2016 Audi Q5

The Q5's cabin gets its style from a lack of drama, a lack of sub-par materials, and an absence of cheapness. The nicely detailed dash pleases just about every eye, just as the same theme does in just about every Audi cockpit. The Q5 has a console wider than most, which divides the driver and passenger more emphatically, but it doesn't cut into room much. The dash itself sits closer and more upright than in Audi's sedans, which gives the SUV a sense of spaciousness. We love Audi's layered-oak interior, an option that gives the cabin the look of fine furniture.

All these details are framed in leather, metallic trim, and high-quality low-gloss plastic. The dash is cluttered, but the high grade of finishes gives it a uniform look. There are lots of buttons, though.

Next up is a 272-hp supercharged 3.0-liter V-6, coupled to an 8-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. With about 250 pounds more to carry around, it's still able to crack off 0-60 mph times of 6.0 seconds. It can needle through traffic and blast off exit ramps a little quicker, but the magnitude of difference over the turbo-4 is not immense.

Green-minded shoppers will choose between a Hybrid and a turbodiesel TDI. The Hybrid couples the turbocharged inline-4 to an electric motor fed by lithium-ion batteries. With 245 hp net and 354 lb-ft of torque, the Hybrid can hit 60 mph in 6.8 seconds and can deliver 26 mpg combined.

The diesel-powered Q5 was pulled in 2015 after the company admitted its engine polluted beyond legal limits. Audi has said it is working toward a fix, but the automaker hasn't announced when those models might return to the U.S.

At the top of the range sits the SQ5, which is covered in a separate entry. Its high-output V-6 sports 354 hp and scoots to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, on to a 155-mph top speed.

With responsive shifts and closely spaced gears, the 8-speed automatic makes the most of its paddle shifters. As for off-road capability, the Q5 is better at all-weather situations where the pavement's covered in deep snow or gravel. Top tow ratings of 4,400 pounds mean anything you pull behind the Q5 will be relatively small.

Carlike and taut in its road manners, the Q5 has the dynamic edge in its class. The lightweight turbo-4 version is the best, giving it a lightness at the front end that belies its front-drive underpinnings. Given the choice, we'd skip Audi's Drive Select system, which fiddles with the car's throttle, steering, and transmission settings. It's well-tuned in its base setup, though the electric steering is numb. It tracks well and feels predictable, something we can't say of Drive Select's nervous steering programs.

If you opt into Drive Select, you'll choose from among its comfort, auto, and sport modes, or come up with your own in Individual mode. Each one seems to be out of touch in tunability, relative to the other, but maybe you'll find a golden mean. We'd rather spend up to the Bang & Olufsen audio.

Audi also offers an adaptive suspension system on Premium Plus and Prestige models with the 3.0T engine. It is keyed in with the Drive Select system.

The driver and front passenger have a commanding view of the road ahead from very comfortable standard seats; the Comfort package's heating and ventilation aren't too soft to retain that support. With the range of adjustments available from power seats and tilt/telescoping steering wheel, finding an excellent driving position is easy. We might pass on the panoramic sunroof if head room was an extreme concern, but it lets in so much light, those tall family members will have to be frequent travelers.

Even in the back seat, there's enough leg room for most adults, thanks to a rather long wheelbase. The tight leg room of the A4-based Allroad isn't a factor here, although just as in any compact crossover, you won't be able to fit three adults comfortably across the second-row bench seat. The rear seat slides on a track, and the seat backs recline for better touring comfort-while they also fold down for more cargo space.

With the seats folded, the Q5 moves from about 29 cubic feet to more than 57 cubic feet of storage space. There's enough cargo room for four roll-on suitcases and a clear view out the rear hatch glass. Small storage abounds, down to the 1-liter cup holders molded in all the doors, the console, and the fold-down armrest in the backseat.

The IIHS gives the Q5 “Good” ratings in all categories now that it has been evaluated in the new small-overlap test. That, along with an “Advanced” rating for frontal crash prevention, qualify it for Top Safety Pick+ status.

Rear-seat side airbags and all-wheel drive are available on the Q5. Audi's forward-collision warning system, dubbed "Pre Sense," is an option. Bluetooth has become standard, and blind-spot monitors can be had on almost every model. The Q5 still doesn't have a standard rearview camera, though. It's an option in an expensive package, offered only on the more expensive models.

The Q5 has good outward vision, big side mirrors, and a relatively unobstructed view to the rear quarters.

At the Premium Plus level, the Q5 gains a standard set of heated front seats, a power tailgate, and xenon headlights. Among the options are sport seats, navigation, a rearview camera, aluminum trim, and a rear-seat entertainment system.

The Q5 3.0T gets all that and 19-inch wheels, while the Prestige trim piles on navigation, blind-spot monitors, adaptive lighting, Bang & Olufsen audio, and a heated/cooled cupholder. Options include Audi Drive Select, 20-inch wheels, adaptive suspension, and adaptive cruise control. It's easy to rack up a $55,000 bill.

Hybrids are sold only in Prestige trim, with options for either the Sport or Comfort interiors.

Audi has done a good job grooming its Multi-Media Interface (MMI). It's maybe the best of the roller-controlled systems, but it lacks some voice commands. Without a touchscreen, some commands are more than a few gestures away. Audi does offer in-vehicle data services including Google Earth maps and wireless connectivity for up to 8 devices.

Both figures trail vehicles such as the Chevy Equinox, which earns a 32-mpg highway rating in four-cylinder form, albeit with front-wheel drive versus the Q5's standard quattro all-wheel drive.

The Q5 with the supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 is at the opposite end of the spectrum, with ratings of 18/26/21 mpg, according to the EPA.

In 2015, Audi stopped sales of its Q5 diesel version after the company admitted its engines polluted beyond legal limits. The company has said it is working toward a fix for those cars.