Audi Q5: Practical luxury

There's no longer any debate or any doubt: Americans hate station wagons. Deep down, they still love and want their SUVs, even if most of these are now marketed as crossovers, a politically soothing yet increasingly pointless distinction.

Car companies foreign and domestic have learned that the best way to stumble in this market is to design and market a station wagon, no matter how practical, sporty or affordable. (Make an exception for Subaru and its wagon fanatics.) The best way to succeed is to offer a decadent, overweight would-be SUV that looks bulky and capable but is mostly used for mall reconnaissance; even a weekend trip with two parents and two children can overwhelm the cargo-carrying ability of the typical downsized, do-little luxury crossover.

All this is not to pick on the new Audi Q5. Stowing my own pro-wagon prejudices, I found the Q5 the most compelling small luxury crossover I've driven.

Compared with the 5,300-pound Q7, the 4,200-pound Q5 is far less of a walrus on wheels. At 182.2 inches long, the Audi matches the Volvo XC60 and Toyota RAV4, and it's a foot shorter than big family sedans like the Honda Accord, making it relatively useful in tight parking lots and urban maneuvers.

The dimensions may be trimmer, yet the Q5 cuts no corners on luxury, performance or features. The owner is making a clear statement: I could have leased a Range Rover, and don't you forget it. As such, the Audi seems aimed at affluent singles, young couples and empty-nesters. Parents who haven't blown the budget on a designer stroller may apply, but two fast-growing children can quickly tax the available real estate.

I'd say that the cabin is straight from the Audi corporate parts bin, but in this case it's a corporate jewel box: there is rich wood, gleaming metal trim, a beautifully tactile steering wheel, comfortable seats and finely wrought gauges and switches. Like its sister cars from Ingolstadt, the Q5 effortlessly blends form and function.

As I admired the interior, I was struck again by how Audi has become the Apple of luxury cars: its sleek designs are modern and minimal, consistent and familiar. Yet like a Macintosh, the cars are functionally elegant in a way that lets owners feel they're making a purely rational choice even as they spend a bit more.

The Q5 is the first Audi with the latest Multi Media Interface, or MMI, a screen-based system for controlling the navigation, audio, climate and other systems. MMI 3.0 has added more functionality and sharper graphics to what already was one of the industry's most sophisticated controllers. Call up climate settings, and a transparent temperature readout overlays the navigation map or audio screen. In other words, you can view two layers of information, one atop the other, akin to the futuristic screens in Steven Spielberg's "Minority Report."

The Q5 also addresses details that elude some luxury brands. The elegant clamshell hatch -- no unsightly hatch seam dissects the taillights -- requires more precise manufacturing than a conventional liftgate. The clamshell creates not just a smoother appearance but the largest possible opening. The rear seat slides fore and aft, and a center section folds so you can carry larger items.

If a family has to travel a bit light in the Audi, at least they'll travel fast. The 3.2-liter V6, with direct fuel injection that saves fuel while adding muscle, provides 270 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. This Q5 really flies, in a real-world way that's even a bit understated by the zesty 6.3-second sprint from zero to 60 mph recorded by Car and Driver magazine.

Audi's six-speed Tiptronic transmission, which the driver can shift manually with steering wheel paddle shifters or the console lever, can play smooth or help hustle things along. Along with the BMW X3 and Infiniti EX35 especially, the Audi does a reasonable imitation of a sport sedan -- just ignore the extra 600 pounds and the higher perch above the pavement.

Ride quality is a bit taut over crusty surfaces, but the payoff is handling that's nearly as confident and entertaining as even the X3's. Of course, Audi's Q ship neutralizes slippery surfaces with all-wheel-drive.

On city streets and at parking-lot speeds, the Audi reveals one performance hiccup: The steering can feel as heavy as a 20-ounce ribeye at lunch. A lighter touch around town would accentuate the Q5's smaller size and cut-and-thrust ability. Instead, having to muscle the Q5 calls attention to its wide-body stance and still-considerable weight.

The Q5 starts at $38,025. But stuffed like a plump oyster with rich optional toppings, my test model reached $52,950. You can buy a larger crossover for less, but few of them are as fashionable or formidable as the Q5.