Audi gave its Q5 mid-sized SUV a bit of a makeover last year, most noticeably titivating the exterior appearance to bring it line with more recently introduced models and taking the opportunity to revise the interior at the same time.There has been no change to the 177PS (or 175bhp) two-litre turbo diesel offered before the facelift, though it happens that I hadn't driven a Q5 fitted with it until this test. Having now done so, I would strongly recommend it. It provides meaty performance, but it doesn't have enough power to overcome the rest of the car unless you are particularly clumsy with the accelerator pedal.The handling is good too, and the steering (decently weighted for country roads but light enough for manoeuvering in town) is excellent. I also like the ride quality, which is not something I've always been able to say about Q5s. The first I ever drove, nearly four years ago, had 20" wheels with 45-section tyres, and it was so awful that I never want to go near anything like it again.Similar rubber is fitted to the current S line Plus, but the car tested here was an S line with 19" wheels and 55-section tyres. Much more like it. The only time this version felt unsure of itself when it encountered large bumps which bedevil British roads but which German chassis engineers probably don't believe exist, but that's a suspension issue and you can't blame the tyres for it.All Q5s now have a powered tailgate, which opens to reveal a roomy luggage compartment capable of holding 540 litres when the rear seats are in place and 1560 litres when they're folded down. The folding operation is simple enough, since most of it is taken care of by pulling a lever, though you have to complete the process by hand.The load floor is at the same level as the bumper, as should always be the way of things, and in a similarly wise piece of design there's enough glass area to make rear visibility quite good by today's standards.Rear-seat space is adequate too - at six foot three, I can sit behind myself reasonably comfortably, though only if the adjustable back seat is set as far back as it will go.With this engine, the Q5 can be specified with either a six-speed manual gearbox or the seven-speed twin-clutch S tronic semi-automatic referred to by all other companies in the Volkswagen Group as DSG. S tronic is excellent, and although it reduces the top speed and fuel economy and increases the CO2 rating it does all these things by very small margins.It has a more significant effect on the price, since it costs £1550, bringing the total price of the S line to £35,830. For that you get nappa leather-upholstered sports front seats, daytime running lights, xenon headlights with automatic range adjustment (not something I've ever found as useful as you might think, though I have to say I didn't drive this car at night so can't comment on the system here) and quite a lot of extra body styling gubbins not found on the cheaper SE.You don't, however, get satellite navigation. That's available only as part of the Technology package, which costs £1695. This and other options make it possible to spec the car to the point where it costs just short of £40,000, as the test car did, and no doubt considerably beyond that.SUVs of similar size can be had for much less, of course, but as usual with Audi the extra money buys you a much-admired badge and a level of quality not often supplied by other manufacturers. Engine 1968cc, 4 cylinders Power 175bhp Transmission 7-speed semi-automatic Fuel/CO2 47.1mpg / 159g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 9.0 seconds Top speed 124mph Price £35,830 Details correct at publication date
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