The Audi Q5 really did impress us once we got our hands on it, even among those of us who tend to find German luxury vehicles a bit too complex and overdone. It was the baby bear of the luxury, small SUV class in most areas – everything was just right. The ride and handling were impressive (unlike the BMW X3), the interior was roomy for the class (unlike the Infiniti EX), mileage wasn’t terrible (looking at you, Volvo XC60), and its low-speed ride is composed (that’s a demerit for the Mercedes-Benz GLK).
Add in its weight and Price. Well, there’s a bit of a negative. The Q5 definitely is porky at 4,320 pounds (but when has a recent Audi been praised for its light weight?), and its $42,800 as-tested price puts it on the podium for pricey compact sporty sport-utility vehicles, just behind the BMW X3.
And, like the comparison made in the Mercedes-Benz GLK blog, the Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited does pretty much everything the Q5 does, while carrying about 900 fewer pounds and at a nearly $14,000 savings. While it lacks the cachet of a German brand, for some people that cash savings certainly softens the impact felt among peers at the tennis club.
While I do like the Q5—and my wife likes it even more—I wish there was a better business case for Audi to sell manual transmission-equipped, all-wheel-drive sportwagons (with diesel, please) rather than SUVs. With both the A4 and A6 Avants stuck with automatics, and the new S4 available only as a sedan, I guess there is always the pre-owned market.
All new 2009 Audi Q5 SUV
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