|
|
||
Date published: 11/13/2009
By MARK PHELAN DETROIT FREE PRESS Who would've thought there would ever be a pitched battle for global domination in luxury SUVs? The very idea of a luxury SUV strikes many as an oxymoron, but the field has filled with excellent vehicles and caused automakers from the United States, Europe and Japan to raise their games. Audi's Q5 Quattro cross-over SUV is among a slew of new five-seat luxury crossovers that hit the market this year. It arrives with some of the virtues that distinguished Audi's dynamite A4 sport sedan last year, but burdened by a few failings that keep it just short of leadership. Prices for the 2009 Q5 start at $37,200, excluding destination charges. The 2010 model is virtually identical to the '09 I tested for this review. Its base price rises to $37,350 to reflect some minor changes in interior trim. All Q5s feature all-wheel drive, a 270-horsepower 3.2-liter V-6 and a six-speed automatic transmission. The Q5's base price compares favorably with other all-wheel-drive five-seat luxury crossovers like the $36,600 Mercedes-Benz GLK 350, $37,200 Volvo XC60 T6, $38,650 Lexus RX 350, $37,750 BMW X3, $39,405 Cadillac SRX and $40,195 Lincoln MKX. All prices exclude destination charges. The Audi's price rises fast as you add features common to luxury vehicles, however. The Q5 I tested was nicely equipped, but bore a $51,650 price tag that made it thousands of dollars more expensive than comparable models of the very appealing new Cadillac SRX and Volvo XC60. The option list included some features that should be standard on any $37,200 vehicle, like blind-spot alert and a memory for the driver's seat and mirror settings. The Q5 has a roomy and attractive interior, with plenty of space for five passengers. The 29.1-cubic-foot cargo area behind the rear seat is larger than the cramped GLK 350, slightly smaller than the XC60 and SRX. It is dwarfed by the RX 350's 40 cubic feet. Fold the rear seat flat and the Q5's hold expands to 57 cubic feet, again larger than the GLK, a bit smaller than XC60 and SRX and far less than the RX.
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
|
|
||||||||||||
