Audi Q5 test drive since 2008 SUV

Not like everyone else

We dragged him in a dense evening traffic jam. Dragged? No, they were driving. We went to part. Behind three days dating, three days driving. And a lot of pleasant memories. It is so pleasant that the dense cork was not annoyed: she only gave a chance to do not alienate the moment of parting. And I recalled how we met for the first time.
On this day, snowfall just hit Moscow. 20 centimeters of wet snow in one day what could be better for testing a crossover? Moreover, such as Audi Q5. We have been waiting for him for so long in the sense that we spoke about the appearance of a more compact model than Q7, almost immediately after the appearance of the latter, and in the fact that the five were met from last summer. And here it is, filled with snow, and under this veil is dark gray, like a forest mouse in the summer. But he did not look like a mouse, oh no!
I remember when last summer I saw the Volkswagen Tiguan for the first time not in the pavilion, but alive, on the street, I was struck by its compact look. Well, it would seem that the length is almost 4.5 meters and the crossover is more like a grown Golf. I assure you: this did not happen to Q5. There was a real swift beast on the snowy asphalt. I specifically looked Q5 only 11 centimeters longer than Tiguan. How did the Ingoldstad designers create a full -fledged SUV within the framework of the crossover? I have no answer to this question. But now, at least, it is clear why they were not in a hurry to take a place in the segment of compact entrusts of the premises.
Despite the faces
When I write these lines, Moscow is littered with snow, the thermometer froze at the mark just above zero. And in the evening they promise already minus 13 (I don’t know if the forecast will be justified), and all this sparkling slurry underfoot will turn into ice. Why am I? Yes, to the fact that three years ago, March 24, in Moscow there was exactly the same weather. And on the bumps around the hippodrome, several black Audi Q7 were crossed on a running jaundice, and I was sitting at the wheel of one of them.
The first impression: the car is amazing. And the luxury of decoration of the salon, and with their dimensions, and their habits both road and off -road. But it’s uncomfortable for me in it somehow either my life status does not answer the car worth three million rubles, or even with my dimensions, the salon seemed too spacious in a word, I wanted the Q7 to lose a little, or I wanted this not only to this To me alone. And in Audi itself, it was also well aware.
In general, amazing metamorphoses have occurred with this brand in recent years. In terms of design, this is almost the first place in the premium class, even if they are not offended in Stuttgart and Munich. Just Audi changes its image in parallel to the course of time: life changes and Audi with it. In the most feminine of her models, a guy with Schumacher’s manners will be happy to sit with pleasure, and vice versa at the wheel of the same Q7 and the weaker sex feels quite confident.
They didn’t understand again? .. Well, then let's say, almost all automakers share their model range. There is a car for real men, for women, for housewives, etc. Audi does not divide its model range, they are for all for all. He who got behind the wheel will have fun, despite the noisy horde of children behind their backs, a load in the trunk or a long -legged blonde on the right. Audi Q5 Another addition in this row.
On its skin
I agree too many words for entry. It's time to plunge into the world of the Audi salon, I like him! To press the Belt button, the q5 turned Orange turned the Q5 blinked twice, clicked the locks of welcome! What to say? Very pleasant salon, white-gray. Both for color, and by touch. Direct-cream, almost white skin of seats know, I would work in the publication of another profile, I would compare it yourself, you yourself know what. Or with whom. And so I just sit on her, and the bucket of sitting takes me into not tenacious, but strong hugs. A little higher than necessary, a lumbar backdoor lightly pressing the key, and it obediently slides deeper and down. Another press and seat lifts me up. The back also changes the tilt. Everything happens so quietly that it seems to be happening without my participation. Are your legs long? It doesn’t matter, there is a background in the front of the seat, it can be advanced. Well, how is it comfortable? Comfortable!
And the key, I'm sorry, where? On the steering column of Audi for a long time there are no longer no slots, but also outright nests, as on Mini or on French models, either. BUT! Here it is, a thin slot in the upholstery of the console! I press the key panel into it, the arrows go around the scales and freeze in red icicles in a position for six hours. Another click of the key (foot on the brake pedal) is beautifully audibly reduced, and xenon makes the snow cover bright blue and sparkling. You can go!
Well, I would not be in a hurry. And so I know what the famous TFSI, hiding under the hood, is capable of. It has only 200 hp. But this is with a volume of two liters. So the shots at long and short distances will save for later.
So far, I just want to look around.
Audi dashboard is the top of elegant simplicity. Everything is clear at a subconscious level. Well, if I pressed the wrong button on the color LCD-display, the image will tell you what to do. This whole multisystem is controlled by two verniers and a joystick on the tunnel. First of all, we will install a microclimate in the cabin. Heated the seats smaller, blowing medium, and a pleasant temperature +22. After a couple of minutes, it becomes quite comfortable in the cabin, you can remove gloves and put your hands on the steering wheel. But his skin-sheathed, frankly, could be a couple of centimeters in diameter: it seems that you squeeze something fragile with your palms. But this is a personal opinion, colleagues like this. In addition, the steering wheel is convenient, and the tides are where it is necessary.
By the way: under me a simple Q5: He does not have cilia on the headlights, and there are no steering wheel levers of control of an automatic box. But this is not necessarily.
