Quick Review: 2011 Audi Q5

Spacious, comfortable, quick, looker, satisfying.
I haven’t driven many compact luxury SUVs, but the Q5 was decent. I was using the car for moving, and it served its purpose: the second-row seats fold, and there’s a decent amount of space. The power liftgate is a lifesaver when moving boxes. The doors slam with a satisfying thud. German engineering wins again.
On the road, it’s wide and drives large. Dynamically, it’s not engaging. I didn’t have a chance to push it, but around town the car has decent enough power. The throttle tip-in is smooth and easily modulated. The transmission occasionally stutters when jumping on the accelerator quickly from a stop, but otherwise shifts are smooth and quick.
The car isn’t meant to be your hammer for smashing through traffic. That’s the SQ5's job. Maybe that’s worth a drive. I think the Q5 looks good and has aged well: it’s curvier than other small SUVs (I’m looking at you, first-gen MB GLK350), but it remains sharp in the right places.
The Q5 checks the right boxes, nothing more.


