Here comes the lean, mean, sales machine.
When the Audi Q5 first came about, it took the world by storm. Through no less than 6 years, the Q5 stood proudly as the most popular SUV in its class globally, with Australia contributing no less than 24,000 sales to that success.
It was ever so long ago when we were treated to the first iteration of the Q5, though. Keen to continue its success, the latest model will be going home with Australian buyers in June, offering lucky owners a sharper design, more practical cabin, and more intelligent engines. The Q5 will be making Oz landfall with 2.0-litre engines running on either petrol or diesel, paired with Audi’s acclaimed seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which Audi says aids fuel economy while also improving driver involvement.
The Australian range will compromise of:
- Audi Q5 2.0 TDI Quattro S-Tronic Design - $65,900
- Audi Q5 2.0 TDI Quattro S-Tronic Sport - $70,700
- Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI Quattro S-Tronic Sport - $73,500
The two diesel Q5’s are powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, producing 140kW & 400Nm. That’s up 10kW from the outgoing Q5 TDI, while fuel consumption has dropped to 5.3L/100km (down 0.7L/100km), despite being able to complete the century sprint in just 7.9-seconds.
The petrol TFSI has a 2.0-litre four-pot throwing out 185kW & 370Nm, which can hurtle the Q5 from rest to 100km/h in just 6.3-seconds. This engine is available exclusively in ‘Sport’ trim, and fuel consumption is rated at 7.3L/100km.
Audi claims that the new Q5 is up to 90kg lighter than the car it replaces, which is why the diesel in particular boasts a 12% decrease in fuel consumption. Also helping economy is the use of Audi’s ‘quattro ultra’ drivetrain, which minimises power loss and overuse of fuel. All of this, on a car that is now 34mm longer, 6mm taller, and has a 12mm-increase in wheelbase. Impressive.
The Q5 offers decent practicality, with 550-610 litres of space behind the rear seats (depending on where they’ve been slid), with up to 1550-litres on offer with the seats folded flat. A 5-star EuroNCAP rating has already been given to the Q5, which offers things like autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), ‘Exit Warning System’ (which looks out for cyclists before the opening the drivers’ door), cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, ‘Audi pre-sense’ pre-collision protection (where the car closes windows, pre-tenses the seatbelts in case of an imminent impact), and ‘Pre-Sense Rear’ (which engages the hazard lights should the car feel itself vulnerable to a rear-end shunt, among others).
On top of that, ‘Sport’ models get even more safety kit like adaptive cruise control (with traffic assistance), ‘turn assist,’ a more advanced ‘pre-sense’ system for the front, and automatic high-beam. Audi’s MMI infotainment system with satellite navigation will be standard-fare on all new Q5’s down under, replete with live traffic info displayed on the high-res 7.0-inch screen. Audi Connect is also standard, along with Apple and Android smartphone mirroring, as well as an electric tailgate.
Base ‘Design’ models also benefit from things like 18-inch alloys, Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, leather seats, a 40:20:40 split rear bench, keyless entry and go, multifunction steering wheel, tri-zone climate control, and an eight-speaker premium audio system. Stepping up to ‘Sport’ trim bags you thinks like 20-inch alloys, adaptive LED headlights with dynamic rear indicators, sports seats up front, Audi’s new ‘Virtual Cockpit’ digital instrumentation, MMI Navigation Plus (8.3-inch infotainment screen), MMI Touch interface, and a 10-speaker audio system (with a subwoofer).
If that’s not enough, buyers get to pick between ‘Comfort,’ ’S-Line,’ and ‘Technik’ option packs, along with other specifications which can be added on separately.
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