The sky above the head
We continue the inspection. The passenger seat is no less convenient than in the driver's way. And the same set of electrical regulations, no levers. Medium -sized glove box. But there are spacious pockets in the doorway (the luggage door opening key is hidden in the driver’s pocket).
The back is also quite spacious. Especially if you push the seats back to the stop. Yes, the rear seats are regulated, and are folded in a ratio of 40:60. In a wide part there is a armrest with a double cup holder, and if you can leave the armrest to the whole hatch for a longer. Of course, for the rear passengers there is a climate control unit.
The salon itself is light. Why? Yes, because above the head a panoramic hatch is almost the entire roof. True, I did not open it in summer. But we will return to this topic when it will be warmer.
Well, now in the luggage department. Its volume impresses 540 liters. And if the rear seats are thrown back (the floor is completely even, however, it will not work, but you can throw the seats with the key from the trunk itself), the volume will grow almost three times to 1560 liters. There is a sliding longing rod for cargo attaching. All that is needed for service on the road under the floor.
Well, it seems that we figured it out. Now you can go.
Well, full quattro!
The handle to position D. Let's go! Under the wheels, the snowy icy ruts of the park surrounding the northern river port. From time to time, the rear axis slides in the turn in the rut, but the demolition is immediately suppressed by electronics, and a symbol of a slippery road appears on the triple-computer for a moment.
No special modes need to include. Audi Q5 has a constant Quattro all -wheel drive with a self -locking central differential. I do not think that we must dwell in detail on the principle of his action, we described it repeatedly. I can only say that in normal mode, torque is distributed between the front and rear axles in relation to 40:60, however, if necessary, to the front axle can be transmitted up to 65% of the moment, and to the rear to 85%. There are no problems on the bumps, there are almost no breaks even at speed. Here the secret is simple, no macherson. A five -leaf suspension with transverse levers is installed in front from above and below and a tubular stabilizer. The back is also multi -link.
Well, it's time for the virgin lands? Having overcome without much work a half -meter parapet marked on the side of the snow, I move in a snow field. I know: under a twenty -centimeter layer of snow, a solid coating. Otherwise, probably, he would not dare to go to such a test. Still, all-wheel drive is all-wheel drive, but, as you know, the farther to the virgin lands, the longer the tractor to run, and Q5 does not count on the status of the notewide of the mud. Yes, and asphalt tires.
But so far no problems: the crossover confidently rowing with tires, moving along the countryside. The depth of the track is almost on the threshold, which is very good, if, for example, it will be necessary to drive up an unexplored road to a country house or, conversely, get out of the phase to the highway after snowfall.
And now it's time for asphalt.
Get out!
On my opinion, a dense transport stream is on the Leningrad highway at any time of the day. And not a hint of a desire to give in, skip.
Well, nothing, nothing between the cars formed a lumen of 60 meters, gas on the floor and full forward, and without the slightest delay! Someone on the yellow Peugeot 308, who tried to cut, but immediately abandoned suicidal desire. And he did the right thing.
In general, moving around the city this occupation is not for the faint of heart. But I was lucky: the stream did not slow down anywhere. Well, let's see the transmission of Q5 Automatic new 7-speed S Tronic with two clutches and an electro-hydraulic drive. This means that the automatic box analogue of the Volkswagen intellectual DSG. Accordingly, no shocks or jerks when switching occurs.
Q5 a born slalomist. I do not at all respect such a manner of driving in difficult urban conditions, but here, what is said, the conditions allowed, and there was a need. So, drive! The road is covered with brown slurry flying from under the wheels from everywhere, holes have already formed on the asphalt. Gas, a little to the right, the steering wheel and the crossover are squeezed between the bus and the gazelle, breaking into the free right row. But a hundred meters ahead of the roadside truck. The brake, the steering wheel is a little left, in the lumen between the two cars, the pedal to the floor and to the expanse of the extreme left row.
I have not experienced such pleasure from driving in the city for a long time! In the cabin, there is only an even tfsi rumble and the purest music from the speakers, outside the salon, a shameless February day. Q5 has excellent aerodynamics, resistance coefficient only 0.33. The designers thought well over the fairings of their mirrors, like side windows, practically does not spray with mud (by the way, the area of \u200b\u200bmirrors is sufficient for an optimal review). But the rear janitor should work in constant mode: glass in a split second covers a brown plaque.
I don’t even know how to call this rapid voyage in the city of competitors I had little. At one ridiculous moment, the owner of an old basin of the fifth model with a sports muffler rested, but soon he nevertheless lost the way: two powerful xenon light streams convinced him to take to the right.
Instead of the afterword. As usual, we always indicate the competitors with whom the newcomer will have to fight. You can mention BMW X3, the new Mercedes-Benz GLK, and Infiniti Eh. But Q5 has a special character.
Well, as for its cost 1630 thousand rubles, it is also competitive even in current difficult times. As the chairman of the board of Audi AG Rupert Stadler said those who can afford a premium car from Audi, the crisis does not apply.
And what else would I like to ask what in line? Q3? It would be interesting.
Dmitry Semenov
Photo by the author and Audi
 

Source: Magazine Automobile Izvestia [March 2009]