Audi Q5: a size smaller than the Q7

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The American appetite for SUVs doesn’t seem to be that much on the wane, so car manufacturers are happy to keep making and selling them. The newest example is the 2009 Audi Q5, which, as logic suggests, is a smaller version of the house-sized Q7. The thing is, the Q7 is really, really good at what it does, so it follows that the Q5 should be able to deliver similar results.

If drag coefficients are anything to go by, the signs are good: the Q5’s vital statistic here is 0.33 -- better than some ‘normal’ cars. In an effort to keep weight below the gargantuan, the hood and tailgate are made from aluminum. And in an effort to keep decision-making to a minimum, the U.S.-spec Q5 will come with one engine and transmission combination. The former will be a 3.2-liter gasoline-powered V-6 pushing 265 horsepower and the latter is a six-speed Tiptronic gearbox. Basically an automatic, but with the option of swapping gears manually. Of course, Audi’s all-wheel-drive Quattro system bubbles away underneath.

There’s even some off-road ability, providing someone would dare to go deep into the wild with a pricey luxury vehicle that comes tingling with high-tech -- like a thermal heated/cooled cup holder. And an ultra-posh Bang & Olufsen audio system linked to a multimedia interface displaying real-time traffic updates. The Q5 goes on sale early next year at a price expected to be in line with its rivals. For example, the BMW X3 costs $38,000.

-- Colin Ryan