Urban legend

The equation seems simple enough. Deliver the right product, to the right people, at the right time and you have a success. Actually achieving the magical mix though is another thing entirely – particularly in the automotive world. But that’s exactly what Audi achieved in 2008 when it released the first-generation Audi Q5.

An incredible 1.6 million cars later, the Q5 has been the shining highlight of Audi’s recent sales success: a vehicle that has proved to be versatile enough to cater for a raft of different customers, all wrapped up in a luxurious package that has defined contemporary Audi.

Now in 2016, the competition in the mid-size SUV segment is fiercer than ever and the all-new second-generation Q5 has a lot to live up to. But it does more than just live up to expectation.

Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September, the successor is completely new from the ground up. Its crisp new design is instantly recognisable as a Q5, but has been further refined and accentuates its quattro lineage. The new Singeframe grille give it a bold new look and the flared, muscular guards, coupled with the sharp creases and distinctive lines of the new model only accentuate the Q5’s already impressive road presence.

The striking new styling tells only part of the story. The new Audi Q5 is 90kg lighter than its predecessor thanks to the advanced MLBevo architecture and sets a new benchmark for aerodynamic efficiency with a drag coefficient of just 0.30Cd. That figure equates not only to reduced fuel efficiency, but a more silent ride even at speed – two things born out by the first international test drives, held in Mexico. 

The highest standards of craftsmanship and finish greet the driver and passengers in the new interior, with leather and soft-touch plastic surfaces complemented by aluminium, wood and magnesium accents. Whisper quiet even at high speeds, the light airy feel of the cabin, with its large glasshouse area, afford excellent vision all-round and the intuitively placement controls have a distinct uniformity to the way you push, twist or scroll them, which only heightens the sense of refinement.

The same is true of the driving experience, which has been raised to a completely new level. The steering is crisp and responsive, with impressive feel as it loads up with progressive linearity during corners. The ride is significantly more compliant and comfortable than before, aided by an all-new five-link rear suspension and a new feature that sets the Q5 apart from its competitors: the optional adaptive air suspension. Capable of raising the Q5’s standard 208mm ground clearance by an additional 45mm for offroad driving, or in contrast, lowering it by 22mm for dynamic driving, this new system gives the Q5 extraordinary versatility in comfort, handling regardless of the road surface and conditions.

Here the new-generation quattro ultra drivetrain provides further flexibility. Rather than the purely mechanical permanent all-wheel drive that has been offered with the Q5 in its first generation, this patented new Audi-developed system is fully electronically controlled and features two clutches that allow the rear wheels to be disconnected when all-wheel drive isn’t required. This clever solution uncouples the propeller shaft at the front (just behind the gearbox) and in the rear differential (to minimise drag losses from the crown gear spinning in the oil bath) to eliminate almost all drag from the driveline when quattro is not needed.

The electronic systems calculate the grip demands a hundred times a second, each time predicting what will happen in the next 0.5sec in order to engage quattro just before its needed. It’s absolutely imperceptible to the driver, who would swear that quattro is engaged 100 percent of the time, when Audi engineers showed us that actually it was more like 30 percent during our 300km drive around the Baja Californian peninsula.

Standard with the two four-cylinder TDI and TFSI engines in the Q5, the new quattro ultra drivetrain delivers fuel efficiency gains that are stark compared to the previous model, with a reduction of up to 15 percent. Of course this is also thanks to the technology in the engines themselves. The EU6-compliant 2.0 TDI engine develops a hearty 140kW and peak torque of 400Nm from 1750-3000rpm. The combined NEDC fuel consumption cycle returns as little as 4.9 litres per 100km.

The 2.0 TFSI now features more power and torque, with 185kW and 370Nm respectively. The Audi valvelift system, dual injection and an innovative thermal management deliver outstanding performance, thrusting the new Q5 to 100km/h in just 6.3 seconds, with NEDC fuel consumption of as little as 6.8 litres per 100km.

Both engines are perfectly matched to the slick-shifting seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission. Acceleration is instantaneous with both engines, and in the case of the 2.0 TFSI in particular, surging relentlessly all the way to highway speeds with the energy of a far larger engine. A 3.0 TDI V6 will also be available, but will arrive some months later.

Versatility has always been one of the Q5’s key assets, and this is retained in a new cabin that is larger in most measurements to offer passengers even greater accommodation and comfort. The boot is also larger, offering between 550-610L with of luggage, depending on where the sliding rear seat is positioned. This increases to a massive 1550L if the rear seats are folded forward for bulky items. The new Q5’s towing capacity is up to 2400kg, which is the highest in its segment.

A vast array of technology makes its first appearance in the new Q5, like the Virtual Cockpit, Audi tablet as a fully integrated rear seat entertainment option, as well as smartphone integration and Audi Connect with Google functionality and a high-speed 4G WiFi hotspot for up to eight devices. A suite of advanced driver assistance safety technology is available, including the standard Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection up to 85km/h, side and lane assist, Traffic Jam Assist and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go. In addition, a host of pre-sense functions support the driver in critical situations maintaining the Q5’s reputation for outstanding safety.

In every way – ride, handling, comfort, performance and efficiency – the second-generation Q5 has raised the standards set by its popular predecessor. Time will tell if it is able to reach the heady heights of sales prosperity that did the first generation, but all the ingredients are there to continue the Audi Q5 success story.

The new Q5 will arrive in Australia in the second half of 2017.