Audi Q5 2.0 TDi

quattro S line S

tronic

Audi Q5, 2017, nose
Audi Q5, 2018, front, action
Audi Q5, 2017, front
Audi Q5, 2017, side
Audi Q5, 2017, rear
Audi Q5, 2017, boot
Audi Q5, 2017, interior
Audi Q5, 2017, rear seats

THE Q5 might not have been Audi's first foray into the fast-growing SUV segment - the cavernous Q7 claims that honour - but it's almost an old-timer.

The original Q5 went on sale in 2008 and an all-new version of it was launched last year.

It has proved to be quite a success, becoming Audi's most popular SUV and by the time the second generation version was launched, more than 1.6 million of them had been sold around the world.

The most noticeable things about the new one is just how much it looks like the old one.

Automotive evolution is not always a recipe for success but that has certainly been the case as far as Audi is concerned.

The German car maker has gained a reputation as being a past master when it comes to refining and honing familiar design lines to create something seemingly familiar yet altogether different at the same time.

The latest Q5 is a perfect example of this evolution in action and while it might look familiar there is a lot that is different.

Slightly larger than its predecessor, the latest Q5 is also significantly lighter - by about 90kg.

In automotive terms that's quite a bit of slimming down and it has been achieved through increased use of aluminium and a steel composite body shell.

On the inside the Q5's cabin is roomy and characterised by the kind of fit and finish that many other manufacturers can only dream of.

Even among premium marques like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar - Audi still seem to be ahead of the pack in terms of the sublime levels of interior refinement it delivers.

As a family car the Q5 is certainly a capable contender. This new version sees more room given to rear seat passengers and a larger 550-litre boot, with boot space increasing to 1,550 litres when the rear seats are folded.

The technological improvements are manyfold but one is that an electric tailgate now comes as standard across the range.

It doesn't seem like that long ago since such a feature was almost a novelty and actually felt a little over the top but these days one tends to expect it, certainly on anything competing in the premium end of the market.

Audi's Multi-Media Interface (MMI) system is another technological element that has been improved and upgraded. In truth it's difficult to fault and the Google Earth sat-nav system on this high end model was something of a revelation.

It makes more traditional guidance systems look extremely two-dimensional and remarkably old-fashioned in comparison.

Enhancements to engines, and that aforementioned weight saving regime, mean the Q5 feels far more light and agile.

With a revised suspension system this makes for a vehicle that handles splendidly given the fact it is a high-riding SUV.

There's a wide array of engines but this car was fitted with the 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel, which is still a consummate all-rounder.

Trim levels are SE, Sport and S Line and all feature the quattro four-wheel-drive system.

FAST FACTS

Audi Q5 2.0 TDi quattro S line S tronic

Price: £42,125

Mechanical: 187bhp, 1,998cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving four wheels via 7-speed automatic gearbox

Max Speed: 135mph

0-62mph: 7.9 seconds

Combined MPG: 55.4

Insurance Group: 29

C02 emissions: 133g/km

Bik rating: 31%

Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles

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