Audi Q5 3.0 TDi Quattro SE review (2008 onwards)

Model: Audi Q5 3.0 TDi Quattro SE
Bodystyle: five-door mid-size SUV
Engine: 240hp 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel
Transmission: seven speed S tronic automatic

What is it?

The prestige SUV. The car we love to hate. Usually seen on the school run or taking up two spaces in a Waitrose car park, they are reviled as crass, vulgar and ostentatious. It's little wonder ordinary motorists, pedestrians and those of a green persuasion detest them.But this is a very important segment to be in - and manufacturers are fighting back with down-sized, miniature versions of the city slicker's favoured mode of transport. Audi is the latest to launch a junior prestige SUV. Its name is the Q5 and will be offered as an alternative to the Q7 for those who don't need a small coach to ferry their families around in.

Read more Audi reviews

Where does it fit?

Audi isn't the only car maker at it. Volvo recently launched a scaled-down version of the XC90 called the XC60, last year Volkswagen brought out a teeny Touareg called the Tiguan, then there's the Land Rover Freelander for those who can't afford a Range Rover and BMW has the X3, a junior X5.Don't forget the perennial favourites, the Honda CRV, Toyota Rav4 and Nissan X-Trail, as well as new entrants like the Ford Kuga and Renault Koleos. While these latter cars are the entry points into this market, the Q5 will be one of the most prestigious and popular cars in this class. And the one people will aspire to own.

Is it for you?

The Q5 is still an SUV, so if the idea of four-wheel drive and a lofty driving position isn't your idea of fun, look elsewhere. However, if you've grown tired of other drivers not letting you out of junctions in your big SUV and want to trade it in for something that offers much the same in a cuter package, the Q5 makes a lot of sense.

Watch a video roadtest of the Audi Q5

What does it do well?

Seriously, the Q5 is one of the best mid-size SUVs in this class to drive. Ride and handling is exceptional, especially if you go for the optional Audi Drive Select (£1,000 - £1,700), which allows you to tune the suspension, throttle response, steering and transmission. There are three programmes to choose from - Sport, Comfort and Auto - each of which makes a dramatic difference to how the car reacts.Auto does what it says on the tin, firming up the suspension and steering automatically but smoothing out when the road straightens, while Sport sets the car in this mode for a sportier drive. You need Audi's S tronic automatic transmission to have this (standard with the 3.0TDI), but with the muscular and flexible 3.0-litre turbodiesel we tried, it's well worth it.

What doesn’t it do well?

Get too busy with your biro and you can easily inflate the price of your Q5 by another £10,000 -like most of the test cars we tried. It's well worth speccing the Audi Drive Select and the S tronic gearbox, but otherwise, the SE - which is expected to account for 50% of sales - gets most of the kit you could want; 18-inch alloys, leather upholstery, climate control, rear parking sensors and a CD player.Why anyone buying the Q5 would want to spend £3,000 on the 'off-road styling pack' is beyond me, while £100 for a climate-controlled cup holder and £375 for an electric tailgate is plain ridiculous. These aside, there really is little need to fault the Q5.

What's it like to live with?

In a word, perfect. In several; spacious but compact, comfortable, solid, well-built, impeccably finished. The interior is easily the best in this class; dash materials feel robust and look it, the seating position is high providing excellent visibility, and the dials and controls all have a machined feel and precision to them.Step into the back and you'll find seats that slide, recline and fold, leading to a boot space that offers between 540 and 1,560 litres of luggage-carrying capability. If you're looking for the perfect family car, it will be hard to walk past an Audi showroom and not come away with one of these.

How green is it?

With the 3.0 diesel, combined economy is a very respectable 37.6mpg while emissions are a relatively environment-friendly 199g/km. Choose the 2.0 TDI if you want 42.1mpg and 175g/km while the 2.0-litre petrol doesn't exactly embarrass itself with 33.2mpg and 197g/km. Proof that green motoring is achievable even if you're in a four-wheel drive car.

Would we buy one?

Absolutely. The Q5 will be a major seller in the UK - and deservedly so. It's very good to drive, is reasonably priced (£29,140 - £37,540) and maintains Audi's reputation for quality - which is the one area where Audi could have cut back like so many other car makers.There is little not to like about the Q5 in fact, and as an all-rounder, there are few rivals that can match it. The only problem is that whichever way you cut it, it's still an SUV. And for some people, that will be reason enough not to buy it. However, they will be the ones missing out.

More pictures of the Audi Q5 from Live Search
Driven: Volvo XC60
Watch a video roadtest of the Volvo XC60
Driven: BMW X3
Driven: Land Rover Freelander
Driven: VW Tiguan
Watch a video roadtest of the Audi Q5