AUDI Q5 vs Infiniti ex35?

[wuitsung]

Anyone has tested drive new AUDI Q5? any thought?

[Mixelplux]

I saw a Q5 wit the S-Line package a few days back. Its beautiful!!

[RioD007]

I raced my buddy's Q5 the other day and Raped it...

[BROUDIE]

I raced my buddy's Q5 the other day and Raped it...

I think its a given that the EX35 will smoke all of its direct competitors, no need to even brag about it.

[bokingwen]

I went to the the Q5 Experence event and test drove the Q5, the power is not as much as my EX. However the space is much greater than the EX especially the back seats. Overall the drive is very good it is tight and you feel you are in control. But than the top of the line (loaded) Q5 is $20,000 more than the EX. I love the B&O sound systems in the Q5.
Modified by bokingwen at 10:34 PM 7/15/2009

[wuitsung]

Thanx bokingwen! How about the handling and comparability compared with EX35? I heard the handling is stiff and the drive selection mode is not really helpful...

[dividedhighw]

Am I missing something here?!

Isn't this, like, the perfect excuse to spend a couple of hours to visit your nearby Audi dealer and test drive a Q5?!? (I know there are quite a few in Montreal - I bought one of my Audi's from one.) After that, you can post your findings and see how that compares with what other forum members think - no?

(Just a thought.)

BTW, having owned 3 different Audi's, I fully expect the Q5's stability control would be far superior, staying out of the way until TRULY needed, unlike my EX35 AWD.

If you haven't noticed any problem, try this:1. Find a typical 90-degree entry to a roadway (say from a driveway or parking lot) where the drop-curb isn't completely flush with the asphalt - that is, entering or exiting from this would be slightly bumpy.2. WARNING: Do this ONLY when no traffic is coming along the road!!Pull out from this location onto the roadway, as if the road was busy and you're trying to accelerate into a break in the traffic. I'm not saying floor it, but don't pull out like some grandma.

On my car, such an entry would cause the VDC to kick in, completely cutting off the fuel so that you'll have entered the roadway, but now have NO ability to put yourself in the proper lane or accelerate to the speed of the flowing traffic. It feels like 1-1/2 to 2 secs before the throttle is effective again. (Yes, you feel like a sitting duck!)

The first time this happened, I was shocked. The next time I was ready for it (but still not happy about it). Now, I know exactly the type of conditions that give rise to this symptom. So, rather than enhance safety, the VDC operating this way increases the likelihood of an accident.

BTW, for those of you who might suggest that I could simply turn off the VDC, this is precisely what I've been doing. But, sometimes you don't have the presence of mind to do that or you don't realize how bumpy it is, or the break in traffic occurs just at the moment you arrive at the exit and there's no time, etc. (Turning it off is no replacement for a properly engineered VDC.)

Having extensively driven Audi's ESP and BMW's DSC and less extensively, a number of others, I can attest that no other stability control is this intrusive. SteveTheTech suggested that it's because the EX is designed more for "soccer moms" - maybe so. Still, it's hard for me to swallow because I don't think this befits a car whose sales brochure advertises:"more confident driving""more thrilling driving" (well, not in a good way, anyway)"truly impressive performance""enhanced handling dynamics"

Has anyone had a similar experience?

[kullenberg]

David:Yes i have; during driving on Mtn. switchback corners. I would wish that the VDC was more prominent. I had a MB ML430, that was a tank in the snow, but was dreadful in all other respects, but the VDC switch was right at hand.. So far, the EX has been pretty good in the snow up here, but I must admit that I really haven't stressed it in the winter, as we go to CA for much of it. Tires seem to be a big part of the winter driving solution. I'm going to replace the Michelins with Nokian WR's. (great all season with a snowflake!)

[bokingwen]

Thanx bokingwen! How about the handling and comparability compared with EX35? I heard the handling is stiff and the drive selection mode is not really helpful...

