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2009 Audi Q5 2.0 diesel

Audi Q5 2,0 diesel

Published in The Witness Motoring on Wednesday June 10th 2009

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Years ago, there were about half a dozen car manufacturers in South Africa, fielding perhaps 20 models each. Imports were taxed heavily, making them pretty much unobtainable. The official line was that we had too wide a choice of local cars to make the market attractive for those building them.

Today, we are thoroughly spoiled for choice with some 275 SUVs alone. We have small, mid-sized and full-sized SUVs and an amazing number of “crossovers” offered by manufacturers trying to convince us that they have something different to offer.

The Q5 is Audi’s entrant in the mid-sized SUV stakes and consists of four models differentiated by engine size and type, and transmission. At entry-level is the subject of this review, a 2.0 litre common rail turbodiesel with six-speed manual transmission.

Up the hierarchy are 2.0 litre petrol driven turbo with seven-speed ‘S’tronic, 3,0 litre TDI and 3.2 litre naturally aspirated petrol versions. The latter come with Tiptronic transmission only.

Common to all is VW/Audi’s Quattro full-time variable four-wheel drive. On dry tar, torque is split 40% front to 60% rear for confident handling, but it redistributes itself to provide up to 65% to the front wheels or as much as 85% to the rear, depending on road conditions.

According to Audi, the Q5’s suspension enables coupè-like driving dynamics. What this means to you and me is that the Q5 is one of the few that does not suffer from the feeling of top-heaviness afflicting so many SUVs.

On this subject, a major Audi bragging point is its roof rack detection system that senses when you have fitted one and kicks in the ESP a little earlier, to compensate for up to 100kg of added mass.

Other safety innovations include airbags that always inflate fully, regardless of the severity of the impact, but deflate intelligently and belt force limiters with flexible response patterns, both to accommodate different emergency situations. As expected, ABS, EBD, Brake Assist and ESP are all standard fare.

Enabling dirty play is switchable Hill Descent Assist to maintain driver-set downhill speeds up to 30 km/h, 200 mm of ground clearance, approach and departure angles of 25º, a rampover angle of 17.6º and wading capability up to 500 mm.

The electronics play their part too. ESP and ABS systems switch to specially mapped programs for off-road driving. ESP focusses on maximum traction in prevailing conditions, while the ABS automatically detects surface type and selects an ideal control approach for sand, gravel or screed.

Back in the Monday to Friday, workaday world, it’s an Audi with all the space and comfort, fit and finish one expects of a premium brand. Being a diesel, gear shift points naturally arrive a little sooner than one is used to in a petrol-burner and the familiar “tocka-tocka” is noticeable on start up and at low revs.

On this point, I have to say that other premium brands have done a better job of muffling the sound, but perhaps Audi dieselisti like to hear their engines? Fans of compression ignition are a breed apart, after all.

While this Q5 was nice enough, I felt that it was a little under-equipped for the price. Toys one expects at this level all cost extra. Go to www.audi.co.za and navigate to the pricing and options list before committing to a showroom visit.

The numbers
Basic price: R409 500
Price as tested: R544 560
Engine: 1 968 cc 4-cylinder common rail turbodiesel
Power: 125 kW at 4 200 rpm
Torque: 350 Nm between 1 750 and 2 500 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 9.5 seconds (claimed)
Top speed: 204 km/h (claimed)
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Warranty: 2 years/unlimited mileage
Maintenance Plan: 5 years/100 000 km

What We Do
This is a one-man show, which means that road test cars entrusted to me are driven only by me. Some reviewers hand test cars over to their partners to use as day-to-day transport and barely experience them for themselves.
What this means to you is that every car reviewed is given my own personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every car goes through real world testing; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.
I am based in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, South Africa. This is the central hub of the KZN Midlands farming community; the place farmers go to to buy their supplies and equipment, truck their goods to market, send their kids to school and go to kick back and relax.
So occasionally a cow, a goat or a horse may add a little local colour by finding its way into the story or one of the pictures. It's all part of the ambience!

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SA Road Tests

2009 Audi Q5 2.0 diesel

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Audi Q5 2,0 diesel