheel of an Audi prevail over any other form of guilty pleasure, regardless of the model. And the new 2009 Audi Q5 -- call it a crossover or an SUV -- is certainly no exception to the rule.
You always enjoy a little more fun anytime you drive one of these sporty, weather-busting German cars.
Familiar lines
You would have a pretty tough time telling your friends that the Q5 is anything but an Audi. Like the rest of the family, it carries the brand's signature grille, smooth curves and overall understated appeal. Further emphasizing its connection with the four-ring logo is a striking wave of light-emitting diodes (LED) that serve as daytime running lights. You'll immediately know it's an Audi when you see these unique eyes in your rearview mirror.
In terms of size, the Q5 tries to pass as a compact ute even though it stands about 4.6-metre long (with a 2.8-metre wheelbase) and 1.6-metre high, making it the equivalent of a Nissan Murano or Lexus RX. These are not exactly small vehicles, mind you...
Of course, the relative girth of the Q5 translates into more than adequate interior room. Sure, you have to overcome the tall step-in height, but generally speaking, life inside this rig is largely devoid of restraints and complaints. Taller or bulkier passengers will enjoy generous room and comfortable seating wherever they sit.
"Understated" might be an overstatement
I have to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of Audi interiors. Obviously, build quality is great and premium materials are aplenty, but styling is too plain to impress in any way.
Fortunately, my tester wasn't equipped with the German automaker's infamous Multi-Media Interface (MMI), which made the dashboard and control panel a tad more user-friendly.
Taller or bulkier passengers will enjoy generous room and comfortable seating wherever they sit.
Let's get the party going!
Excitement started to build, however, as soon as I finally settled behind the multifunction steering wheel, pushed the start button (of course my tester came with the Advanced Key) and applied some pressure on the throttle. At that point, the Q5 became a rolling ball of fun.
The 3.2-litre, direct-injected V6 effortlessly produces 270 horsepower. For some, this number may not sound like much given the size of the Q5, but believe me, performance is surprisingly good. Accelerations are brisk and, with convincing throttle action, you can feel all the engine's potency right under your right foot. The time you take to reach 100 km/h is not really important when each passing second keeps widening the smile on your face.
Decelerations are just as pleasant, especially with a solid jab at the brake pedal. You'd better brace yourself because the Q5 stops on a dime as if it just hit a brick wall. A series of tests performed in a secured zone allowed me to witness the promptitude and poise of the machine upon braking. Despite the sudden and dramatic decrease in speed, it maintained a perfectly linear path and did not even seem to suffer from weight transfers.
The 3.2-litre, direct-injected V6 effortlessly produces 270 horsepower.
Like all Audis, the Q5's steering is sharp and very responsive, giving the driver a feeling of absolute control in all conditions. That said, while my tester featured Adaptive Damper Control (part of an expensive option called Audi Drive Select), I still found the suspension a bit too stiff to be totally comfortable. Overall, though, the ride is pleasant notwithstanding the fair amount of noise on rough roads.
Everything has been said about Audi's quattro technology, which obviously found its way into the test model. It's still and by far one of the best all-wheel drive systems in the world. Period.
With so many great attributes, the 2009 Audi Q5 3.2 FSI quattro is a logical choice for premium compact SUV buyers. Granted, there are a few concerns, like anonymous interior styling and costly options that make pricing less attractive. Yet, in the end, the Q5 boasts quality -- and qualities -- that deserve recognitio
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2009 Audi Q5 3.2 FSI quattro Premium Review
Speedway Motors
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