Article Comments - 2009 Audi Q5 First Drive / Full Test

84 messages, Last post on Nov 14, 2009 at 7:17 AM

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What is this discussion about? Audi Q5, SUV

First Drive: 2009 Audi Q5 - First Impressions: Not too big and not too small, this compact crossover is just right. (more)

2009 Audi Q5 Prestige Full Test and Video - Bottom Line: All things to all people, only in a good way. (more)

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#19 of 84 Release date by newdriver6 Jan 28, 2009 (4:40 pm)
Anyone know its release date and price? Replies to this message: manup (Jan 30, 2009 6:33 pm) nendo (Apr 23, 2009 9:22 am)
#20 of 84 Re: Release date [newdriver6] by manup Jan 30, 2009 (6:33 pm)
Replying to: newdriver6 (Jan 28, 2009 4:40 pm) Check this link: http://forums.fourtitude.com/zerothread?id=4215309 Replies to this message: nendo (Apr 23, 2009 9:22 am)
#21 of 84 Test Drive - at last!! by ArmonkMusic Feb 03, 2009 (11:53 am)
My dealer had a couple of (fully loaded) Q5's for staff training today only; I was able to get a decent (30min) test drive. What a gorgeous vehicle!! Looks far better than the pics (which are already great) and drives like a dream. It's actually pretty roomy inside (loads more than the Tiguan) - plenty of shoulder room and the trunk's pretty good too. I'm now working through brochure (also picked up today) and waiting for pricing. Apparently pricing was set but then Mercedes released pricing for the GLK which prompted an Audi rethink (downwards, I assume).
#22 of 84 Re: Q5 Estimated Pricing? [drbischo] by canary28 Feb 05, 2009 (5:13 am)
Replying to: drbischo (Jan 14, 2009 2:30 pm) I was at the Washington Auto Show last night. Pricing is going to start at $37,100. Replies to this message: ArmonkMusic (Feb 05, 2009 6:33 am) kimdenning (Feb 10, 2009 8:30 am)
#23 of 84 Re: Q5 Estimated Pricing? [canary28] by ArmonkMusic Feb 05, 2009 (6:33 am)
Replying to: canary28 (Feb 05, 2009 5:13 am) Is that the newly revised pricing, as noted in my ealier post? Thanks Replies to this message: kimdenning (Feb 10, 2009 8:30 am)
#24 of 84 Re: Q5 Estimated Pricing? [ArmonkMusic] by kimdenning Feb 10, 2009 (8:30 am)
Replying to: ArmonkMusic (Feb 05, 2009 6:33 am) The Q5 is now on audiusa.com and the pricing begins at 37.2
#25 of 84 by daleb2 Feb 14, 2009 (5:42 pm)
I was able to test drive the Q5 today the wife loved it. better then the Mercedes GLK BMW X3 and Lexus RX350. Th bottom line is if you want a hood ornament that looks good in the driveway buy the Mercedes GLK. If you want great electronics get the RX350. If you want something to DRIVE get the Q5 blows away the aging X3 Replies to this message: edmundstephen (Feb 17, 2009 7:54 pm) rjlaero (Feb 18, 2009 10:55 am) e46m3 (Apr 20, 2009 3:08 pm) qball1 (Feb 26, 2009 5:11 pm)
#26 of 84 Test Drive by edmundstephen Feb 17, 2009 (7:54 pm)
Replying to: daleb2 (Feb 14, 2009 5:42 pm) I happened to call the dealership the day they received their first test cars. My impressions: - great driving dynamic, though not as car-like as the X3 - smaller cargo area than I had thought - looks good - wish i could get it without the panoramic sunroof (sunshade is semi-transparent! strange and ill-advised in hot climates) - wife approved, favorite CUV she's driven - stock radio kind of weak, but bang&olufsen only available on uber expensive Prestige package Now we need to check out the GLK as our local Audi dealership won't give us any deals on pricing until end of March. Replies to this message: rjlaero (Feb 18, 2009 10:55 am) e46m3 (Apr 20, 2009 3:08 pm)
#27 of 84 Re: Test Drive [edmundstephen] by rjlaero Feb 18, 2009 (10:55 am)
Replying to: edmundstephen (Feb 17, 2009 7:54 pm) you can - the panoramic sunroof can be a deleted option on both the premium plus and prestige models. There is no roof on the premium model.
#28 of 84 Back to back drives of GLK and Q5 by hailalmamater Feb 21, 2009 (8:31 am)
Had the opportunity to drive the GLK and Q5 back to back yesterday, and wanted to share my impressions. Overall, I'd say its pretty much a coin flip - both are excellent drives and I think your personal prefs (and pricing/availability) will be the final determinants. Anyway, I thought the 2 vehicles were very similar in terms of power, handling, and to a lesser extent, ride quality. I'd give the Mercedes the edge in ride quality (it had the 20" wheels, which I don't want). I live in Chicago and drove the Mercedes over several "craters". Nothing - not a quiver, shake, rattle. The Audi didn't have that same carved from granite feeling, but is still quite good. The drivetrain seemed a little bit better sorted on the Mercedes as well - there were times I caught the Audi hesitating under part-throttle acceleration (for example, slowing for a red light, and then pressing the accelerator when the light changed). The Mercedes also seemed a little smoother accelerating from a dead stop. The Mercedes just had a turbine quality to it the Audi couldn't match. In terms of interior room and comfort, I'd give the slight edge to the Audi. I'm a pretty big guy (6'4" and around 235), and the Mercedes felt a little narrow inside. Part of what drove this sense was the fact my shoulder was in frequent contact with the B-pillar, which never happened in the Audi. The Mercedes, however, did have more front legroom, which is great for tall people. The rear seat space seemed pretty comparable, but neither was spacious enough to accommodate me behind the driver's seat. Cargo space was comparable as well, but the Audi seemed to have a little more floor space, which seems more practical for daily use. For quality, the Mercedes get the edge for build quality, while the Audi gets the edge for materials. If the Mercedes people read this, and I hope they do, PUT LEATHER SEATS IN THE &^%$ CARS! It is ludicrous to be looking at a $45K vehicle without leather, esp. when all your direct competitors have it. Vinyl seats suck - they sucked in my parents 1973 Ford LTD station wagon, and they suck now. As expected, the Audi's interior had a warmer feel with the leather and wood trim, but the quality of the actual materials (other than the leather and wood) were no different than the Mercedes. The Mercedes did seem better assembled, and, again, gave the impression that it would last longer. For features, I'd give Audi the advantage for the MMI system, which is well designed and more intuitive than the Mercedes. I liked the Audi information display in the instrument cluster better than the Mercedes version as well. The integration of this display with the steering wheel controls was better executed on the Audi. The nav system worked better also. The Audi did not have the B&O sound system, while the Mercedes had the HK Logic 7 system - I preferred the sound quality of the Mercedes but would need to hear the B&O system before making any judgments. So, summing up, I'd likely pick the Mercedes over the Audi because of the ride quality, solidity, and assembly quality. I sense the Mercedes will be more durable and will have fewer problems over time. I also liked the enormous front legroom in the Mercedes. The rest of the preference is purely aesthetic - the Mercedes just seems a little more "manly" than the Audi, more like an SUV than a station wagon. Enjoy! Replies to this message: dprobrick (Feb 24, 2009 10:04 am) crossover1 (May 02, 2009 4:33 pm) e46m3 (Apr 20, 2009 5:47 pm)