Audi Q5 3.0 TDI 2018 Review

Like an avocado smear lovingly smooshed on a blue plate by a MasterChef hopeful, the German countryside flashes by as a soft green smudge.

Despite the 242km/h indicated speed, existence inside the Audi Q5 3.0 TDI is remarkably unhurried.

My passenger and I are discussing movies that start with the letter 'N' (Norbit, anyone?) as the Audi Q5's brawny new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 rams its way through exponentially mounting air resistance.

True blue, this feels more like a sophisticated German sports car than a bucolic SUV.

Pumping out 210kW at 3500rpm, the Audi Q5 3.0 TDI has more power than most drivers will ever need but it's the huge wave of torque – 620Nm in total – unleashed at 1500rpm that makes this vehicle an ambitious accelerator at any road speed.

The buttery-smooth but forceful torque interrogates a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission, then pumps through a quattro all-wheel drive system that divides mumbo 40:60 front to rear in most conditions. A mechanical centre diff will push more torque to the rear axle during hard acceleration.

It corners well thanks to a flat attitude (for an SUV), generates loads of grip through its quattro set-up and even the steering isn’t completely devoid of feedback.

It's the kind of car that'll do 800km per tank when cruising and is good as an everyday driver too.

That its price undercuts six-cylinder diesel versions of the BMW X3 ($84,900) and Mercedes-Benz GLC ($89,900) is also worth noting.

The Audi Q5 3.0 TDI will chase down Porsche 911s at high velocities on the autobahn as easily as it'll rip to 60km/h at traffic lights when you're in a hurry.

For all its refined brawn, however, this five-seat turbo V6 will just as easily trundle along at prosaic speeds, delivering impressive fuel economy figures.

On a 580km run from Berlin to Munich, taking in some city driving at either end but mainly high-speed highways (with very high average speeds), the second-generation Audi Q5 oiler slurped down diesel at a rate of 10.5L/100km, which is pretty impressive given the thrashing it copped.

Audi has been in the press lately over more emissions "irregularities" in its 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesels, but the German boffins we spoke to insist this engine is squeaky-clean.

Audi Australia reckons the car will average around 6.3L/100km when driven nominally, which doesn't seem unrealistic. The claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.8sec appears reasonable too.

The new Audi Q5 3.0 TDI can chase, tow, cruise and even dance to the Funky Chicken on a Thursday night after yum cha. OK, maybe that last one is a stretch but, like Christoph Waltz, this talented German's versatility is not in question.

It generates more torque (but less power) than the petrol-only Audi SQ5 (260kW/500Nm), a slightly faster tarmac ripper that's priced around $15K higher at $99,611.

Nevertheless the SQ5 still accounts for around 20 per cent of all Q5s sold in Australia – very popular by any measure.

But as Audi product planners grapple with whether or not to import a diesel-powered SQ5, this 3.0 TDI is expected to account for almost as many sales -- around 15 per cent of the home-baked Q5 pie.

For the record, the previous Audi SQ5 Plus TDI belted out 250kW/700Nm, but given the lower price of this 210kW/620Nm machine, it's going to have lots of appeal.

Rolling on big 21-inch alloy wheels (Aussie models come standard with 20-inch rims), our shiny green Audi Q5 looks the part.

Air suspension also gives it very good ride quality in spite of the low-profile 255/40 R21 tyres, but I reckon the regular Q5 is a bit stiff so we'll have to wait and see how this model feels on Aussie tarmac.

The front-end gets a little floaty at 240km/h as the air swirls up under the front bumper but it's no worse than the (significantly more expensive) Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 at similar speeds.

Blasting down German highways at speeds of above 220km/h can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially when a slow-moving Dacia Duster pulls into your lane.

Thankfully, the Audi Q5 3.0 TDI comes with a range of driver aids, such as adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking, both of which make high-speed driving a lot more reassuring.

The Audi Q5 3.0 TDI also comes with blind spot warning and active lane assist systems, traffic jam assist and about a dozen other advanced driver aids that will take control of the car faster than you can in a sticky situation.

All Q5 models come with eight airbags and a five-star NCAP safety rating.

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Inside job

Driving the Audi Q5 3.0 TDI is a pleasant experience. The elevated view of the road is most welcome while the high-tech 12.3-inch virtual cockpit display not only looks ultra-trick but provides excellent navigational directions and telemetry.

The 8.3-inch MMI infotainment screen perched on the middle of the dashboard is pretty nifty too but compared to the new MMI touchscreen systems we tested in the all-new Audi A6, they feel dated.

Still, compared to its rivals like the BMW X5 and Mercede-Benz GLC, the technological look and feel of the Audi Q5 is still leading the way.

The updated voice control system is also pretty schmick. Simply say "Go to Hotel Budapest" and, after accessing Google, it interfaces with the nav and away you go. Very clever. It should be noted that it did struggle with "Find me a chicko roll".

Two USB ports up front and a sliding wireless phone charger that easily fits an iPhone 8 Plus are nice touches, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also pleasing.

There's abundant room up front for two hale and hearty adults, the rear seats aren't too squishy either and boot space of 550 litres (rising to 610 litres via sliding rear seats) expands to a very handy 1550 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

Some of the handy-dandy convenience features that will be standard on the new model include a powered tailgate with kick-motion gesture control, adaptive LED headlights, electrically adjustable steering column and heated, auto-dimming wing mirrors.

Comfortable, cushy leather appointed seats – heated sports seats up front – provide good comfort on longer journeys while keyless entry and push-button engine start make getting in and starting up just that little bit quicker.

Steering wheel paddle shifters are probably unnecessary in this car because the eight-speed auto is so responsive, but they will come standard in Australia anyway -- as will tri-zone climate control, a 10-speaker stereo with above-average audio quality and a 360-degree surround-view parking camera.

The car will also park itself if you don't want to. Neato!

If you're in the market for a new Audi Q5 the options are starting to improve. The Audi Q5 sport 2.0 TDI is $70,700 and now for a bit more than $10K extra there's the stronger, smarter and better-equipped Q5 sport 3.0 TDI coming in September 2018.

The vehicle drives well, has impressive fuel consumption, a class-leading tech-laden yet intuitive interior and enough practicality to swallow four adults – five at a pinch.

Oh, and did I mention it's got a 3.0-litre turbocharged, intercooled, 24-valve diesel V6 that gives the Q5 a turn of speed that should satisfy admirers of the former and very popular diesel-powered Audi SQ5?

How much is the 2018 Q5 sport 3.0 TDI?
Price: $83,900 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel
Output: 210kW/620Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: TBC
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP