Show me a 1.7-tonne Teutonic all-wheel-drive that is easy on the trees and I will show you the new Audi Q5 2.0. No, I have not been inhaling petrol fumes. The specs speak for themselves.
The mid-sized SUV consumes 7.3 litres of fuel per 100km in mixed city- highway driving, just a wee bit more than the petrol-electric Lexus RX450h.
In the city, it manages 10.4 litres per 100km, which is pretty decent for its size and some 43 per cent better than the Q7 3.6 seven-seater.
Yet, it is quicker to the century mark than the other two cars, as well as the recently introduced Volvo XC60.
The Q5's efficiency has much to do with its smallish drive-by-wire turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a light, long-legged seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The Q5 is also pretty easy on the wallet, costing about $80,000 less than the Q7 and a few thousand dollars less than the other recently introduced premium SUVs. That is, excluding BMW's ageing X3 (which is at the moment no contest at all).
The Audi appeals in other ways, too. Styled like the Q7, it has a commanding presence. With short overhangs and the longest wheelbase in its class, however, the car looks more urbane than its big brother.
The configuration gives it exceptional interior space. Its second row is roomy all round and its stowage area is enormous. Should you need more cargo space, the rear seats will fold flat.
Up front, the Q5 offers lots of elbow room but headroom in the variant with panoramic sunroof is not as generous as expected. The transmission tunnel also juts into the driver footwell a little.
Getting in and out of the car is easy, as the Q5 is not as tall as most SUVs. In fact, it is more MPV-like in this respect.
The only quarrel you might have is the absence of a motorised tailgate. The fifth door is hefty and may be beyond the reach of petite drivers.
Neither is keyless access a standard feature. But I suppose that is how Audi is able to price it so competitively.
Amenities include memory seats, dual-zone climate control with rear blowers, cruise control, multimedia interface with steering-mounted controls, curtain airbags and self-adjusting auto headlamps with Audi's pretty LED daytime-running lights.
For the driving enthusiast, it is downright impressive for an SUV with such a modest displacement.
AUDI Q5 2.0 quattro
Engine: 1,984cc 16-valve inline-4 turbocharged Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch with paddle shift Power: 211bhp at 4,300rpm Torque: 350Nm at 1,500-4,200rpm 0-100kmh: 7.2 seconds Top speed: 222kmh Fuel consumption: 10.4 litres/100km (city) Price: $167,400 with COE Distributor:Premium Automobiles
Torque delivery seems to peak at 2,000rpm, not 1,500rpm as declared (the engine is a bit buzzy between 1,500rpm and 1,800rpm). Get past that and the car is sweet and responsive, betraying none of the bloatedness of a permanent all- wheel-drive.
Its steering ratio varies according to speed, which is the single most useful tool for a car of its stature. Feedback tends to be a bit unfiltered at crawling speeds, which is uncharacteristic of Audi.
Despite its 19-inch wheels, the Q5 rides like a well-sorted sedan, thanks in part to damping control. Its hold assist works well but not on really steep ramps.
Do not expect the car to trudge through mud. For that, you need at least the off-road package, which comes with different tyres, among other things.
If you want more oomph and more bells and whistles, check out the non-turbo direct-injection 3.2 V6 model.
But even without the extras, the Q5 2.0 is clearly an attractive proposition.
