![]() It feels like the front wheels don’t want to turn, and then it feels like they want to turn too much. It shares a trait I’ve noticed in many all-wheel-drive luxury vehicles: inconsistent feedback, especially when driving around parking lots. The steering isn’t at the top of the class, however. The Q5 is the only SUV I’ve driven lately that’s surprised me with the power on hand in every situation I kept thinking, “This is going to be the car that gets me a speeding ticket.” That’s not to say it’s a drag-racer, but I’d put it near the top of its segment in terms of acceleration, along with competitors like the Infiniti EX35 and Mercedes-Benz GLK350. That’s usually the result of a good engine/transmission marriage, in which both complement each other, and the Q5 really gets it right. ![]() It doesn’t matter if you’re pulling away from a light or passing at highway speeds the power is there. What’s important is that when you press the gas, you get a nice, immediate response, in which I have to think the engine’s direct injection has to play a role. The spec sheet tells you there’s a 3.2-liter V-6 with direct fuel injection under the hood, making 270 horsepower and 243 pounds-feet of torque, hooked up to a six-speed automatic transmission. The high point of the Q5 is its drivetrain. So, yeah, this is not the car for you if you’re the Waltons, but families aren’t the only people who buy cars. It has its shortcomings - it’s not an SUV for large families, and I wonder about an inconsistent feeling you get from Q5’s steering - but it’s also very enjoyable. I got to test a 2010 Q5 during a snowy, wet, nasty week, and I found it equal to the task. On the other side of the valley, where snow falls, thunder booms and all hell breaks loose, the Audi Q5 is quite at home cruising down the road, thank you very much. You can just see them parked under a tree while sunbeams shine down, birds sing and an angel plays a harp. There are large, comfy SUVs that are made to haul large families to idyllic picnics in the countryside.
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