The new Adventure - Audi Q5 PHEV

[Magnum 475]

Those of you who read my previous thread https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... will know that my last car was a bit of a basket case.- the sort of thing that used to be called a 'Friday afternoon car', although robots don't get sloppy as the weekend approaches.

So, what to replace it with?

Things I like:
RWD
Low
Roomy
Able to cruise for several hours and feel comfortable
Petrol

Things I don't like:
High cars / SUVs
Front wheel drive
Diesel

So, the obvious solution would be a 5-series estate, but after the last car, BMW was not an option. Another E-Class, maybe? Well, they're nearly all Diesels, and Petrol is either woefully under-powered or AMG-engined, and AMG is not a good option in terms of fuel burn, and in terms of Mrs Magnum being able to drive it.

This left me looking at SUVs. After trying a few, surprisingly for me, the Audi Q5 seemed the best choice - comfier and roomier than the GLC, and way better inside than the RAV 4. Oh, and the Q5 drives surprisingly well for its size too.

I've now purchased a Q5 50 TFSIe, in a nice bland anonymous dark grey. Sorry, no pictures yet. I'm five days and 550 miles into ownership.

First impressions:

- I have to go slower through bends than in my old 3-series or my Boxster
- It's superbly comfortable for spending several hours in
- The fuel economy is impressive - 40mpg on Petrol only on motorway cruising, and 45mpg yesterday using Hybrid mode on congested local roads and motoryway over about 120 miles (and the battery wasn't full to start that journey)
- The Audi MMI system is miles ahead of the BMW iDrive system
- F**k me, public EV chargers are f**king expensive
- The kids love the extra space and the pan roof

I've just ordered 4x Michelin Cross-Climates to go on next weekend, as home roads don't get salted / cleared during winter.

More updates to come as I start to get used to something completely different to anything I've owned before.

[Adwillsy]

Can agree with getting the Q5, not a bad steer. I've driven 5 of my Dads Q5's - albeit all 2.0TDI and all Daytona Grey which I imagine is what yours is.

Lots of growing room in the car for the little ones - and I mean you shouldn't have any problems running out of legroom as its one of the few cars I can actually sit behind my dad in (6ft11 and 6ft6.5 respectively).

Although similarly to you with your last car he is starting to look at alternative brands due to the terrible service and sales departments... an almost guaranteed sale and they cant even get that.

[Magnum 475]

Indeed, plenty of growing room. Took the wife and kids on a 320 mile round trip yesterday - they all loved the comfort and space factor.

Turned in 40 mpg on motorway cruising, despite the weight of the batteries that weren't really doing much on the motorway cruising part of the journey.

It's booked in for a set of nice new Michelin All-Seasons on Saturday, to replace the Continental summer tyres currently fitted.