Audi Q5 2012-2017 3.0 TDI Quattro

Audi Q5 is a highly desirable SUV from the German automobile company. It comes in several trim levels with both petrol and diesel engine options. The Audi Q5 3.0 TDI Quattro Premium Plus is the mid range diesel variant powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged engine. It is capable of developing a peak power of 241.4bhp, while generating 580Nm of peak torque. This trim is bestowed with numerous advanced aspects including a driver information system, Audi drive select and an infotainment system. At the same time, it has luxurious features like electrically adjustable front seats, 3-zone climate control system and panoramic glass roof and Milano leather seats. This five seater trim has a huge cabin with good leg and shoulder room. It also has several advanced safety aspects like anti-theft alarm with tow-away protection, collapsible spare wheel and ISOFIX child seat mounting. This vehicle competes with the likes of Mercedes Benz ML Class, BMW X3, and Volvo XC60 in the Indian SUV segment. At present, the car maker is offering a standard warranty of 2-years with unlimited kilometers, which can be extended further at an additional cost.

Exteriors:

This vehicle has a pretty decent body design, which is neatly decorated with hallmark cosmetics. To begin with its front profile, the headlight cluster is quite sleek and is equipped with xenon plus headlamps along with LED daytime running lights . In the center, there is a hexagonal shaped radiator grille that has vertically positioned slats and has a thick chrome surround. The front bumper is in body color and is designed with a pair of air ducts and fitted with fog lamps. The overall look of the front is emphasized by the chrome plated company's insignia, which is affixed to the grille. This vehicle has a stylish side profile where its wheel arches are in a dual tone look. These are fitted with a set of 18-inch cast aluminum lightweight alloy wheels, which are further covered with 235/60 R18 sized tubeless radial tyres. The door handles along with the external wing mirrors are painted in body color while the window sills are treated in chrome. Coming to the rear, it has a concave windscreen accompanied by a spoiler and a wiper. Its tailgate has an expressive design and is further decorated with stylish company's badge. Its tail lamps and turn indicators are based on LED technology, which adds elegance to the rear profile. The rear bumper is in a dual color look, thanks to the protective cladding that provides additional protection from minor damages.

Interiors:

Coming to the interiors, this Audi Q5 3.0 TDI Quattro Premium Plus trim has a plush internal cabin that is made up of high quality scratch resistant materials. Its interiors are done in ebony black color scheme, which is further complimented by wood and metallic inserts. There is an extensive use of Milano leather inside the cabin, especially to the seats and door panels, which gives a magnificent look to the interiors. Its dashboard is stylishly crafted and is integrated with aspects like a glove box unit, infotainment system, climate control unit and an advanced instrument panel . Its central console houses gearbox along with ergonomically positioned control switches. The steering wheel has a conventional design with four spokes and is mounted with audio and call function buttons. The seats in cockpit are electrically adjustable, wherein the driver's seat also has memory setting. While the rear ones have reclining function and can be folded in 40:20:40 split ratio. There are several utility based aspect provided inside like accessory power sockets, sun visors, drink holders, inside rear view mirrors and rear center armrest.

Engine and Performance:

The car maker has equipped this variant with a powerful 3.0-litre, TDI diesel engine that has a common rail injection system. It has six cylinders and twenty four valves that makes a total displacement capacity of 2967cc . This motor has the ability to produce a peak power of 241.4bhp in the range of 4000 to 4500rpm that yields in a commanding torque output of 580Nm between just 1400 to 3250rpm. This torque output is distributed to all four wheels through a 7-speed, S-tronic automatic transmission gearbox. This vehicle can achieve a top speed of 225 Kmph, while breaching the 100 Kmph mark in just 6.5 seconds.

Braking and Handling:

This vehicle is blessed with a dynamic suspension system, wherein its front axle is fitted with a five-link lightweight system in combination with tabular cross stabilizer. Its rear axle is fitted with an independent trapezoidal link system that is loaded with twin-tube, gas-filled shock absorbers and coil springs. The car maker has fitted all its wheels with a set of disc brakes that are further loaded with superior brake calipers. It is further assisted by anti lock braking system and emergency brake assist system. On the other hand, this SUV is integrated with a rack and pinion based electro-mechanic power assisted steering that provides precise response depending upon speed levels.

Comfort Features:

The Audi Q5 TDI Quattro Premium Plus is the mid range variant that is incorporated with several advanced features. It has a cruise control including an active brake intervention system that helps to keep the set speed of above 30 Kmph constant. At the same time, it comes installed with parking system plus that provides acoustic warning and visual signals on MMI screen to assist the driver while parking. The list of other features include driver information system with color display, 4-way lumbar support for seats, auto release function , 3-zone automatic air conditioning system, comfort rear head rests and Audi drive select. Apart from these, it has aspects like Audi sound system with music interface, Bluetooth connectivity, preparation for rear seat entertainment and a symphony radio.

Safety Features:

This mid range variant has innovative safety features, which ensures proper protection to all its passengers. It has a long list of aspects including anti-slip regulation, electronic differential lock, first aid kit with warning triangle, safety steering column , 3-point inertia seat belts for all seats and six airbags. This SUV comes with a fully galvanized body structure with crumple zones and impact protection beams, which minimizes the impact in case of a collision and thereby it reduce the cause of injury.

Pros:

1. Quattro AWD system helps to be a good off-road performer.

2. Audi Drive select is its main advantage.

Cons:

1. Price range is slightly higher than other competitors.

2. There is still scope to improve several interior features.