Like the exterior design the cabin retains the familiar layout. The quality of materials and attention to detail, in typical Audi fashion, is flawless. The dashboard uses soft-touch plastic and comes laden with wood accents which add a sense of premium-ness. Unlike the new Q7, this doesn’t get the faux door-to-door a-c vents, but a couple of rectangular vents in the centre and on either side. This is an intelligent climate control system which can sense the area of the car which is under direct sunlight and can increase the cooling in that section. Also worthy of mention are the haptic knobs which add to the overall user experience.
Right in the middle is mounted a 8.3-inch colour display with the latest MMI infotainment system. Since this isn’t a touchscreen, one can toggle through the menu via a knob or a trackpad that recognises handwriting. These are easy to use even on the go, without taking your eyes off the road. There are also four toggle buttons for quick access along with eight favourite buttons to assist you further. I like the centre console layout which is clutter-free and also scores on creature comfort.
The well-bolstered seats caress you well, but only the driver’s seat comes with memory function. There is excellent visibility as you sit pretty high and the A-pillars are particularly slim. The driver also gets Audi’s signature 12.3-inch virtual cockpit instrument cluster. You can either choose the traditional layout or select the more modern, digital format. Either way, the instrument cluster offers huge array of information, including satellite navigation, real-time fuel economy, average speed, phone contacts, music track, and distance to empty, among others.
One of the biggest changes in the 2018 Q5 is the generous cabin space. There’s visibly more shoulder- and knee-room even on the back seats. For more comfort, the rear seat backrest can be reclined a little. Apart from this you also get rear a-c vents with temperature settings, while the panoramic sunroof gives the cabin an airy feel. It’s a practical car, where the spare wheel is tucked away in the wheel well, leaving the entire 550 litres of boot space to be utilised. Drop the rear seat-back and the storage capacity increases to an enormous 1,550 litres.
Our top-of-the-line test car came with smartphone integration, wireless charging for Qi-enabled phones, intelligent voice command system, cruise control and 10 GB to store all your music. The usual bits such as leather upholstery, electrically adjustable seats, cameras with a 360-degree view, hill-hold and tyre pressure monitoring system are also bundled up. The safety kit includes a secure cabin with eight airbags and a five-star Euro NCAP certification.
Now that we know it’s a safe car to push to the limit, let’s do just that. Like the latest A4, the Q5 is propelled by the new 1,968-cc four-cylinder turbo-diesel that has established itself as a refined and frugal motor. It’s one of the quietest diesel engines you’ll come across, as it’s barely audible while idling and you’ll have to look at the tachometer to realise that the engine is actually running. The seven-speed S tronic transmission feels even more seamless than before, thanks to the dampers in the flywheel. It’s one of the quickest gearboxes in its segment as it swaps ratios almost intuitively.
