New Q5 Crossover Makes Mom Feel Like a Schoolgirl

2009 Audi Q5 Premium Plus

model as tested $48,750

Test Drove 4/1/09 – 4/6/09
reviewed by Lori Hindman

Audi’s newest addition to its crossover lineup, the Q5, had me feeling giddy like a schoolgirl. I found myself falling for the crossover, and in an attempt to save my heart from breaking, I went looking for faults in the Q5. I found two. Two. Yes, the Q5 broke my heart and left me crying on the side of the road, but not through any fault of its own. It’s only because the people at Audi wouldn’t let me keep it. I’m still not over it, and if I had the money to run right out and buy one, I would. So, um, yeah, I liked it.

The Q5 looks amazing and drives even better. I loved the quiet power and super-smooth ride. The Q5 comes with Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive. There’s only one engine option — a V-6 — in this year’s Q5, (although there are rumblings of others in the future), but I wouldn’t want another one. It has enough power to encourage poor decision-making on my part (yes, I have a lead foot); I loved going to the grocery store in this thing.

The Q5 is the perfect size for a family of four and has every luxury I could imagine, as well as some I hadn’t thought of. An absolutely enormous panoramic moonroof and a power sunshade bring in as much light as your mood may desire. The third generation of Audi’s MMI entertainment and communication system puts all the controls into one knob.

As far as economy goes, this isn’t a cheap car, and it requires premium gas. Still, the Q5 gets pretty decent mileage for its class, with an EPA rating of 18/23 mpg city/highway.

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