Road Tested By Hugh Maguire.
Its already March, where is the year going? The PHEV I am road testing this week is the Audi Q5 TFSI e revised with a bigger battery to improve range and claiming to offer up to 62km of electro motoring on a full charge.
Now I need to set out my stall here. These hybrids are only any good if you are disciplined enough to plug in every where you can to get the max 60km or so of EV motoring. Sadly evidence shows people are buying these PHEV cars for the cheaper road tax, and then not bothering to plug in as often as they should. In this case PHEV’s are a disaster actually emitting more C02 and burning more fuel than its equivalent sibling due the huge extra weight of the battery and motor. So the message is clear only buy a PHEV if you will plug in at every opportunity which will be a lot as the range is so short.
So has it any street cred?
The style is bold and muscular giving the Q5 a strong presence on the road. In addition there are some strong new colours which means you won’t go unnoticed if thats your thing! I liked it. Its distinctive and boasts a real air of class about it. My test car was finished in District Green which suited it very well indeed.
What’s it like inside?
The Q5 overall feels high quality boasting in this car Audi’s optional digital cockpit as standard, a large central touchscreen and thankfully plenty of buttons to operate functions as well.
The interior of the S-Line model is upholstered in leather and cloth and in this car an optional sporty looking flat-bottomed steering wheel. I really like the overall design it oozes quality and class.
There is enough standard equipment to please and a wealth of options to choose from should you wish. However at this price point I would have expected to see navigation and wireless charging at the least as standard equipment. But beware, gleefully ticking the options list will quickly bump up the base price.
The cabin is roomy up front and will seat two adults in complete comfort in the rear. Five would be a squeeze. The boot which is accessed via the electric hatchback has 460 litres of luggage space, a bit less than the non hybrid model due to the battery.
What is under the bonnet?
My test car was powered by Audi’s 2.0 litre TFSI 4 cylinder petrol turbo combined with an electric motor and battery producing some 299bhp and mated to the S-Tronic auto gearbox.
That combination works well but I never managed 60km on the battery achieving an average of 45km on a full charge. Over my test it burned on average 7.8 litres per 100km which is not a best in class result.
What is it like to drive?
The S-Line version tested rides the road very well soaking up undulations and imperfections with ease. The handling is surefooted and the Quattro all wheel drive offers plenty of grip whether on wet or dry roads. I really enjoyed the way it gets down the road but the driving experience is let down somewhat by steering that lacks any feel and feedback and a brake pedal that also lacks feel.
Noise levels are generally well suppressed. On twisty country roads it doesn’t roll too much and on motorways it cruises quietly, but despite its sporty overtones it’s not a sporty SUV to drive.
So what is the Verdict?
Overall I really liked the Audi Q5 TFSI e. It’s stylish, well designed, beautifully put together and boasts the very latest in automotive high tech. Its a very desirable car.Frankly though I don’t think I would pay the premium for the hybrid over its sibling. So horses for courses I guess. The Audi Q5 hybrid costs from €65,115. My test car with options cost over €70,000.