Audi Q5 test drive since 2008 SUV

The bets are made

When the BMW, barely celebrating the millennium, launched the first compact crossover in the elite division on the market, the company was practically raised. Why, they say, made an enchanting X5 Bavarians also needed a female analogue? It turned out to be needed, and not only them. Now the Japanese and the Swedes have such cars, and, of course, the Germans. Moreover, the latter surprisingly swayed almost longer than the rest.
Moreover, this applies to both Mercedes and Audi. However, the last brand has not been punctual for a long time. Evil and predatory in appearance Q7 started very well for us, but where later than Touareg and, most importantly, his direct competitor Cayenne. There is nothing to say about the pair of Range Rover. Clients had to wait for the new A4. And now here is the Q5, which, in fact, has become the last mandatory release in the classroom. But it is with his appearance that the fight for a place under the sun between the producers rushing into premium will become the most interesting. At the same time, x3 is no longer counted, but Audi is quite affordable not only to adequately answer the same GLK and KhS60, but also to head the champion race.
Moreover, the Germans did not build anything special. Exterior? Starting with the family grate and ending with the lower edge of the rear bumper, this is a logical continuation of Walter de Silva, now implemented by his successor Wolfgang Egger. But the originality or demonstrated in the latest concepts of the brand of sports aggression in the novelty or on a penny: the grille of the radiator from Q7, the optics from the A4, the profile is generally a mixture of Tiguan and A5 in word, Q5 a well-executed modern premium crossover, no more. But in it there is no independent angular GLK or deliberate majority of Infiniti EX. In this matter, Audi stylists did not change themselves: the main thing in the appearance of the car is the simplicity of harmony. Or the harmony of simplicity as you like. As a result, the car is moderately pretty, moderately solid and moderately universal.
The same unisex is in the cabin. The architecture of the front panel is simpler than the Q7, but the designers did not sink to utilitarianism A3. Instead of a heavy canopy, a standard visor above the dashboard and almost hanging, turned to the driver the central console with even rows of buttons. In this, by the way, the novelty somewhat reminiscent of the pioneer x3. The Bavarians, however, still smaller, and the monitor that appeared there after restyling remains alien. Everything is harmonious and right right there. There are many buttons, but the preference of the eye control does not bother, and the logic of location is still out of competition. Even a novice user will need an adaptation for about five to ten minutes, no more, after which he will be able to find the necessary keys literally blindly.
The corporate MMI was close to the ideal initially, but in a modified form it became even more logical. True, the author of these lines would still not advise using it in motion. Firstly, distracts. And secondly, there was no vital necessity and not. The main systems, whether it is radio, acoustics or adaptive Audi Drive Select, is easier to control using ordinary buttons, it should be configured navigation even before the start of movement, if only because it offers not one, but three (!) Route, giving the driver the opportunity on its own Choose the optimal, in his opinion, option.
However, this is particular. The main thing in the cabin, as before, is corporate Ingolstadt comfort. By tradition, the minimum of the minimum, especially since recently, the Germans began to install an extensor extensor on them. Sitting is convenient. Almost the only flame of too slippery skin. But here is either unconditional comfort or practicality. Audi relied on the latter.
Q5 is primarily addressed to people who lead an exclusively active lifestyle. The nominal supply of space at the back is greater than in A6. Moreover, each of the components of the rear sofa can be moved in a 100-mm range. So the driver always has the opportunity to adjust the volume of the trunk, without sacrificing the seats. In addition, the first of the entire ringed family had a transformable back of the right front chair, which allows you to easily transport skiing, snowboards or, say, surfing boards without problems. The same, of course, can be placed in the trunk on the roof. By the way, as an option, the Germans offered customers the trunk presence sensors installed in the rails: discovering this device on the roof, ESP is reconfigured taking into account the change in the center of gravity and sailing of the car.
