We’ve already tried Audi‘s new Q5 in the most popular 2.0 TDI form that will take more than three-quarters of sales, but this 3.0-litre diesel model tops the range and will account for around 13% of the small 4×4, according to the German brand.
The car is longer than its BMW X3, Land Rover Freelander and new Volvo XC60 rivals, although in the latter’s case there is one millimetre in it. It’s also lower than any of the others, giving it a squat, muscular appearance.
Only available as an auto with Audi’s S-tronic gearbox, the Q5 3.0 TDI stacks up well against the competition with more power yet CO2 that pretty much matches the X3 and beats its other rivals.
But it’s not cheap. Heading into the mid-£30,000 range puts it into the territory of bigger off-roaders or even very well-specced upper medium estates. That price contributes to a pretty hefty 71.0p per mile running cost figure from KwikCarcost.
There’s also a big question mark over ride quality, with the Q5 thumping over bumps on even the smoothest roads, although our model was on optional bigger wheels that it might be best to avoid.
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