QUIET BUT LIVELY

ALTHOUGH upmarket German car maker Audi is sticking to its long-term plan to have a fully electric line-up of models in a few years the more traditional motorists amongst us will be pleased to see that for the time being at least diesel power remains an option.

- BY DAVID WARD

This is included in the latest updated Q5 SUV, the company's global best-seller, which is also the first SUV to sit on what Audi calls its Premium Platform Combustion underpinnings first seen on the normal A5 last year but which enables them to ensure it can accommodate the firm's latest fuel saving mild hybrid technology.

Apart from the expected and obvious upgrades in terms of the cabin, much better infotainment set-up and the like it's having this battery for mild technology coupled with a two-litre 201bhp diesel engine that really is most impressive on its Launch Edition 1 (tested here)

This powertrain offers the driver an extremely lively, remarkably quiet acceleration when needed - officially going from 0 to 62mph in 7.4 seconds - and with that renowned swift and efficient Audi seven-speed automatic gearbox too it's a simply provides a most rewarding fuss-free driving experience.

The driver too has with the push of a simple button five choices of driving modes - dynamic, individual, comfort, efficiency and off-roadwhich again only adds to the car's all round versatility and whichever is chosen the response from the extremely quiet diesel engine is good.