In general, it clamps the engine completely. And in vain. The 2-liter TFSI (the only unit for Russia), the power of which the Germans increased to 211 hp, is quite temperamental on the go. Even in combination with an automaton. But not the hydrotransformer, but the latest seven-speed two-disc robot S-Tronic. The heir to the Volkswagen DSG switches equally quickly, at the same time, the engine is already given its maximum 350 Nm from 1,500 rpm. There are shortcomings here, for example, a rather noticeable turboyam and an overly sorted accelerator. But even despite this, Audi knows how to accelerate, and not bad. He knows how to slow down: in our opinion, in terms of information content, the brake system is the best in the classroom. However, the main thing here is not the speed of movement, but its quality.
Formally A4 became A4. Here are the same front suspensions, the same steering and providing optimal controllability (and in the case of an SUV, there is also a relatively good geometric patency) layout of the transmission nodes, which allowed the front axis as forward as much as possible. You can also install an option Drive Select by pressing the keys reconfiguring not only the damping control system, but also the transmission and the power unit. The system offers three pre -installed modes (Comfort, Dynamic and Auto), as well as the user Individual, which the owner can compose through the corresponding MMI menu. Most customers are definitely enough basic, but the ability to configure the car is captivated, especially since the difference between the extreme modes of the steering felt not only the fifth point, but also with his hands. The bagel in Dynamic is heavier than that of the BMW X3 that is not burdened with the active steering wheel, so at low speeds in this mode you have to make a serious effort. In Comfort, at the same time it is excessively light, pouring heaviness only with a set of speed.
The same Torsen is responsible for the connection between the axes in Q5, in normal conditions a redistributing moment in a ratio of 40:60. Moreover, as in the R8, most of it goes back. Add small overhangs here, relatively large passages of pendants and a 20-centimeter road clearance in general, something can be something on the off-road. However, it is still not worth climbing at a rally. And the point here is not even in the drive (the differential works without complaints) or its absence, but in the Communist Party. Constant clay slipping and conquering the peaks provoke overheating of the clutch. Further development of events, I hope, is understandable. By the way, for this reason, VW did not install DSG on Tiguan. Audi risked on the other side, it is unlikely that Q5 buyers will consciously climb to knead dirt on it, and as for snowdrifts, their novelty overcomes playfully. And no one demands more from her.
SPECIFICATIONS
Audi Q5
Dimensions (mm) 4629x1880x1653
Wheel base (mm) 2807
Road clearance (mm) 200
Mass (kg) 1740
Trunk volume (L) 5401560
Slave. engine volume (cm3) 1984
Max. Power (L.S.) 211
Max. Torque (Nm) 350
Max. Speed \u200b\u200b(km/h) 222
Acceleration 0100 km/h (c) 7.2
Average fuel consumption (l/100 km) 8.5
Price (rub.) From 1 630 000
Competitors
RUBIK'S CUBE
When the Germans showed their brainchild a year ago in Detroit, everyone immediately called him a belated answer X3. Compared to Bavarz, GLK is more brutal (but not devoid of elegance), otherwise it fully complies with the standards accepted in the classroom. There is a permanent 4Matic in the all-wheel drive system, and three V6: two gasoline (GLK 280 and GLK 350) and a 3-liter turbodiesel under the hood. The minimum price is 2,025,000 rubles.
Discounter
Despite the premium status of the brand, releasing its version of the compact crossover, Infiniti made a very unexpected offer that can seriously spoil statistics to almost all competitors. The starting price of the EX35 barely exceeded the mark of 1,600,000 rubles (today 1,721,000 rubles), while the client offers a car with a very decent 3.5-liter V6, aggregated with a 5-speed automatic transmission, as well as with a weighty set of options, including which A proprietary video system of circular review, which allows to easily control the process of parking of the machine.
RESCUER
The Swedish response of German expansion compact crossover XC60. In many visual parameters, it is noticeably inferior not only by Q5, but also GLK and EX, but at the same time is able to significantly surpass them due to the highest level of security. In particular, already in the basic version, the crossover is equipped with the City Safety branded system, which can independently stop the car at speeds up to 30 km/h. In addition, an active cruise and a number of additional security systems are also offered to the client as an option to the client. Prices for the model begin at 1,400 100 rubles.
Vladimir Zhidkov
Photo author: Armen Meetarjyan
 

Source: Mkobil magazine [February/2009]