2009 Audi Q5 Overview Change Vehicle

This 2009 Audi Q5 overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2009 Q5, and includes Audi Q5 safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

For those desirous of the taller ride height and cargo capacity that an SUV offers, but unwilling to give up the driving dynamics and trimmer dimensions of a sporty car, the all-new 2009 Audi Q5, a compact SUV that seats five, may just be the answer to your itch.

The 2009 Audi Q5 is sold only in 3.2 trim outfitted with one of three option packages. Think of the Premium Package as the base model. Key features include 18-inch wheels, eight-way power front seats, a three-zone climate control system, and a 10-speaker audio system with an auxiliary audio input jack and satellite radio. Stand-alone options include heated seats and panoramic sunroof.

The sunroof and heated seats come standard with the Premium Plus Package, which provides niceties such as Xenon headlamps, a power liftgate and a six-disc CD changer. You can further equip your Premium Plus Q5 with the Multi-Media Interface (MMI) Navigation Package, which adds a voice-activated, knob-controlled system with real-time traffic, a rearview camera and 19-inch wheels.

Finally, the Prestige Package includes all of the features listed above plus keyless ignition and a rocking Bang & Olufsen audio system with 14 speakers. Options you can get in conjunction with this package are 20-inch wheels, a blind-spot warning system and Audi Drive Select, which lets you personalize the driving experience. The S-line Package is also available with the Prestige Package, giving you unique 20-inch wheels and visual interior and exterior enhancements.

At the heart of every Q5 is a 270-horsepower, 3.2-liter V6, with a six-speed automatic transmission delivering power to all four corners via Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Rated to provide 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the open road, it’s also good for towing up to 4,400 lbs with the proper gear, which is quite impressive for this class of vehicle.

The Q5 shares its bones with Audi’s ubiquitous and generally excellent A4, which means that it’s built for some high-speed hijinks thanks to its competent chassis and sporting demeanor. But keep in mind that the Q5 possesses a higher center of gravity than the A4, which affects its handling characteristics.

And, unlike most other car-based crossover vehicles, the Q5 actually has some off-road capability, with eight inches of ground clearance and hill descent assist technology, which utilizes engine braking and the actual brakes to hold the vehicle at low speed so that you can concentrate on steering the Q5 down steeper, rockier hills.

The 2009 Audi Q5 has a full suite of safety features. Stability control and antilock brakes help you avoid a crash. Should one be unavoidable, six airbags, including side curtain airbags, deploy to help you avoid injury. The Q5 receives top honors for crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which gave the Q5 5-Star ratings in all parameters except for a 4-Star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Audi its Top Safety Pick designation for receiving a score of Good in every measurement. High praise.

In terms of reliability, J.D. Power and Associates rates the 2009 Audi Q5 average for predicted reliability. Consumer Reports does not give cars a predicted rating in their introductory year.

The automotive world has come to its senses and, rather than supersizing all things with four wheels, is offering attractive, reasonably proportioned vehicles that combine the great features of an SUV with most of the advantages of a car. The 2009 Audi Q5 is just such a vehicle. Along with pleasing lines inside and out, cool electronic gadgets, decent cargo space, and impressive drivability on the road and off, the Q5 possesses enough talent to please almost everybody.

By Liz Kim