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Pleasure on the road

SLEEK LINES: The new Audi Q5 3.TDI knows how to bring the best out of driver. Pic. Unknown
SLEEK LINES: The new Audi Q5 3.TDI knows how to bring the best out of driver. Pic. Unknown

Mabuyane Kekana

Mabuyane Kekana

Driving should be a pleasurable experience.

But our attitude to driving is controlled by the cars we drive. There are times in my line of work when I do not feel like test-driving a particular car simply because it is just terrible.

But there are cars that know how to push my excitement buttons, that know how to make me drive without complaining. By the time I get home, it's 9pm.

This was the case with the Audi Q5 I tested recently. The 3.0 TDI was a pleasure to drive. I enjoyed its comfort. The fact that it was a diesel was a bonus as there were no frequent visits to the filling station.

The Q5 has its grips on you in a moment. The interior layout is clean and appealing and soothes body and mind.

Our test car was fitted with all the features that you find on the optional list. It was the most luxurious one. The feeling of stepping into the Q5 can be compared to that of one's first job. Remember when you started working and you could not stop smiling for the first month?

This car needs the road, so Witbank was the place to drive to with friends on a Sunday afternoon. We drove around the township of Umhlozi looking for a car wash. We finally found one that was full of life and the people full of compliments. The Q5 is truly loved by young people.

The 3.0 TDI produces power output of 176kW and maximum torque of 500Nm.

The list of optional goodies can cost you up to R117180. These include dynamic steering, panoramic sunroof, Bang and Olfsen sound system, 20-inch alloy wheels and so on. The pioneer of all-wheel drive, Audi builds the Q5 standard with Quattro permanent all-wheel drive.

In normal running conditions, the transfer case distributes the power to the front and rear axle in a 40:60 ratio for a rear-focused style that enhances driving pleasure. When needed, the quattro drive line can deliver up to 65percent of the power to the front axle and a maximum of 85percent to the rear axle.

The running gear in the Audi Q5 further emphasises its sporty nature. The five-link front axle and trapezoidal-link rear axle are made primarily from aluminum; the steering box below directs the steering impulse directly to the wheels. Large brakes ensure high retardation.

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