2013 Audi Q5
The final new powertrain is a hybrid. It uses the 211-hp turbo four augmented by a 54-hp electric motor connected by a clutch to the engine; combined system output is 245 hp and is channeled through an eight-speed automatic transmission. A 1.3-kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides power for up to 1.9 miles of electric-only driving at 37 mph, or a shorter distance at speeds up to 62 mph. We couldn’t verify the motor’s operational range on our short drive, but we did find the blending of electric and gas-electric operation to be as seamless as anything we’ve sampled. The engine doesn’t restart with a violent shake like we’ve experienced with the BMW 328i’s stop-start system, and after pulling away on electric power, the reintroduction of internal combustion is inconspicuous. The brakes bite nicely-which is not the norm for a hybrid bent on recouping brake energy-but the epilogue of a slight brake application is a small shudder felt through the pedal and a bit through the steering wheel. It’s our only real gripe with the hybrid.
All the Q5s come with electrically assisted power steering that actually has a sufficient amount of feedback for an SUV and knows straight-ahead like a salmon knows upriver. The chassis blends a comfortable ride with a sporty demeanor in the way we expect a sports sedan to. The hybrid is infinitely more engaging than the RX450h, and the diesel model should offer class-leading (internal combustion only) fuel economy. The official numbers haven’t been announced for the 2013 Q5 range, although the 2.0T will likely burn gas at the same rate as the current model, which has city and highway EPA ratings of 20 and 27 mpg. The 3.0T will score slightly lower, and the hybrid will do a bit better. The diesel model should nearly match the 2.0T’s economy, potentially surpassing its highway rating.
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Buyers looking to get maximum sport out of their Q5 should select the S-line package with the 3.0T, which includes variable-ratio steering and adaptive dampers at all four corners. In their stiffest setting, the dampers do a good job of quelling body roll, which makes sweepers ever so slightly more enjoyable.
Pricing hasn’t been revealed for the 2013 model, but we expect the 2.0T’s sticker to be slightly higher than the outgoing 2012 model’s, or about $37,500. The 3.0T should start right around the $45,000 mark, with the hybrid coming in below the 3.0T. When it comes online next year, we expect the 3.0 TDI to be priced a bit higher than the 3.0T.
Those new lights-they have a halolike LED daytime-running element-and the bumpers, although minor changes, blend well into the carry-over body panels. Along with the powertrain updates, the new look makes a likable luxury crossover even more so.
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