They are big, they are luxurious and they look simply breathtaking. Car India goes for an exciting excursion with Audi’s Q family
FOR US, THE TEAM AT CAR INDIA, THE DESTINATION is not really important where a journey is concerned. Our
nirvana lies in the very drive that takes us to our destination.
It happens quite often that the whole team goes out for a good, long road trip that relaxes and rejuvenates us for the next issue. And just before we started work on this issue of Car India, Aspi informed the whole team about a road trip in some of the most luxurious SUVs available in the country today.
But there was one thing that bothered the entire team. Everyone was making a wild surmise about our mode of transport, but then suddenly Aspi broke the news that he had arranged Audi’s Q family of SUVs for us to go for a quick getaway. After working hard through the month we were getting a chance to indulge ourselves in the luxury and comfort of Audi’s Q SUVs just before we started work on this issue. What a morale-booster!
After the announcement, the whole team was raring to go as the three Qs lined up in the parking lot. Audi had sent the Q7, Q5 and the cute but potent Q3 SUV for this quick getaway of ours. It was decided that we would leave at 5.30 am the next day and head for the Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary near Kolhapu
Excited to be on the road after a month of work, everyone showed up early. The team members stepped into the three Qs like schoolchildren aboard a picnic bus. Aspi was in command of the mighty Q7, followed by Sarmad in the muscular Q5 and yours truly behind the wheel of the cute baby Q. As it happens, I am quite familiar with the Q3 and have driven it extensively in the past. Nevertheless, every time I get behind its wheel I feel like a little kid in a candy store.
While navigating the empty (for a change) streets of Pune (something rare for most of us) the Q3 felt just right. The power, handling and manoeuvrability of the Q3 with four people aboard was simply amazing. The best part of getting out of the city was that we didn’t even notice how quickly we had reached the highway.
And so there we were on the highway, looking forward to a great drive and a lot of fun in the Qs. The distance from Pune to Radhanagari is about 350 kilometres. Normally it would take five to six hours for an ordinary driver and an ordinary vehicle to cover this distance, but we were behind the wheels of three Qs, which meant that we were not ordinary people. And with Aspi leading the way, Sarmad and I had to quicken our pace in order to stay with him if we wanted to cover the distance in good time.
Just after Satara we stopped briefly and I exchanged the Q3 with Sarmad for the Q5. Both the Q3 and Q5 have luxurious cabins that are done in top quality material and have classleading fit-and-finish. But one thing that becomes quite obvious while switching to the bigger Q is the sheer size of the SUV. The Q3 feels more like a big hatch whereas in the Q5 you get the feel of being in a proper SUV.
Driving the Q5 was an entirely different experience. The 3.0-litre V6 diesel puts out 245 PS of power and 580 Nm of torque, which is more than what the 2.0-litre TDI motor of the Q3 produces. On the road between Satara and Kolhapur there are some really nice stretches where you can open up the Q5 for a few seconds and enjoy the stunning acceleration that it has to offer. Besides, the S tronic dual-clutch transmission shifts so perfectly that you hardly notice the gear changes. I became so involved with the superb dynamics and performance of the Q5 that I didn’t even realise that we had reached Kolhapur.
It was breakfast time and everyone was eager to get down, grab a quick bite and get back on the road. So we stopped at a little place that was serving piping hot misal. It is a sin to be in Kolhapur and not have the misal the city is so famous for. So after a quick bite the three Qs and the team were ready to go and it was time for me to sample the might of the mighty Q7. It is an SUV that has managed to intimidate me for a long time and finally I was going to confront it.
Being in the Q7 was a wonderful experience as I was stunned by how good it looks even on the inside. The luxurious cabin with wood trimming on the dashboard and the centre console give it a very rich feel. And the fit-and-finish is even better in the Q7. All of it looked and felt really great, but I was concerned about something else. I had read the spec sheet of the Q7 4.2-litre TDI, according to which the power output of this beast of a diesel V8 is 340 PS and the torque a jaw-dropping 800 Nm. And it becomes available from as low as 1,750 revs. I was in for a life altering experience.
We were now 90 kilometres away from village Radhanagari. We got off the highway just after Kolhapur and on to a smaller winding road that led straight to the Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary. I was taking it easy in the Q7 on the narrow roads. Even though the Q7 is a mighty big SUV with a beast for an engine, it is really easy to
drive. It handled exceptionally well for its size on the potholeridden roads leading to village Radhanagari.
The fun began when we hit the ghat section before Radhanagari. The Q7 in the twisties: this must be crazy! At first the Q7 might look like a handful to handle, but the moment you get rid of your phobia and push it into a corner you realise how well the suspension and steering have been configured. I was amazed at the fact that I was actually throwing a Q7 round corners at a decent speed without getting nervous. The dynamics of the Q7 and the way it behaves on zigzag roads is simply a remarkable thing for an SUV of its size. I was mighty impressed by its capabilities
After the ghat section we entered a small village that signifies entry into the wildlife sanctuary. The road that leads you to the entrance of the sanctuary is more like a trail and it goes through a thick tree cover giving you the feel of being inside the sanctuary.
Unfortunately, we were not able to sight any major wildlife as the number of fauna in this area has dwindled drastically over the past few years. But we did sight a couple of Gaur or Indian Bison and a few Sambhar deer. But the main highlight of this quick dash to a national park was the superb drive in the fabulous Q family of SUVs from Audi. I was amazed by the power, handling, comfort, ride quality and the super efficient quattro drive system. All the
three Qs were equipped with the quattro and the system provided more than ample grip in corners on rough roads and even in loose mud and dirt. The three SUVs displayed high levels of stability and amazing traction on varying terrain. And most importantly, the fuel consumption was quite unbelievable despite some seriously fast driving. Even after covering 350 kilometres we still had more than half a tank of diesel left in all the three Qs. Amazing, because we
were not driving them for fuel efficiency.
The Q7, Q5 and Q3 proved to be the most comfortable SUVs we have ever driven. Even after driving them for the entire day there was absolutely no sign of fatigue, stress or backache. The comfort and luxury of the three Qs is hardly matched by any other SUV in India and the perfect power plants that propel these three Qs are also among the best engines that you can buy in India today. Any of the Q SUV is the perfect companion for you if you really want to
enjoy a day, weekend or even an entire week with your loved ones in sheer luxury and utmost comfort. Audi’s Q family of SUVs is an ideal partner for you and your family.
Story: Ravi Chandnani
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
