Compared to fellow compact luxury crossovers, the Q5′s handling is at the top of the heap, yet its ride will never beat you up. Thanks to a sprightly V6 and underpinnings from the A4 sport sedan, the Q5 is one of the most entertaining vehicles in this segment. Its acceleration is also up there with the class leaders, and its transmission always seems to be in the right gear.  The Q5′s 3.2-liter V6 a smooth and powerful engine that’s one of our favorites in this class.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2010 Audi Q5 is a five-passenger compact crossover SUV. Standard equipment  includes 18-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, eight-way power front seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, tri-zone automatic climate control, a trip computer, Audi’s MMI with dash-mounted controls, and a 10-speaker stereo with a CD/MP3 player, an auxiliary input jack, an SD card slot and satellite radio.

Available in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige.

The Q5 Prestige package adds 19-inch wheels (optional on Premium Plus), keyless ignition/entry, a blind-spot warning system and a Bang & Olufsen 14-speaker surround-sound. Available options on the Prestige include 20-inch wheels and the Audi Drive Select adjustable vehicle settings system.

Powertrains and Performance

Every 2010 Audi Q5 features standard Quattro all-wheel drive and a 3.2-liter V6 engine that produces 270 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic is the only available transmission.

Audi Q5 test vehicle went from zero to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, which is on par with most of its competitors. Fuel economy estimates are 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined — respectable ratings for a compact luxury crossover.

Safety

The 2010 Audi Q5 comes standard with stability and traction control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. Rear side airbags are optional. In government crash tests, the Q5 achieved perfect five-star ratings for frontal and side impacts.

Interior Design and Special Features

The Q5′s common ground with the A4 sedan extends to its interior design and high-quality construction. In standard form, without navigation or the in-dash CD changer, the knob and buttons for the MMI reside on the center stack, and the resulting procedure for using the stereo is less than intuitive. Navigation-equipped models also get the latest, third-generation MMI system with revised menus and an additional joystick button for enhanced control.

Despite its compact size, the Q5 manages to feel roomy whether you’re seated in the front or rear. The rear seats slide fore and aft, and they also recline. Folding the rear seats flat reveals 57 cubic feet of maximum cargo space, which is a little below average for this segment.

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