Design:

The Audi Q5 is a five-seat luxurious cabin SUV with five doors. The relatively small engine has an attractive output and performance along with a better economy. The dynamic body design gives an experience of a sport-like drive. The exterior design is handsome and sporty. The standard all wheel drive with wide stance will hold on to the slippery roads intact. The headlight and the tail lamps are very attractive. The front-end styling is attractive with the shield grill of Audi.

The 5-seating Audi has comfortable leather seating and the interior is very spacious and covered with a wood finish and the rear seat might feel a bit tight for three persons which is pretty common for a compact SUV. The power seats, power mirrors, multi0functional steering wheel, auto-climate control and satellite radio make the interiors very attractive. The optional navigation system is found to be a lot better than the previous models. The sliding rear seat can move about four inches back and forth as per the requirements, which is a standout than other SUVs.

The Q5 engine is a 3.2 liter direct injection V6 engine with a power of 270 hp. the driving mode can be changed manually and the settings can also be changed which is an additional feature. The six speed automatic transmission seems to work in a similar way in the dynamic mode.

Performance:

The drive mode can be selected as either auto, dynamic, individual or comfortable. The optional drive select feature makes the Q5 a class apart. The selection will make adjustments in suspension, gearbox and the steering as per the settings and selection. The auto setting changes switches the components between dynamic and comfort mode as per the needs. In individual settings, the components can be adjusted individually. The comfort mode will provide comparatively fair driving experience. The steering and vehicle handling is responsive and changes quickly while driving on highways. The fuel efficiency is approximately 20mpg, i.e. 18mpg in city and 23mpg on the highway.

The new technology or the advanced feature is the navigation and the multimedia interface (MMI) system. The earlier MMI had a knob surrounded with four buttons. But the MMI in the Q5 is a small joystick that is finger-movable on the top of the knob which can be used to navigate through the maps only and not other features. But it does make some difference by making the navigation a lot easier. The maps provided are 3D images, which brings lot of life into the maps while navigating. The voice command feature of the navigation system also works pretty well. It displays a list of names when you say any city name or street. And if you say “I’m Hungry”, it will display a list of restaurants, and displays the nearby ATMs if you said “I want money”.

Apart from these, the sound system is very excellent. A 10-channel, 14 speakers audio system is provided with 505 watt-amp power. A central channel and a subwoofer are also included to provide a rich surround sound. The sound produced is clean high quality sound creating excellent separation among various instruments. The electronic stabilization Program (ESP) is provided for safety. The ESP features the roof-rack detection system and rollover mitigation. Dual front airbags and side airbags along with side-guard airbags are provided for safety.

Conclusion:

The body design, drive-select option and the handling features are the main advantages of Audi Q5. Apart from this, the navigation system and the sound system are also excellent in Q5. The fuel efficiency is also very commendable as it is comparatively more than other SUVs.

The input of destination in the navigation system through the MMI may be slightly tough. The slope-like design of the roof might not be attractive for a few and the tail lamp design is like that of a sedan.

All in all, the Audi Q5 being a compact SUV has some of the best technologies filled in it and the excellent performance and the efficiency makes it a good choice. Those who are looking for a compact SUV, this is a very good choice to be made.

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Specifications:

• Measures at 191×78.5×69.5 inches (LWH).
• The wheel base measures an amazing 115.5 inches.
• It weighs approximately 6405 pounds.
• The maximum seating capacity is five and has an AWD type of driving.
• It is 8-cylinder engine with an engine size of 4.4 liters and a V8 type of engine with a horsepower of 555hp and a torque of 501ft-lbs.
• The maximum tank capacity is 22.5 gallons.
• The average mileage of X5 M is 14 mpg.

Design:

The exterior design brings the aggression and the sporty feel of M design of an SUV. The front design of the car shows the muscular characteristics and there are big vents present in the front surrounding the main grille. Earlier the M badge was reserved only for sedans and coupes; it is the first time the M badge has been given to this class of vehicle. Four pipes stick out at the rear end to confirm the M class.

The interior design is very attractive with special features. The cabins are more elegant than any other cars made by its makers. The interior has crystal clear instrumentation and high quality materials constructed very accurately. The X5 M has the latest iDrive interface a hard-drive-based navigation system with real-time traffic. with more user friendly buttons and a simple yet sensible menu structure. The interiors have ambient lighting and a dual-zone automatic climate control. Bluetooth enabled system and a 12-speaker CD/MP3 stereo. The X5 M sports a joystick like gear selector. The interior is leather covered with a two-toned feel of Carbon leather and Silverstone Merino leather. A leather finished dash board can be selected. The seats lack adjustability without the side bolsters.

The options include heated steering wheel and additional rear seats. A rearview camera and a head-up display can be an added option. A six-DVD changer along with an iPod/USB adapter and a 16-speaker sound system with satellite radio is another option. The other options are Climate controller, keyless entry or ignition, a power liftgate, a rear-seat entertainment system and towing preparation.

