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We recently spent a year with a 2010 Audi Q5 3.2 and thoroughly enjoyed the vehicle. The size was quite nice, the premium materials held up well to four seasons of hard use, and the Quattro all-wheel-drive system got us through snow and mud without compromise during daily driving. During our year with the V-6 Q5, though, several editors wondered if Audi's stout 2.0T four-cylinder engine could meet our performance expectations while returning better fuel economy. To answer that question, we recently sampled a Q5 2.0T, which is a new offering for the 2011 model year.

You wouldn't know by looking at it, but the new Touareg has shed a couple hundred pounds -- cue golf clap from supportive circle of portly SUVs. The new hybrid powertrain is also a big move to help curb this VW's thirst, but at first glance it appears to be somewhat less than successful. On the straight shot across I-94 coming in to Ann Arbor from the airport, I got an indicated 22 mpg, which is not any better than lots of other four-wheel-drive crossovers. Also, the regenerative brakes are touchy, the throttle response is syrupy, and the steering is nervous. Opting for one of the other available powertrains might fix two out of those three problems.
- Joe Lorio, Senior Editor