By Amanda Mfuphi

We recently got acquainted with the facelift Audi Q5 and we thoroughly enjoyed most aspects of the vehicle, except for the seemingly thirsty engine, particularly during these trying times of hiked fuel prices. We enjoyed the space offered by the Q5 for passengers and their luggage as well as the sporty exterior of our test unit.

Updated exterior

Our test unit was the S Line 45 TFSI Quattro model which was finished in Glacier White and came with the optional 20-inch Audi Sport wheels. Additionally, it came with the optional black styling package which blacks out the car’s trim pieces and the large black front grille for a sporty look. The front end is complimented newly designed LED headlights with daytime LED lights.

Updated interior

Inside, the cabin presents a spacious and luxurious feel with the prominent 10.1-inch infotainment screen and Audi’s virtual cockpit dominating the dashboard as well as the ambient light with a plethora of colour options. The infotainment screen is crisp, easy to use and supports Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. We found Audi’s cockpit to be intuitive and highly customizable. There is ample space with plenty of head room and legroom for all five passengers, and an equally generous boot. The optional panoramic sunroof is great as it brings a sense of airiness to the cabin. Other features of our test unit include a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera setup.

Performance

Powering the Q5 45 TFSI is a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine that produces 183kW of power and 370Nm of torque, which sends its power to all four corners via a 7-speed S tronic transmission. We found the engine to deliver a refined and punchy drive, and it pairs up well the smooth 7-speed automatic transmission. The ride quality also impresses with its optional 4-corner air suspension with electronic shock absorption control with adaptive damping soaking up road conditions and speed bumps quite well. Audi claims fuel consumption of 6.2L/100km, however, the lowest we could manage was 9.1L/km with mostly city driving and a short stint on the M1 from Johannesburg to Pretoria.

Pricing for the Audi Q5 45 TFSI starts from R926,100 and it comes with a 5-year / 100 000km Audi Freeway Maintenance Plan.