Performance:

The power delivery of the X5 M is very smooth and soft which does not give you any strain while driving. Initially it might force your head against the head rest when you apply heavy acceleration. But, the X5 M is not jumpy unlike the other big SUV’s when you first press the pedal most probably as it is a forced injection type of engine. The X5 M sports a 6-speed auto gear shift mainly for a maximum power output and reach high speeds. The X5 M makes exhaust notes while it shifts the gears. If you want to race from the start of the signal, there us a launch control and sports auto selection that will give you a racing feel.

High tech navigation system is provided with an integrated all-view camera in the X5 M. The wide screen display is provided which can be used for GPS navigation or while parking. The display also shows other information such as torque distribution, stability control system, ABS breaking, acceleration via the Dynamic Performance control system. The engine never feels like it is strained and rolls through pretty quickly. The muscular V8 engine will get you reached 60mph within 5 seconds, approximately 4.7 seconds with a towing capacity of 6600 pounds.

The iDrive controller updates the electronics and can select the menu items on the LCD display of the car. There are quick access buttons for audio, navigation etc. The controller allows you to program the various features such as stability control, suspension etc. for better performance through the LCD display. With applying high acceleration, you are sure to hit back at your seats.

The 6-speed automatic transmission is disappointing as there is no manual mode and no dual clutch gearbox. The speed rises very quickly in the X5 M. But, the surprise package was the cornering. The X5 M could rotate in the corners unlike the other SUVs. The handling features have been a big improvement with improved technology to keep the vehicle under your control. For safety, the X5 M comes with ABS, stability control, dual front airbags and front and read side curtain airbags along with head restraints.

The Bottom-Line:

The BMW X5 M has a huge package of technology in it for better performance and safety on the road. The navigation system is hard-drive based which is an attractive feature that include satellite viewing and dynamic routing system. The hard drive reserves 15GB of space for music storage.

The fuel efficiency has been disappointing with an effort to provide high power. The coloration of the maps in navigation system is poor and hardly readable. The absence of rear seats is also a dislike for a few.

Ultimately, the BMW X5 M is technically marvelous but is a bad choice for day-to-day usage due to the poor fuel economy. The iDrive controller allows you to control and customize the settings of the car for better performance.

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Design:

The Mazda CX9 offers a spacious interior room with three rows for seating. It offers a high seating position which gives a good view of the road and remains pretty steady on the road while driving. It comes with a 3.7 liter V-6 and six-speed automated transmission. It has leather covered power adjustable seats and a Bluetooth phone system. It looks like a huge sized wagon with a curvy design compared to other style of SUVs and this becomes an abnormality when compared to other SUVs. Apart from this, it is the only car to have a V6 engine.

The CX9 is not only doing things differently but it is doing it perfectly. No compromises have been made on safety and performance. The exterior styling has been improved along with the interiors. The power of this SUV is a whopping 273 horse power which is in competition with it’s counterparts of other makers. The touring model runs on 18-inch wheels whereas the grand touring model has 20-inch wheels. It provides a lot of cargo space that starts with at least 17.2 cubic feet with all the passengers occupied. A typical BOSE audio system with strong sound quality is provided. It has music that varies from electronic recordings to classic rock genres. Each type of genre sounds very attractive with unique bass features. An optional extra speaker can be opted for rear entertainment.

You can always stay relaxed in the CX9 as it has the protective features such as Blind Spot monitoring system, air bags, 4-wheel disc brakes with brake-force distributing system and the Roll Stability Control system helps the driver to maintain stability while trying to avoid or overcome any collisions. The gear indicator is digital one that shows how fast the present transmission shifts down. The upholstery and the trim are new, and new features, like heated seats and key fob are added for convenience.

Pros:

The CX9 drives well, and steering showed a response of the car not seeming to be bulky. The LCD display shows the video at the rear where a camera is provided. It is useful when parallel parking.

The engine does not strain itself even at high speeds.

The CX9 has a fully independent suspension that leads to a comforting smooth ride in almost all circumstances.

The rearview camera provided has a wider angle for viewing, and LCD display is slightly larger than the earlier models.

Cons:

The CX9 is pretty much unchanged in the mechanical point of view.

The GPS option is not available.

The CX9’s fuel economy is 16 mpg within city and 22 mpg on the highways which is not a convincing number.

The ride is very comforting only in the front seat, but it is too tiring as we go backwards. The outward visibility is very poor and a rough ride can be a terrific experience for those who are seated in the third row.

The BOSE audio system did not make much of an impression for listening experience.

Finally, the conclusion: the CX9 has a very attractive interior and exterior design and gives a very good driving experience which is very comforting. The engine proves average for the fuel and power economy. The Bluetooth connectivity for the phone is an added feature. The absence of GPS or the navigation system is pretty troublesome for a few.

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