The quiet achiever

The first thing you notice when you get behind the wheel of the new Audi Q5 TDI quattro 150kW is how ridiculously quiet it is. Hit the starter button on the dash and at first it’s difficult to tell if you’ve actually turned it on at all, thanks to the mild hybrid system which provides sufficient power to drive the car at low speeds. This means that unless you were to gun the engine, the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder TDI doesn’t kick in initially, and even when it does, it purrs into life without fanfare.

In fact that’s a pretty fair summation of the Q5 TDI quattro 150kW – it’s a smooth operator across the board that just gets the job done, and does it with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of comfort and refinement. 

The all-new Q5 range touched down in Australia in September, introducing this, the third generation of the brand’s most popular mid-sized SUV with a host of new drivetrains and technology as well as distinctive new design inside and out. They were huge shoes to fill give the tremendous success of the first and second generation models, but this new model has done just that as well as quietly turning up the wick on its predecessors.

Of course you can choose from petrol or diesel powerplants with this new Q5 and then there are the S models which deliver V6 power and S handling dynamics to the equation, but there’s something appealing about the TDI, with its torquey engine – 400Nm between 1750 and 3250rpm – and the tremendous range that TDI affords those who like to get out on the open road – 5.4L/100km.

We’re also talking effortless acceleration – 7.4 seconds from stopped to 100km/h which also makes for easy highway overtakes and relaxed motorway cruising. Then there’s the 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which doesn’t make this a ‘hybrid model’ in the true sense, but nevertheless significantly impacts fuel efficiency and emissions, capturing braking energy, smoothing out the transitions with the stop/start system and allowing that low speed manoeuvring on all-electric power which is great for parking.

And of course none of this power wrangling requires any attention from you, kicking in and out seamlessly as required. Much like the quattro system which features ultra technology which was first introduced in the second-generation Q5 models. This system gives you the all-wheel feel of quattro as required, but cleverly switches to two wheel drive for efficiency until it senses any slip and the need for all-wheel drive. This is instantaneous and repeated attempts to ‘catch it out’ are pointless.

As was the design brief for the original Q5, this new Q5 TDI is a luxury, mid-sized SUV that delivers incomparable day to day utility. In fact it feels bigger from behind the wheel than its predecessors because it is, but not markedly. Certainly it never feels cumbersome, even when you’re negotiating the tighter Sydney streets or inching your way through peak hour traffic. The five-link suspension and 20-inch alloy wheels on our test vehicle soaked up everything the big city could throw at it, and then did the same on some very ordinary B-roads far from the madding crowd. But despite the plush ride, even when pushed, the Q5 TDI corners flat without body roll. Likewise its electromechanical progressive steering provided just the right feel for each situation and even long periods behind the wheel or less than engaging freeways stints were supremely comfortable and certainly no chore.

Essentially, when you ask it to hustle, it responds with that quiet authority that it brings to pretty much every situation. Certainly for those who want it, there are quicker and firmer SUVs in the Audi line-up, but the Q5 TDI strikes a perfect balance.

It’s new design is bigger and bolder, yet it resists the temptation to go for design ‘gimmicks’ just to stand out. Subtly is as always with Audi, the name of the game and the Q5 is subtle but not a shrinking violet. It is more ‘robust’ in its design than before and to this writer at least, it commands more presence on the roads than previous Q5 models. The large expanse of bonnet, which kicks up at the edges gives it a stronger look, which works well with the slimline Matrix LED headlights that also feature configurable daytime running light signatures. The grille treatment is unmistakably Audi, though it continues to subtly evolve, while the large air intakes and front apron make the biggest impression on those who see the Q5 TDI appear in their rearview mirrors.

Inside too the changes over the previous models is significant. The new design language is at once elegant and functional, yet unashamedly brimming with the very latest technology. The large digital stage presents everything the driver needs to see right there in front of them. The design sees the screens become part of the architecture as opposed to the approach favoured by some manufacturers of large screens affixed to a more traditional dash arrangement.

Despite the completely new design, operation of the various systems in the new Q5 remains intuitive, despite the expanse of screens and the touch controls that are also used both on the multi-function wheel and the armrest. The layout overall is understated and elegant, but still logically arranged, with the controls falling naturally to hand. Likewise the rear-seat passengers get excellent space and the boot storage with the battery housed under the floor provides ample space for shopping, luggage or the equipment that is part and parcel of the active lifestyle.

As a side note, there is also a very helpful LED indicator that appears on the ground at the vehicle’s rear which shows you where to wave your foot for hands free opening of the rear cargo hatch. Anyone who has flailed around either missing the right spot entirely or cracking their shin on the rear bumper will nod and understand the significance of this feature.

Living with the new Q5 on a day to day basis is where it really shines and all the little touches make the difference – everything in the Q5 just ‘works’. From the infotainment and the connectivity to the smartphone interface that features adaptive cooling for your phone. 

It’s a million little details that just add up – a classic Audi approach that sees the use of systems that are designed to help, safeguard or just enhance each trip as opposed to trying to impress just for the sake of it. The highest quality materials, considered design and layout and the trademark Audi finish, make the cabin of the Q5 TDI a very easy place to live with on a daily basis – whether that be a trip to the local shops, a night out or a cross-country road trip.

Just saying that the Q5 TDI is supremely competent and assured is in a way underselling it. This is a vehicle that, like its predecessors, has been designed with an understanding of what its potential owners will ask of it and then more than delivering on all of those things – large and small.

It is elegant and supremely comfortable regardless the duration of the trip, and its combination of mild hybrid and TDI powertrains let it perform admirably whether it be a sprint or a marathon. Technophiles will find no end of delight in the vehicle systems, but they do not overwhelm those who simply want to change the radio station or adjust the vehicle’s ride characteristics with the touch of a button.

Once again, the new Q5 has succeeded in not just being a vehicle that works given the demands of ‘everyday’ but a luxurious vehicle that absolutely nails it every day. And that is something that you get very used to, very quickly.