2009 Audi Q5 3.2 Quattro
Prices: $37,200

Audi anticipates an escalating move from luxury sedans to more utilitarian luxurious crossover vehicles,  such as its new Q5 3.2 quattro. It has plenty of room and all the right moves.
 
The Q5 is accelerating into an increasing crowded upscale field. Major rivals include the Acura RDX, BMW X3, Infiniti EX35, Land Rover LR2, Lexus RX350, Mercedes-Benz GLK350 and Volvo XC60.

Car and Driver magazine found the Q5 outdid its BMW, Lexus, Mercedes and Volvo rivals in a comparison test, and Motor Trend found it beat the Lexus, Mercedes and Volvo in a similar test.

The Q5 obviously has a lot going for it. Beautifully built, it's based on Audi's larger, more powrful 2009 A4 sedan. Features include an advanced all-wheel-drive (quattro) system, wide track, sophisticated suspension and long 110.5-inch wheelbase (longest in its class) that contribute to excellent handling. The all-wheel-drive system has a rear (40/60) bias for a sporty feel.

Some may find the steering a little heavy at lower speeds, but it's quick and has the right amount of power assist at high speeds. The ride is firm but supple, unaffected by most road imperfections. The brake pedal has a reassuringly firm linear action, and the brakes are powerful.

The Q5 handles off-road driving pretty well, although I doubt many owners will want to tackle really rough terrain because this crossover is too luxurious for off-pavement rough stuff. 

A smooth, quiet 3.2-liter V-6 with direct fuel injection and variable intake valve lift kicks out 270 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. The 0-60 mph time is 6.7 seconds, which is swift for a fairly large, roomy vehicle that weighs approximately 4,300 pounds. Towing capacity is best-in-class, at 4,400 pounds.

It's a mystery, though, why the Q5 speedometer reads up to 180 mph when the top speed is about 130 mph. A little auto show biz here?
 
The engine works with Audi's responsive Tiptronic six-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift capability.

Estimated fuel economy is 18 mpg in the city and 23 on highways. Premium fuel with a 91-octane rating is recommended, but the Q5 owner's manual says 87-octane cay be used if one doesn't mind a "slight performance loss."

The Q5 has comfort, convenience and safety features expected for a luxury vehicle. For instance, there's 12-way power front seats, leather covered seats throughout, unique 3-zone climate control and  rear reclining/sliding seats. An electronic dipstick lets the oil level be checked from inside the interior, although a neat under-hood area allows easy fluid checks.

A quick-moving power tailgate is available, as are an electromechanic parking brake instead of a hand brake, thermo heated/cooled cupholder and side-assist blind spot protection.

The outside power rearview mirrors are huge, which is a good thing except they can partially block a driver's view toward the front corners. Thick windshield posts also partially block vision, especially when turning in-town corners with pedestrians rushing  from sidewalks in front of the Q5.

There are three major option packages. The $4,300 Premium Plus package is costly but contains such items as a panorama sunroof, heated front seats, the power tailgate, power retracting outside mirrors to prevent damage to them and an upscale sound system.

The $3,000 Navigation Package has a navigation system with voice control and a genuinely helpful parking system assist with a rearview camera.

A $2,950 Drive Select system with an electronic controller adapts the Q5's dynamics to suit a desired driving experience. It tailors engine response, adaptive suspension, steering effort and transmission shift characteristics. The system's four operating modes are  Comfort, Automatic, Dynamic and Individual, which allows a custom response profile.

That system works OK, especially on twisty roads, but I soon just left it in Automatic mode. Most folks will be best off ignoring that option and saving about $3,000 unless they live near many, say, winding mountain roads.

The solidly built Q5 is handsome in a muscular way, and its oversized Audi grille (copied from 1930s German Grand Prix cars) looks better than it does on some Audi models. The interior is gorgeous, with such nifty details as metal trim around burled wood accents.

A dashboard screen and console knob and switches set audio, navigation and other functions, but the knob and buttons for the screen menu are too low on the console for easy driver operation. However, some routine adjustments, such as radio volume, are thoughtfully given separate controls.

Large door handles and long doors make it easy to slide in and out of the quiet interior, although rear door openings are somewhat narrow. Occupants sit high in supportive seats and even tall ones have plenty of stretch-out room. However, the center of the rear seat is best left to the fold-down armrest with built-in cupholders because it's too high and stiff for a fifth occupant's comfort.

A unique large center pass-through area is built within the split folding rear seats, which fold from levers inside the cargo area and sit flat when flipped forward.

Gauges can be quickly read, and front console cupholders are conveniently located to avoid spills. The glove compartment is especially large, and all doors have storage pockets and 1-liter bottle holders. However, the covered console bin isn't very roomy.

The cargo floor is very low and wide, and there's good cargo room even without the rear seatbacks flipped forward. Several easily reached covered storage areas are beneath the cargo floor.

The hood raises smoothly on twin struts to reveal the compact V-6 set back in the engine compartment to allow better weight distribution.

With its sporty personality, luxury and utility, the Q5 promises to have a bright future as a growing number of people tire of truck-based SUVs and want more utility than a sedan provides.