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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#52 of 84 Re: Full test available! [KarenS] by kurtamaxxxguy Apr 18, 2009 (8:33 pm)
Replying to: KarenS (Apr 13, 2009 7:56 am) Thanks for video, Folks! Two things bother me: 1. Turning Circle. With a 110 " wheelbase, this car could need a lot of turning room. By comparison, The Lexus RX450h needs something like 40 - 41" and it has roughly 107" wheelbase. My old Malibu Maxx, with a 112" wheelbase, needs 41 - 42". 2. Fuel Economy. Had to dig elsewhere on the web and got 18 city and 23 highway. Not bad given the engine size and performance, and does well compared to the VW Tiguan, but is still more thirsty than the RAV4 V6 and a number of others. Also, the Audi web site, for whatever reason, is drowned in glitz and video effects, but doesn't let one get the Q5's furshingluggner basic specs (I found nothing after going through several presentations and alternate site maps)! By comparison, the Lexus and most other auto sites make getting specs easy. Replies to this message: md_outback (Apr 19, 2009 4:07 pm)
#53 of 84 Re: Full test available! [kurtamaxxxguy] by md_outback Apr 19, 2009 (4:07 pm)
Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Apr 18, 2009 8:33 pm) Hey kurt... I wouldn't worry about the turning circle of the Q5, at 38.1 feet it is about the same as most of its competition (new Lexus RX is 38.8 feet). These are curb-to-curb distances, not wall-to-wall. And Q5 fuel economy, while not the best in class, it is in the same ballpark as most of the competition. It's just too bad that the competition is all overweight just like the Q5. If they could get these things down under two tons (like maybe 3600 lbs.) they could get the same lb/hp ratio with about 50 less hp. That could provide better mpg. A good example is the outgoing Subaru Outback. It is actually very close to the same size as the Q5 (longer but not as wide), with more cargo room, yet weighs about 775 lbs less. Life is all about compromises.
#54 of 84 Re: Test Drive [edmundstephen] by e46m3 Apr 20, 2009 (3:08 pm)
Replying to: edmundstephen (Feb 17, 2009 7:54 pm) Funny, I'm in the exact same place. My wife's 2007 RX350 lease runs out next month so we are shopping around for the replacement for her and my 5 and 6 year old boys. If the 2010 RX350 had the rear entertainment package ready to go we probably never would have made it out of the Lexus Dealership. But since it's not available yet we have looked at a few more cars and my wife really liked the Q5. The others we have looked at include the 2009 MDX, Mazda CX-7,and Hyundai Genesis V8 (my suggestion, love that 375 HP and impressive list of options with the Tech package). I have BMW 335i so we don't want 2 of the same make, and we had an ML 350 before and didn't like the ride or the experience with the service Dept plus the new Benz crossover is ugly. The MDX has such a bad ride in the rear with all the road vibration transmitted to the lateral seat support right to your ribs and kidney so that was a deal breaker. The Q5 is by far the best looking, most refined and has the nicest ride but I thin the lack of a true cover of the huge sunroof will make it unbearably hot in the rear seat. Couple that with the weak rear cooling vents and the fact that no rear entertainment is offered and to me that would mark it off the list. Basically I think she should extend her lease a few months and wait until the LX350 with the rear entertainment makes it's way to the dealerships because that to me is the gold standard 5 passenger kid hauler with them having made what was already the leader better in pretty much every aspect. But I'm afraid she has fallen for the beauty, elegence and and supperior ride of the Q5 so we migth end up with one in the driveway shortly. We could do a lot worse but the rear seat heat issue and lack of rear entertainment are big short-commings for me.
#55 of 84 Re: Back to back drives of GLK and Q5 [hailalmamater] by e46m3 Apr 20, 2009 (5:47 pm)
Replying to: hailalmamater (Feb 21, 2009 8:31 am) Wow, I'm kind of surprised and confused. I think looks-wise to me it isn't even subjective or in the ey eof the beholder, the Audi looks MUCH better than the GLK period. In fact the Benz looks much more like a wagon and is much more of a chicks car if you ask me. I would bet at least 60-70% of GLK buyers will be women, closer to 50/50 for the Q5. And I dont really get how you saw better materials in the Audi but "sense the Mercedes will be more durable and will have fewer problems over time". If it is anything like my experience with a ML350 the fewer problems couldn't be more misguided. Just my opinion. I actually think my wife should get the 2010 RX350 but between the Benz and Audi, for me it's not even close, the Audi wins hands down.
