2018 Audi Q5 Petrol Review
Car Tested: 2018 Audi Q5 Petrol 45 TFSI; Road Test No. 983
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 65-70.98 lakhs
Recently luxury SUV segment has seen the most action of any luxury car segment
Almost every car maker is revising their offerings. The Audi Q5 has always had a stronghold in its segment and the German automaker is offering both petrol and diesel powertrain options, we drive the former as it appears to be very promising on paper, being the most powerful version of the Q5 in the world (till the SQ5 arrives of course).
The rear window is large providing good visibility
Exteriors – The Audi Q5 is a compact SUV that bridges the gap between the Audi Q3 and the big daddy, Audi Q7 in India and its size matches that intention. The Q5 gets the company’s trademark design all over. There’s a huge hexagonal front grille that will remind you of the Q7. The air scoops on the bumper too are quite large. The LED headlights sit below the bonnet’s crease and there are LED DRLs for that added appeal. The highlight, however, has to be side crease that connects the headlight to taillight. It gives you a sense of stability, boldness and detailing. The rear too is typical Audi like but the chrome housing of the dual exhausts and the contours underneath is something you begin to admire once you notice them.
The 3-spoke multi function steering wheel is grippy to hold
Interiors – The interiors are finished in black and beige with subtle silver touches where they are needed the most. The quality is, obviously, good. There is a 3-zone climate control and a standalone 8.3-inch infotainment system on the centre console. It supports Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Navigation and is controlled through a rotary knob. The centre panel also houses the MMI touchpad with multiple gesture shortcuts to make things simpler. The front passengers sit comfortably and get electrically adjustable seats with 4-way lumbar support. The driver is also greeted by a 12.3-inch cockpit digital instrument cluster. Legroom and headroom room for the rear occupants too is good but there’s, unfortunately, no USB charging port. A panoramic sunroof is provided for when you want to enjoy those starry nights.
The mileage is not all that good but it’s quite powerful
Performance – Using the same engine as the Q7, the Q5 petrol is aptly badged 45 TFSI and outputs 252 HP and 370 Nm from its 2.0-litre motor, claiming a sprint time of 6.3 seconds from 0-100 km/hr, the top speed is rated at 237 km/hr. There is some lag lower down but once you get past 2200 RPM, the turbo kicks in full flow and offers some serious mid-range. Power doesn’t subside in the top-end either as it screams to its 6500 RPM redline. There are 6 drive modes on offer and in Dynamic mode, the motor feels more eager and holds on to the redline in each gear.
The petrol engine has supreme refinement and is quite silent
The engine is quite refined and you can barely hear anything inside
The Audi Q5’s petrol engine is matched to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox which is decently quick with shifts but not the fastest as it feels a bit jerky and a bit slow when compared to the same engined Q7 petrol which uses an 8- speed torque converter. The steering mounted paddles work well and you can shift gears using the tiptronic function on the gear lever as well. The car returns a fuel economy of 8 km/l in the city, stretching to 10 km/l on the highway.
The Audi Q5 rides well but the steering gives an artificial feedback
Driving Dynamics – The Q5 comes equipped with Audi’s famed quattro all-wheel-drive system which ensures grip at all times, even when driving in the rains with traction control off, no wheel slip at all. Ride quality is excellent and with adjustable dampers, it really works wonders on the Q5, only the big bumps being felt at speed. In Dynamic mode, the suspension stiffens up and the handling becomes tighter, body roll being very well contained. However, the steering doesn’t weigh up well at high speeds with the feel and feedback being quite artificial too, a trait shared by the latest Audis.
Ground clearance is good for when you want to take it off-roading
Safety and After Sales Service – The Audi Q5 has a 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP which is thanks to the 8-airbags, ABS with EBD and ESC that it comes with. It also has a cruise control with speed limiter, reverse parking sensors with rear camera and disc brakes on all the four wheels. Then there are the less sophisticated visual and acoustic seat belt reminder, electric contact in buckle and ISOFIX child seats that together make it a pretty safe cabin to be in. The quality of service is excellent but the servicing might cost you an amount more than the regular cars which is expected.
The quattro system offers fantastic traction on loose surfaces
Verdict – A petrol engined Audi SUV might not find many takers in India but the four-ringed brand targets to sell 50% of its cars with a gasoline engine by the end of this decade. This is where the Q5 petrol comes into play because being more powerful than the diesel, it appeals to the driver in you. Retaining all the good bits of the diesel, the only sore point here is the fuel efficiency and range which the oil burner offers and since the added refinement and performance is substantial, the Q5 petrol does seem like a good alternative to the diesel, as long as you love driving and don’t care much about fuel economy.
There are many Q7 cues in its styling
What’s Cool
* The huge front grille and sporty design
* Fit, finish and quality on the interiors
* Good space inside the cabin
* 5-star Euro NCAP rating
What’s Not So Cool
* Low fuel efficiency
* A bit on the expensive side
Alternatives: Mercedes-Benz GLC, Lexus NX 300h, BMW X3, Volvo XC60
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