At the turn of the new millennium, car makers swooped into the SUV segment amid concerns of safety, practicality and fashion (the auto industry being a highly fashionable business).
This shift sparked a trend that has led to all manner of SUVs: Compact SUVs, compact SUV cross-overs, sub compact SUVs and full sized SUVs. Looking back a few years, who would have believed that we would have the SUVs of today? Even a Mini now exists in SUV form.
Audi presented its first SUV, the Q7 (a midsized SUV), in 2002 and has gone on to diversify its line-up adding the Q5 (a compact SUV) and the Q3 (a sub compact SUV). The first Q5 was introduced in 2008 and was in production up to 2016. It was a massive success, having sold a staggering 1,6 million units worldwide.
Our test car, the second generation Q5, had its debut at the Paris Motor Show in 2016 and has since commenced production at Audi’s $1,3 billion facility in San José Chiapas, Mexico where the previous Q5 was built.
The Q5 is the design work of Irishman David Caffrey, it also has its roots in the Audi Cross Cabriolet concept – a convertible coupé and and SUV mix that was showcased in 2007 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Audi could not ignore its earlier success and it’s pretty clear they are riding on it – Audi has taken an evolutionary approach to design as opposed to revolutionary one, meaning the car has changed radically on all aspects except its design and styling.
The most notable changes are the single frame grille, sharper waist line and the sharper LED lights.
The conservative appearance to the Q5 is on the lowkey side of design and styling, lacking the class and flamboyance of its rivals. Evolutionary design or “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” design is not best for our pro-design society, nevertheless its 1,6 million sales have spoken.
We can rethink Q5 as the smartest in its class. The Audi Q5 competes against the likes of BMW X3, Jaguar F-Pace, Mercedes GLC, Porsche Macan and Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
Stepping into the interior, it’s a whole new world. You will quickly realise its stronger side starts here. It’s a massive improvement from the previous model. Getting comfortable in the Q5, it feels very safe, thanks to its high waistline and elevated centre console. The new gear shifter looks like something borrowed from a ‘Star Trek’ movie.
We cannot talk Audi and not mention light materials. Like all Audis, the Q5 is refined, airy and has a light-weight feel everywhere. Its ash grey leather and aluminum trim echoes the Swedish IKEA furniture simplicity and aura and it has also shed 90kg and has improved in space. Despite looking like a face lift of the 2008 model, the 2018 Q5 is all new.
The use of light-weight materials may present it as being brittle but its aluminum incorporates the alloys magnesium and silicon which provide high strength necessary for cars. The Audi Q5 received a five-star safety rating from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) and the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). It’s also loaded with front, front side, back side and curtain airbags and it has a host of driver and safety assists.
Talking infotainment, Audi is big on simplicity and ease of use and this is evident in its infotainment functions. Our test Q5 comes with a 12,3 inch HD screen – it pops up neatly on the top of the dashboard billboard style. Display is also via a 3D virtual cockpit. Spanning 30cm, it displays sat-nav and phone and it can also swap the instruments display. Among all displays and clusters in the industry, Audi’s is tops.
The infotainment package includes: 10GB storage, DVD drive, SD card slots, USB ports, a 4G sim card slot, Bluetooth, sat-nav and wireless charging. For your music, it has 3D “concert hall-like” sound produced by a 755 watt, 16 channel system and played through 19 speakers, compliments of Bang and Olufsen.
The Q5 feels very light and effortless to drive, it’s conservatively styled and a technology bank – you will undoubtedly feel the touch of a genius to it. It’s the best – if you appreciate the power of simplicity.
