Diesel option enhances highly regarded Audi Q5

Turbocharged diesel power has been added to Audi’s top seller, its great-handling Q5 compact sport ute.

The 2014 Audi Q5 TDI quattro performs smoothly, with no noticeable lag from its direct-injection 3.0-liter V-6 diesel engine and 8-speed automatic transmission. The torque is immediate. The TDI, which has been a popular option for the bigger Q7 for several years, boasts 240 horsepower and 428 lb.-ft. of torque.

With the Q5 set in “dynamic” mode, its low-end acceleration is strong and the diesel efficiency gives it capability of cruising the highway at miles-per-gallon in the low 30s. With 75 percent of my driving of the highway type, the Audi averaged 28.2. Its EPA estimate is 24/31.

The Q5 with its new TDI power option was the sixth-best seller among light-vehicle diesels in the U.S. in September.

The top 10 in diesel sales for the month were Volkswagen Jetta with 3,716, VW Passat 2,784, BMW X5 939, VW Golf 528, Chevrolet Cruze 479, Audi Q5 474, Mercedes-Benz GL 467, Porsche Cayenne 447, Audi Q7 424 and BMW 3 series 421. For the first nine months of this year, Jetta and Passat dominated, with 60 percent of diesel sales. These figures don’t include the thousands of turbodiesel sales made by Ford, Chevy and Dodge heavy-duty pickups.

The Audi Q5, since its introduction five years ago, has been very competitive with like-size SUVs from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and others. It offers a choice of turbocharged gasoline 4-cylinder and V-6 engines.

The new diesel offers high fuel efficiency, tow capacity of 4,400 pounds and clean, quiet performance comparable to the gas versions. The increased mpg averages make up for the slightly higher diesel fuel prices in today’s market.

Small, handy-to-use paddle shifters add to driver involvement with the 8-speed transmission. The all-wheel-drive Audi rides on Goodyear Eagle 235/55R19 tires.

Settled into the Q5′s leather seats with heavily bolstered seatbacks, the driver and front-seat passenger can add comfort for the drive with thigh extenders for the cushions. The fit of materials is excellent in the high-quality interior, though a light complement to the black finish would be welcomed. The panorama sunroof is a help. Voice-controlled MMI navigation with Google maps can turn complicated in touch-control; in addition to AM/FM/CD/satellite audio is a USB port in the glove box.

The roomy second row features reclining seatbacks. Cargo space at the rear measures 29 cubic feet, with a small storage compartment beneath the floor. Access is eased with a power liftgate.

The premium for the diesel engine is $3,000 to $5,000, depending on optional packages.

The navigation, audio, rearview camera, shift paddles and sport seats pushed the Q5 TDI’s price from a base of $46,500 to a sticker of $51,945. Power-folding heated side mirrors headed the list of standard equipment, along with trizone climate control, LED headlights and taillights and power sunshade.

Audi says diesels exceed mpg ratings

Three Audi TDI clean-diesel models exceeded federally published fuel economy ratings in completing the “Truth in 48″ cross-country efficiency drive covering more than 2,850 miles between Southern California and New York, according to Audi USA officials.

The challenge taken on by eight drivers involved a nonstop drive from Audi Pacific in Torrance, Calif., to Audi Manhattan in New York City. From beginning to end, the drivers could stop no more than four times to fill up with clean diesel fuel provided by Shell Oil Co. They reached their destination within 48 hours, traveling at normal highway speeds in the newest Audi TDI models – the Audi A6 TDI, Audi A7 TDI and Audi Q5 TDI.

The driving teams made up of other hypermilers and journalists split into a team driving the Audi A6 TDI and a team for the Audi A7 TDI. The Audi Q5 TDI served as a support vehicle carrying spare tires, supplies and luggage. The results, according to Audi officials:

A6 TDI: 43.561 mpg at an average speed of 62.44 mph. That’s 15 percent better than the EPA highway mileage and 50 percent better than the EPA combined rating. (The EPA rates the A6 TDI at 24 mpg city/38 mpg highway/29 mpg combined driving).

A7 TDI: 42.653 mpg at an average speed of 62.17 mph. That’s 12 percent better than the EPA highway mileage and a whopping 47 percent better than the EPA combined rating. (The EPA rates the A7 TDI at 24 mpg city/38 mpg highway/29 mpg combined driving).

Q5 TDI: 38.623 mpg at an average speed of 61.90 mph. That’s 24.5 percent better than the EPA highway mileage and 43 percent better than the EPA combined (The EPA rated the Q5 TDI at 24 mpg city/31 mpg highway/27 mpg combined driving).

Saturday Drive can also be viewed online at DenverPost.com/budwells. Bud Wells can be reached via e-mail at bwells@denverpost.com.