We hate to admit it, but hot little roadsters are not for all roads. Sure, they’re great for storming freeways or tracks, but rough asphalt and downtown pot holes are a no-go. Maybe you need a performance car that can play on more roads, maybe something like the Audi Q5 TDI diesel.
Typically Audi, smooth bodies are shaped for the Autobahn but aren’t flashy. Yes, there’s the big grille with Audi’s four-ring logo, projector beams with LED halos and large fog lamps. Sporty 19-inch alloy wheels also make a statement. But the crossover is clean and smooth.
Inside, it’s pure understated elegance. Everything is well made, laden with real wood and focused on driver engagement. There are no reconfigurable instrument displays—just two large gauges. A thick leather-wrapped steering wheel and heated leather seats delight. Select the Panoramic Roof, tri-zone automatic climate control, power hatch and Bluetooth phone/streaming audio. Safety is enhanced by a backing camera, bumper sensors and blind-spot indicators.
Audi’s MMI infotainment system uses a console-mounted joywheel surrounded by function buttons for audio, radio, navigation and vehicle information. A small volume/seek knob is placed close to the front passenger. I’m not usually a fan of random buttons for simple functions, but Audi’s system works well.
Kicking it down the highway is a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 engine that generates 179kW/240 horsepower and a mind-thumping 428 lb.-ft. of torque. Power hits pavement through an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. Fuel economy rates 10/7.5 litres per 100 km city/hwy.
During a four-hour highway run, my husband and I settled in. There’s no denying the joy of driving a diesel-powered Audi. It accelerates easily and feels substantial. It’s the kind of car you want to drive a very long distance. I like stiffly sprung German iron, but the suspension gets a workout on rough city streets.
Audi makes a strong case for diesels being the go-to choice of frugal driving enthusiasts. At $51,200 for the Q5 TDI, there’s a lot to like. And you won’t have to avoid any road.
2015 Audi Q5 TDI
Five-passenger, AWD crossover
Powertrain 179kW/240hp 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6, 8-speed auto transmission
Suspension f/r Ind/Ind
Wheels 19”/19” alloy f/r
Brakes disc/disc fr/rr
Must-have features Style, Diesel delight
0-100 km/h: 6.7s
Top speed 209 km/h
Fuel economy 10/7.5 litres/100 km city/hwy
Assembly Ingolstadt, Germany
Base/As-tested price $35,800/$51,200
A contributing writer for Gaywheels.com, Casey Williams is a frequent business traveller to Montreal. He contributes to the New York-based LGBT magazine Metrosource and the Chicago Tribune. He and his husband live in Indianapolis, where Williams is a columnist for that city’s newspaper, the Star.
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