People could be forgiven if they don’t know much about this car, even though it looks very familiar.
In fact it’s quite likely many haven’t heard about it all.
If you guessed that it’s an Audi Q5, you’d be right. And wrong.
That’s to say it is a Q5, but a very different one.
How’s this for a combination.
With a seemingly modest four-cylinder engine, coupled to an equally mild hybrid system, it sounds like very much from the sort of technology and performance typical of the Audi camp.
Except this is the most powerful model to wear the Q5 badge.
This one makes a punchy 270kW – a tick more than the petrol-powered SQ5 and marginally below, but still faster than, the turbo-diesel variant – also called the SQ5.
But that’s not all.
Aided by the aforementioned hybrid system, it manages a mind-boggling second arrow to its bow – an official fuel-consumption of a miserly 2L/100km.
Yes, that’s right. A family-sized luxury SUV that’s not only the most frugal car in the range, but also the most powerful.
Why on earth would you buy anything else?.
It’s interesting, too, because it represents a return of hybrid power to the Audi showrooms.
The Germans have occasionally tinkered with hybrids on various models – including on the A3 and also the flagship Q7. But each time the appeal has been short-lived – somewhat surprisingly and the hybrid offering has disappeared each time.
But expect to see quite a bit more of this amazing Q5 from now on. Its arrival has coincided with a new hybrid push by Audi, which should be more popular this time around.
You might want to get your pen and paper out before you head off to the Audi dealership, though – the name is quite a mouthful.
It’s called the Audi Q5 55 TFSI E-quattro S-Line. Yep, all 17 syllables of it.
But pretty soon you’ll know more about this machine than you might have imagined.
You see, it’s a clever bid by Audi to dip its toe a little deeper into the electric vehicle pond giving buyers the choice of a “little bit pregnant” machine as we all rush to embrace EVs.
Audi has been early adopter of numerous power trains over the years. Its R8 racing machine, for instance, married diesel and hybrid technology which dominated European sports car racing for a decade or more.
The company recently made big strides into the pure electric scene, where Audi’s weaponry includes the hulking all-electric sports SUV, the Q8 E-Tron, to be tested in coming weeks.
Audi has also made an impressive arrival in the EV world with its RS GT E-tron – a sleek, four-seat sports car which resembles corporate cousin Porsche’s electric Taycan.
Even more surprising that Audi has chosen to invest in hybrid technology (which until recently has been shunned by the big German marques).
Like all of Audi’s soft-roader range, this Q5 comes in regular wagon format or with a sleeker Sportback design (which adds as much as $8000 to the price) and reduces interior space (go figure).
Either way the price is easy on the eye, and the wallet – this new flagship of the Q5 fleet will cost $110,200 or a very approachable $102,900 for the wagon.
Entry-level pricing for the Q5 starts at a juicy $67,900 with all but the basic model offering quattro all-wheel-drive as standard.
The hybrid drive-train is a $20,000 spend over mid-range conventional engines, but with its fuel-saving capability that’s negligible.
Rivals in this style and price range will include BMW’s xDrive30e, Range Rover Evoque P300e and long-time hybrid devotee the Lexus NX450h.
Inclusions on the $100,000 Q5 include 20-inch alloys, Audi-Matrix LED headlights and tail lights; S-line interior trim with Nappa leather; electric front seats with four-way lumbar support; MMI navigation with 10-inch screen and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital information screen.
As has long been the case with previous Q5 variants it’s nicely resolved, flexible and dynamic.
It offers an electric-only range of a bit less than 50km – although it’s quickly and easily recharged from a home wall socket, meaning you could do your entire weekday routine under electric steam.
That’s where the frugal thirst is created. The very willing turbo petrol four can thank some extra push from the electric system when accelerating.
The petrol engine is always at the ready and can be configured to use petrol and its electricity at the same time – hence the amazing performance stats and staggering fuel-efficiency and performance, all in the same clever power train.
It’s interesting Audi has kept a foot either side of the electric fence until now, but expect to see many more versions of this car – in a broad range of models fairly soon.
Some of the dynamics are mind-boggling. Its official fuel consumption is 2L/100km, yet it will quietly roar to the speed limit in a sharp 5.3 seconds.
Amazing what you can do with 270kW and 500Nm.
Most notable of all, this fairly docile-looking SUV is quicker to 100km/h in less time than the previous Q5 model’s performance flagship, the SQ5.
While that model offered either a turbo-charged petrol V6, or a stunningly quick V6 diesel.
But this all-new Q5 would dust them both.
Grab that notebook and check it out.
But they might need to give it a slightly easier name to pronounce.
AUDI Q5 Sportback 55 TFSI e quattro S-Line
HOW BIG?
Roomy for a family or five. The Sportback is the pick for looks, but the wagon has more space.
HOW FAST?
0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds.
HOW THIRSTY?
That depends how often you use the electric motor and the petrol engine. But the official figure of 2L/100km is impressive.
HOW MUCH?
The flagship model tested costs $110,00 – but the entry-level model is more than $40,000 cheaper.