the Audi Q5 as an Audi A4 Avant that can wade through 20 inches of standing water and scramble across a mildly muddy two-track trail. The standard Quattro all-wheel-drive system has the same 40:60, rear-drive biased torque distribution, and the Audi Q5 packs the same sweet 265 hp 3.2-liter V6 with 243 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is paired with a ZF six-speed automatic, and Audi estimates the combination will net 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. If we're honest, that is a bit disappointing, especially when compared to the powertrains they'll offer in the homeland. German Audi Q5s can be had with three of Audi's most impressive engines—the four-cylinder gasoline 2.0 TFSI, and two diesels: a thrifty 2.0 TDI or the powerhouse 3.0 TDI V6, which belts out 407 lb.-ft. of torque. Oh yes, they all get better mileage than our V6.
The Audi Q5 cabin is nearly identical to the A4's, which is no bad thing. It is all quite intuitively designed, right to the flip-down rear seats, which are easily actuated from the cargo area. Only leather will be offered, and upscale niceties like a climate-controlled cup holder and ventilated front seats can be optioned. Audi's MMI (Muti-Media Interface) is much improved too, with small pop-up windows sliding onto the screen to note temperature or seat heat adjustments. The navigation system now shows details on buildings, and can be viewed in "bird's eye" format—quite chic, indeed. But we'd still like to have touchscreen controls.
