Audi Q5 SUV (2016 - 2024) S Line 40 TDI 190PS Quattro S Tronic auto 5d Owner Review

I was assured that the boot was the largest in class, but my 2016 BMW X3 was considerably bigger and more practical, not only did it have a flat loading bay but the raked boot lid on the Q5 means the the headspace in the boot is only about 40cm deep, so my dog can hardly sit up (she has to shuffle back to close the boot) and I can’t stand a folded pram upright and side-on, which means it has to lie flat. So you may be able to Tetris a few suitcases in, but a dog and a pram together, not so much. The boot can also only be shut by pressing the button, not via the drivers door switch or key fob. I was told it had an auxiliary heater so I could set the cabin to pre-heat - it doesn’t. The tyres aren’t run flat so they give you a jack kit and compressor, but no spare wheel. And the tyres are the same price as run flat ones so you literally gain nothing, maybe a slightly better ride. The cabin is nice, the tech is excellent, I love the digital cockpit (really is excellent) and infotainment and it really is spacious and smart, the seats are a bit firm though, don’t hold you that firmly (no side bolster) and the lumbar is disappointing. I like the auto headlights, dipped beam and wipers. The sat nav is ok, probably not as good as google, car play is a little clunky but do-able. I’ve never quite worked out why but when you stop and turn the ignition off, the radio stays on and interior light stays off, until you open the drivers door. The back is spacious enough but with a child’s car seat I did have to move the passenger seat forwards and it’s still in contact with the back of the seat. Finally the drive - it’s pretty smooth over bumps and fairly comfortable to cruise. Brakes aren’t as good as my old X3. Stop start kicks in while you’re still slowing to a stop which is a bit weird. But the worst thing is, and I’m not sure if it’s gearing, turbo lag or something else, but you have to prepare to move off about 10 seconds before you want to move off. The amount of times I’ve pulled onto a roundabout or out of a junction and it’s given me nothing, nothing, nothing and then you put your foot down and it gives you everything and you’re fighting it back onto the road, I’ve tried to nip out and nearly been taken out because it just trickles me slowly into the middle of the road, then you panic so you ask for more and it gives you far too much. I’ve had it a 14 months, I reckon I’ve spent the last 9 months looking into how I can get rid of it without taking a huge hit financially. I did so much research before I bought the car, I even test drove one, but it just goes to show a single test drive isn’t enough with a salesman set next to you and reviews (amateur and pro) are all to be taken with a pinch of salt. The crunch for me was when I realised I couldn’t comfortably fit my dog and pram in the boot - why am I paying so much for a car that doesn’t meet the main purpose of being practical? I was willing to live with the risk of death at junctions, but my dogs comfort will not be compromised!