WITH its rugged, athletic stance, generous supply of on-board technology and exhilarating driving dynamics the Audi Q5 certainly proves there is fun to be had in an SUV.

Admittedly, if driven with a heavy right boot you will be making frequent visits to the petrol station and even when driven cautiously the petrol-powered model in the line-up is still pretty thirsty.

According to official figures it can deliver combined fuel economy of 36.2mpg. However after many miles I was only seeing an average of 27.4.

But it's not all doom and gloom because this particular model has a number of plus points that easily compensate for the somewhat disappointing fuel efficiency.

For example, it can sprint from 0-62mpg in just 7.2 seconds and has a top speed of 142mph.

But stats and times aside, it's the manner in which the Q5 goes about its business that cannot fail to impress.

With its quattro permanent all-wheel-drive the road-holding is incredibly sure footed even in slippery conditions and despite its larger-than-life dimensions, the vehicle is deceptively agile which means lots of fun out on the open road.

The vehicle looks impressive from every angle with its sculpted lines, tinted windows, twin tailpipes, roof rails, body-coloured door mirrors and handles, large grille and sweeping light clusters. Move inside and the build quality is very premium and upmarket as one would expect from Audi.

There is easily room for five adults to travel in comfort and the elevated roofline means plenty of height in the back.

The boot can accommodate 540 litres of luggage - a capacity that is increased to 1,560 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats folded down. This is achieved easily without any fuss thanks to two release buttons in the boot which see the seats automatically drop down.

There are nets to hold delicate items in place and elsewhere there are plenty of handy storage compartments including a good-sized glove-box, cup holders, a deep central bin and door pockets that can hold water bottles or tins of drink.

Techno treats are plentiful and include dual zone climate control, heated leather seats, an excellent sound system with CD player and DAB digital radio, sat nav and Bluetooth connectivity.

The S line model also featured some additional storage, lighting and technology packages along with a number of additional optional extras which bumped the asking price up from £34,675 to £39,570.

In busy town centres the high seated driving position is an added bonus when watching for pedestrians and cars darting out from all angles and then out on faster roads the Q5 really comes alive with ample power from the 2.0-litre petrol engine.

The acceleration through the six-speed manual gearbox is rapid and responsive, yet it remains controlled at all times. The highly effective insulation means the cabin remains nicely hushed and the suspension irons out many of the road's uneven surfaces along the way.

As one would expect, the Q5 is packed with safety specifications to help protect passengers and pedestrians alike as well as prevent accidents from occurring in the first place.