Indiacar.com - Audi Q5 vs. BMW X3

For something that spends most of its life in crowded urban environments, the full-size luxury SUV is becoming increasingly impractical. Maneuvering its considerable girth and supertanker length on increasingly congested roads is something best left to chauffeurs. This is exactly where the compact luxury SUV comes in – notably the BMW X3 and the Audi Q5. Smaller but no less desirable, the Q5 and the X3 benefit from the reduced footprint of a regular saloon and the high seating position of an SUV.
The X3 is not new. It’s been in India for more than a year but did not have a diesel option for most of this time. Still it is interesting to note that X3 sales have grown since the launch of the diesel. The Q5 is new and is the X3’s only competition at present. Both have high-powered petrol options on offer but AutoCar (June ’09) tested the more relevant BMW X3 2.0 diesel and the Audi Q5 #.0 TDi. This test tells you which one is the best…

Design & Engineering
Despite looking very much like a 75 per cent scale of their full-size brothers, the Q5 and the X3 share nothing with the Q7 and the X5. Both are based on car platforms – the new A4’s modular chassis for the Q5 and the

previous generation E46 3-series chassis for the X3. There are no ladder frame chassis or dedicated four-wheel drive transfer cases. Also neither use fancy air suspension systems – they rely on steel springs and are fully independent at each corner. The only concession they make for off-roading is the hill descent control and an off-road ESP setting, not to mention decent ground clearance.

As such the Q5 is longer, wider and has a longer wheelbase than the BMW. Thanks to a wider stance and a higher bonnet the Q5 looks a lot brawnier too.

Interiors
From the moment one grips the nicely sculpted wheel of the Q5, one gets an innate feel that the Audi has best the BMW’s cabin by a considerable margin. The dashboard design is a lot more interesting, the red backlit buttons look like an aircraft cabin at night and its well specced too. You get a reverse camera, a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, Audi’s MMI system and fully powered seats with seat memory. The cabin is

impressively spacious, with plenty of legroom and headroom for four adults, five at push. Also the deep 540-litre load bay is big and in tune with its activity vehicle tag; the boot has a useful selection of hooks, power sockets and fastenings to keep things tied down.

In contrast, the BMW’s seats are wider and have better under thigh support, especially at the rear. The fit and finish of the interiors are a notch above the Audi’s but the dash design is oh-so-boring and one just does not like the hard shiny finish of the centre console signs AutoCar (June ’09).

Engine, Gearbox & Performance
The Q5’s 3.0-litre V6 is from the Q7 and the X3’s 2.0-litre in-line four is from the BMW 320d. The Q5’s 240bhp is powerful and quiet, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch S-tronic transmission. This is the first time this seven-speed twin-clutcher has been fitted to a longitudinal engine and it’s as clinically efficient. The Q5 is blistering fast for a vehicle of this size – it gets to 100kph a full 1.6seconds faster than the X3.

This isn’t to say that the X3’s performance is lacking because it takes just 9.2 seconds to 100kph and will hit 205kph flat-out- impressive for a relatively heavy four-wheel drive propelled by a small economical diesel engine! Also the BMW’s six-speed auto has none of that annoying delay in kick-down that the Q5 has, making it a tad easier to slot in gaps say AutoCar testers (June ’09).

Out on the highway, the Audi has a clear advantage. The extra power helps in overtaking and it is easier to maintain higher cruising.

Ride & Handling

With its taller profile tyres, AutoCar testers expected the Audi to trounce the X3 over bad roads but it doesn’t. The problem is small to medium sized intrusions and as a result, the Audi’s ride is always fidgety over town roads. It gets better at speed but never disappears. There’s always a hint of stiffness.

In comparison the X3 feels better damped. The X3 handles like a BMW should. The outgoing 3-series chassis on which the X3 sits responds positively to enthusiastic driving. Grip is outstanding from the Pirelli Scorpion tyres and the X3’s hydraulic steering rack is amazingly accurate and confidence-inspiring, especially at high speed.

The Q5 also turns with little body roll and changes direction without protest. It steers accurately too although with a curious mix of weight. To sum up, of the two it’s the Q5 that suppresses wind, road and tyre noise better than the X3.

Fuel Economy
With an engine that is exactly 972cc larger than the X3’s, the Q5 is the thirstier one. In city it gave 8.0kpl against the X3s 9.3kpl. And on the highway the Audi gives 11.1kpl against the X3’s 12.5kpl.

Verdict
The X3 2.0d has just the right blend of ground clearance, space, size and sporty dynamics for Indian roads. The BMW’s cabin has the more solid build and its handling is in a class of its own too.

But it’s the Q5 that takes the laurels this time. Sure its not perfect but there’s plenty of good stuff too. The V6 is one of the most refined diesel engines today and the cabin is beautifully detailed too. Yes it is more expensive than the X3 but fir what you get, AutoCar (June ’09) thinks its well worth the extra bit.