#56 of 84 Re: Release date [manup] by nendo Apr 23, 2009 (9:22 am)
Replying to: manup (Jan 30, 2009 6:33 pm) I was keen on getting a mercedes glk until i test drove it. Boy was i underwhelmed. The exterior styling looks pretty good with the 20,s but the interior looked cheap and felt like i was in a subaru. I am coming from a mercedes e55 and this was a huge step down in every way. Then i test drove the audi Q5 with sline trim and 20 inch wheels. WOW , i was really impressed with it. The styling exterior looked great and interior blew the glk away. Also it felt much zippier and handled better than the glk, less harsh of a ride as well. I took a bmw x3 out for a spin and it was god awful in almost everyway except the engine and good cargo room, The car reminded me of 1995!! I have test driven maybe 8 small suvs in the segment and ultimatley the q5 easily won for me. Now I have a audi 09 s-line sitting in front of my house and couldnt be happier with my desicion
#57 of 84 Re: Back to back drives of GLK and Q5 [dprobrick] by crossover1 May 02, 2009 (4:33 pm)
Replying to: dprobrick (Feb 24, 2009 10:04 am) I am sorry, but the GLK is an ugly beast. When I saw it for the first time, I could not believe Mercedes designed such a car, specially when they have have the best styled vehicles on the road. Maybe it's just me, but I it realy sticks out as a soar thumb on the road.
#58 of 84 Thirsty Beast - The Q5 by jscotyd May 10, 2009 (8:01 am)
The EPA is 18/23. I live in San Francisco. I am getting 9.5 - 10 in the city and I am very dissappointed. The service department has pronounced the vehicle free from defects and Audi USA has said case closed since the EPA is the one who certifies the mileage. BUYER BEWARE Although the vehicle is fabulous, I am certain most of us would expect something closer to 18 mpg. Having had a Toyota 4runner V8 in the same city which had an EPA of 14 and weighed 6000 lbs with the same horsepower, I would get 10 mpg in the city. So, by comparison, something doesn't add up. Replies to this message: crossover1 (May 10, 2009 6:07 pm)
#59 of 84 Re: Thirsty Beast - The Q5 [jscotyd] by crossover1 May 10, 2009 (6:07 pm)
Replying to: jscotyd (May 10, 2009 8:01 am) You are not talking about a Q5 (I hope). After my first week and I am averaging 19-21 mpg combined (mostly city driving). Highway I am averaging 24-25. Heard that after the first 1,000 miles MPG will improve. Something is not right!
#60 of 84 Undecided by alexgp11 May 19, 2009 (9:48 am)
Friends, I am looking for some unbiased advice here. I am a longtime BMW owner and have always treated my cars as jewels. I currently have a 2001 X5 3.0 w/Sports Package, a real looker, and has absolutely never given me any headaches at all (in the contrary). That said, I have never owned a car for more than 5 years and we are coming onto 8 with this one now. All along, I had thought I’d make a change next year, but, with the release of the Q5 and others, plus the economy giving consumers theoretically some edge, I am considering a switch now. I am test-driving the Q5 next week and have already researched enough to know that the overall dimensions (interior and exterior) are not significantly different (although I want to witness that, as I am sure the trunk/cargo area is smaller). So my questions are: is it not true that Audi has a worse maintenance record than BMW (especially on the electrical side)? Would you, in my shoes, make the switch from X5 3.0 to Q5? If yes, why? If not why? (Again, I am looking for unbiased opinions here) Thanks. Replies to this message: crossover1 (Jun 16, 2009 11:50 am) alexgp11 (Jun 17, 2009 3:34 am) voltrader66 (Jun 20, 2009 9:14 pm)
#61 of 84 Re: Undecided [alexgp11] by crossover1 Jun 16, 2009 (11:50 am)
Replying to: alexgp11 (May 19, 2009 9:48 am) Car and Driver issue compares the X3 with the Q5 and three other luxury SUVs. Q5 came on Top. Also C&D has an online survey on which SUV will you preferre to buy. There must be a list of over twenty and the Q5 tops the list (distant first). I own one and it beat all my initial expectations. Replies to this message: alexgp11 (Jun 17, 2009 3:34 am) voltrader66 (Jun 20, 2009 9:14 pm)