SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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Q the ‘tude: 2022 Audi Q5 40TDI quattro range

Far from shabby

Pics by Motorpress
Posted: May 25, 2022

The numbers
Prices: 40TDI at R913 100, Advanced at R932 100, S-Line at R958 100
Engine: VW Group EA288 series, 1968 cc, DOHC 16-valve, four-cylinder, TDI diesel
Power: 140 kW between 3800 and 4200 rpm
Torque: 400 Nm between 1750 and 3000 rpm
0-100 km/h: 8.1 seconds
Top speed: 220 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 7.2 l/100 km
Tank: 65 litres
Luggage: 520 – 1520 litres
Turning circle: 11.8 metres
Ground clearance: 197 mm
Standard tyre size: 235/55R19
Spare: Collapsible Spacesaver
Audi Freeway Plan: Five years, 100 000 km


Attitude; all five South African models have it. Quattro all-wheel drive; they all have that too. Three are driven by 2.0-litre diesel; all with the same 140 kW and 400 Nm outputs, and seven-speed S-tronic transmissions. There are two petrol motors displacing respectively two and three litres, but let’s not confuse the issue by discussing them here.

The diesel offerings are ‘plain’ 40TDI quattro, Advanced and S-Line. The step from plain to Advanced consists of a high-gloss styling pack on the outside and decorative aluminium inlays inside. Whether that’s worth the R19 000 premium is up to you.

Moving up from Advanced to S-Line swaps out the original 19” wheels for another style in the same size and adds sports suspension, a roof spoiler and special illuminated scuff plates. Ring up R26 000 for that.

The 2021-facelifted Q5 is 19 mm longer than its predecessor but most of that is in the bumpers. Height, width and wheelbase stay the same. External revisions include updates to the grille, bumper side air intakes, side sill, and rear trim. Interior changes consist of a third-generation MIB3 modular infotainment platform with ten times the computing power of the previous MIB2 system, revised 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen display and a new dashboard. The previous rotary/push controller on the central tunnel is history; its place taken by a storage box.

A peek at the combined price list and spec’ sheet reveals the words “quattro with ultra technology” but what does that mean? Quattro, to most of us, means that the car has a torque-sensing (Torsen) central differential that distributes power between front and rear, thereby creating all-wheel drive on demand. Ultra is a bit different.

Instead of a Torsen diff, Audi inserted a clutch that engages and disengages progressively to provide just the right amounts of power to each end only as and when it’s needed. The system is pretty complicated but a plain English description, with pictures, can be found at: https://www.quattroworld.com/audi-news/audis-quattro-ultra-technology-fancy-way-say-electronic-transfer-case/

Although its output numbers might look somewhat tame when compared with its petrol powered sisters, this diesel engine is far from shabby. Maximum torque arrives in a broad band between 1800 rpm (just as one reaches 120 km/h in seventh) and 3000, but more than 90 percent is available from 1400 to 3700 rpm. Meaning; it keeps on pulling like a steam locomotive long after one needs it. Couple that, when one’s inner teenager takes over, with playful use of gears and brakes and this big SUV develops a grin factor worth remembering.

Among the extras fitted to our Advanced test car were a panoramic sunroof, one of Volkswagen’s most popular accessories, and a split-folding rear seat and backrests. Each seat section can be adjusted backward and forward over a range of about 10 centimetres, providing not only adjustable leg space but the ability to increase basic luggage volume by up to 60 litres. Taller rear passengers might not appreciate that but shorties probably won’t mind.

Plus: Performance, handling, upmarket image. And attitude.
Minus: Somewhat pricey for what you get, options that cheaper cars include gratis.

Test unit from Audi SA press fleet

We drove the Sportback version a few weeks earlier

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

Comments or questions?
Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you completely disagree with what I say? If you want advice or have a genuine concern, I will be happy to hear from you. All I ask is that you write something in the subject line so I know which vehicle you're talking about.