The control of the Q5 feel different than my EX, I wouldn't said the EX or Q5 have better handling than each other. Because on the Q5 it is stiff but everything is so tight and I have the same "in control fee" as the Q5. In the Q5 driving experenice event they have some special design course for us to beat up the Q5, ex, floor the QA to 60 and than hard turn, S turn, hard break, etc. It will drive were great I didn't feel a bit of lose control. Again the Q5 cost much more than my EX so I can't really compare they together.

my .02

[KJ911TT]

Yes, the VDC is VERY intrusive and can sometimes cause more harm than good!!!

I often turn it off in heavy snow because it always kills all the power when I just want to power through the snow and correct the car myself as need.

Sometimes on a turn in the snow, the VDC would cut the power totally for a few seconds. If I take the same turn with VDC off, the car handles fine around the turn.

It's much faster and PREDICTABLE with VDC off.

- KJ

[dividedhighw]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, Pat & KJ!!

Like Pat, I also wish the EX's VDC button was more prominent - where it's currently located, it's not easy to turn it off at a moment's notice.

I run winter tires Nov through Apr, so my experience is precisely that described by KJ - the EX actually handles better in heavy snow with VDC off. Otherwise, the VDC cuts engine power too much, too soon, and you're in greater danger of being stuck due to loss of forward momentum.

[dividedhighw]

I forgot to mention ...

Along the same thoughts as comparing the EX to the Q5, I'm wondering if any EX owners have driven the newly introduced Volvo XC60?

With 281 HP it doesn't lag the EX by much, but more importantly, it has 295 lb-ft of torque starting at 1500 rpm!! By comparison, the EX doesn't hit its maximum torque of 253 lb-ft until 4800 rpm. I'm also expecting the XC60's 6-spd to outperform the EX's 5-spd, especially it's "kickdown" characteristics.

TIA!

[kamiguy]

Good thing it has all that torque cause it's needed to haul 4200 lbs around!

[ayap888]

I've owned two Audis and I've tested the Q5, Q7, the A4 Avant, and I own an A6 Avant. That being said ... you need to compare the value you're getting for both cars. The Audi Q5 has that heavy solid German feel, and the handling is great like all Audis are. The EX35 has that luxury Japanese car feel ... much better than the Lexus SUV that you see all around .... Frankly the EX35 is one of the best highway cruiser I've seen (very quiet and smooth on the road). When riding the EX35, it's like your floaty but you're still really firm on the road. With the Audis and the Q5, it's like you feel the cracks and bumps on road .. hugging the road .. driving on rails. The EX35 is much smoother/floaty, which means a little bit disconnected ... yet in reality the EX35 is hugging the road just as tight (you just got to trust it).

In terms of value, the Q5 is much much more expensive, because the EX35 has so much more bells and whistles. Audi dealers are not giving any concession since the model is new .. so no discounts really. With the EX35, you get better deals price-wise.

In terms of handling, both cars are really the same for cornering and overtaking, though the Q5 feels bulkier and heavier.

While the Q5 has enough power (6.7 sec 0-60), the EX35 has a bit more power (5.5 - 6.3 sec 0-60). In terms of ride, I like the EX35 better esp. on long drives. The Q5 may have more rear legroom, but not that much if you only expect 2 persons at the back.

Lastly, I'm able to get 23-24 MPG on my EX35. The Q5 will probably give you 22-23 MPG, or 1 MPG less. The Q7, for example, guzzles gas at only 14-15 MPG. So the heavier Q5 will probably be less fuel efficient.

If you ask me to buy an Audi, between the Q5 and A4 Avant ...I will get the A4 Avant anytime. The sport version of the A4 Avant has paddle shifters and much more solid in handling and has the same baggage space. And the A4 Avant can do 28-30 MPG on the highway. You can also get better price discounts on the A4 Avant than the Audi Q5.

[dividedhighw]

Good thing it has all that torque cause it's needed to haul 4200 lbs around!

Your point? That's only 200 lbs more than the EX35 AWD Journey.