2010 Audi Q5

Audi Drive Select
At the push of a button, drivers can alter engine, transmission, steering and suspension tuning according to mood. Modes include Comfort, Automatic, Dynamic and Individual, which allows a custom response profile on MMI/navigation-equipped versions.

Audi Dynamic Steering
In a tight parking lot, you want a lot of steering assist and response. When bombing down the autobahn, you want little boost and subtle directional changes. With Audi dynamic steering, the Q5 has variable assist and variable ratio, delivering the best of both worlds. The system can even provide minor steering corrections in extreme situations, reducing the need for electronic stability program intervention.

As much as we love the 2010 Audi Q5 from the outside, it's what's on the inside that counts. And for our tastes, the inside of the Audi Q5 is as close to perfect as you'll find in the segment. It's contemporary without being cold, full of high-quality materials and, importantly, comfortable. Goodies include standard three-zone climate control, sliding and reclining rear seats and an available panoramic moonroof. The 2010 Audi Q5 is also among the segment's roomier entries. Audi's new, third-generation control and navigation system boasts 3D building graphics in larger cities, voice-driven destination address input (or just say, "I need money," for instance, to find an ATM) and a music hard drive.

The beauty of the Audi Q5 lies not in sharp creases or extreme angles, but in masterful proportions and glorious details. So, yeah, we like the looks of this thing. The face of the Q5 features one of our favorite corporate grille designs. The profile is beautiful in its balance, with its long wheelbase, short overhangs and perfectly proportioned wheels and wells. We also like the view from behind, especially the shape and integration of the standard LED taillights and the lack of vertical panel gaps, thanks to a unique, wraparound "clamshell" tailgate. For those interested in taking this beauty off-road, the 2010 Audi Q5 offers 7.9 inches of ground clearance. For those who aren't, there's an S line appearance package.

Until further notice, every Q5 features a 3.2-liter V6 engine, all-wheel drive and a manually-selectable six-speed automatic transmission. We've nothing but good things to say about the engine – Audi says it will power the Q5 to 60 miles per hour in 6.7 seconds and to an electronically-limited top speed of 130 mph - but many of us are hoping Audi eventually offers a version with its 3.0-liter diesel engine. Like most of Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive systems recently, the Q5's features a 40/60 rear-biased torque split, which improves performance driving feel versus a 50/50 distribution. In case your interests are more specialized, the 2010 Audi Q5 boasts segment-leading towing capacity of 4,400 pounds and an innovative electronic stability control system that detects the installation of roof-rack crossbars and adjusts accordingly for the presumed higher center of gravity.

3.2-liter V6
270 horsepower @ 6500 rpm
243 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/23