Audi Q5

At first glance it may look like its older sibling Q7. A closer look will reveal its baby proportions. The Audi Q5 is the baby SUV in the Audi Q-Series and inspite of its compact size, comes heavily loaded with latest technologies packaged subtly yet distinctively enough to hold its own forte. The Q5 is Audi's first foray into compact SUV segment.

The model has the characteristic Audi front-end highlighted by a large grille and venerated four circles that mark the Audi logo. Its sporty stance and curvy glass windows coupled with flat roof rails suggest likeness to a coupe. The Audi Q5's presence is strong and magnetic and its awe inspiring look is a head turner. The elegantly crafted interiors, typical of all Audi cars, are extremely pleasing to the eyes. Top notch quality materials are used to encourage indulgence in luxury. Latest gadgets and gizmos like the automatic climate control system and top quality audio system come standard. The Q5 was first launched in 2008 within Audi's stronghold -the European market. In India, the Audi Q5 is available as a completely built unit (CBU) direct from Audi's Ingolstadt facility in Germany.

The compact luxury SUV is available in petrol and diesel variants. The petrol engine is a 208 bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder, whereas the diesel engine is a 236 bhp 3.0-litre V6. Both the engines are mated to a 7-speed S tronic transmission.

The Audi Q5 also offers Audi drive select system which makes it easier for the driver to shift the suspension setup and dynamic steering response with help of a simple button. The striking car also presents another feature where drive settings can be adjusted between three levels - Comfort, Auto, and Dynamic.

Audi Q5 which is developed on the Audi Multi Longitudinal platform comes with an extremely handsome exterior (much like the Audi Q7) and a very graceful interior. Compared to its rival, the BMW X3, it comes with a longer wheelbase for better stability. The car rides majestically on well-carved 17-inch alloy wheels and with the bonnet positioned a little higher, the car conveys an aggressive appeal.

One of the most eye-catching designs in the Q5's interior is the dashboard which comes with red backlit buttons giving the feel of an aircraft's cabin. A superb audio system from Bang & Olufsen combines with Audi's Multi-Media Interface to deliver fantastic sound quality.

Seats are wrapped in luxurious leather. Power-adjustable front seats with memory function to save seat position settings add good convenience. The rear seats too come with the high level of comfort especially on long drives. A highlight of the SUV is its capacious boot with a capacity of 540 litres.

Safety is abundant with features such as 6-airbag system, Quattro permanent all-wheel drive, tyre pressure monitoring, and anti-theft alarm system.