2013 Audi Q5 First Drive
We
drove the new Q5 hybrid first on a 25-mile loop that was largely flat,
though somewhat winding, with minimal stopping. Already available in
Europe, the new hybrid powertrain combines Audi's well-known 211-hp,
turbocharged 2.0-liter four with a 54-hp electric motor. Combined, the
two will produce up to 354 hp and knock out the 0-62 mph sprint in a
claimed 7.1 seconds. Audi says the batteries are packaged in a way that
doesn't infringe on cargo space, and a conventional eight-speed
automatic transmission is employed.
The
Q5 might be considered a compact utility vehicle, but it's no small fry
for Audi. In 2011, Ingolstadt sold more than 180,000 Q5s to new owners
worldwide, with nearly 25,000 of them arriving in the U.S. Globally, the
Q5 was Audi's fourth-best seller last year, behind the A3, A4, and A6.
Understanding the importance of such a model, Audi has refreshed its
top-selling utility vehicle for 2013, announcing cosmetic changes and
three new engines for the U.S. market: a 2.0-liter hybrid, a
supercharged gas 3.0-liter, and a turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel.
Regardless
of engine, each 2013 Q5 receives redesigned LED headlights with a
parallelogram appearance, new bumpers, taillights and flat-bottomed
exhaust tips, and a front grille with vertical slats just like the
recently introduced Crossroad. Changes continue inside with new aluminum
and oak trim packages, the introduction of Google maps in the
navigation system, and an optional adaptive cruise control that brakes
the Q5 to a complete stop in emergency situations. Electromechanical
steering is now standard across the lineup to reduce energy consumption.
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