Interior

The Q5’s interior is pure luxury. In my test car, the seats were a rich-looking, creamy Cardamom color, and the dash was trimmed in blond maple wood. It was gorgeous. When I first saw the interior, I actually said, “Ooooohhhh,” in front of the delivery guy. It’s that pretty.

I sunk into the heated leather driver’s seat and easily found my perfect driving position, thanks to the eight-way power adjustments with four-way lumbar support. The steering wheel both tilts and telescopes and has controls for Bluetooth and the audio system. The dash is mostly black leather with gauges lit in white and red, making everything both Euro-sporty and easy to read. There’s a three-zone climate system, so everyone can have it their way. Automatic lights and wipers come on when needed.

The Q5 is equipped with the third-generation MMI, which is easier and more intuitive than ever. It even understands voice commands, including statements like, “I need coffee.” Because, really, who among us doesn’t?

My test car came with the Premium Plus Package, which includes great stuff like Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, memory seating, auto-dimming mirrors and a ginormous panoramic moonroof – really, it’s impossibly large. A power-sliding sunshade covers as much or as little of the sunroof as you like. The Q5 almost feels like a convertible when the sunroof is open. Surprisingly, the wind buffeting isn’t too bad, at least at moderate speeds.

The MMI Navigation Plus Package includes a CD/DVD player, satellite radio and a USB jack for an iPod, which is really easy to use. I especially enjoyed the USB jack because it charged my iPod while it was playing. Unlike other cars, the Q5’s iPod interface is simple and easy to navigate; it’s a lot like using an iPod. On the down side, however, the interface didn’t work with my iPhone. Ugh! Still, it’s cool.

The rear seats not only recline, but they slide forward and back, adjusting for extra legroom in the second row or cargo space in the back. There’s some minimal bolstering on the seats, but the bench is mostly flat, so installing rear-facing infant seats, child-safety seats and booster seats is super easy. Audi’s famous, fabulous Latch connectors are right out in the open, no digging required.

The rear seat not only has a 60/40 split, but the center seat also folds down to create a pass-through for longer items, like skis. The doors open easily for little ones, and a flat step-in area made it easy for the kids to climb in. In my test car, the doorsills and edge of the trunk have stainless-steel strips that added to the general luster of the car, and they don’t get scratched up like the hard plastic in other cars. There are two cupholders in the rear armrest, and in each rear door there’s a bottleholder and a decent-sized bin for books and toys. There’s also a seatback pocket on both sides. The wood trim continues along the rear doors, and the almost unbelievable sunroof lets the sun shine down on your little sunshines.

The cargo space is roomy and flat, and comes with a hard, removable cargo cover. I loved it because it not only kept my stuff out of view and out of the sun, but it kept my kids from climbing over the rear seat and wreaking havoc on everything in the cargo area. There’s an underfloor storage area that’s great for dirty, wet items like muddy cleats or for keeping emergency rations out of the way. There’s an additional 12-volt charging point in the cargo area, and a lever that folds down the rear seats.

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Galore

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