Introduction:

Luxury cars have seldom been known for their high fuel economy, and SUVs have also never been known for being frugal with gas. Put the two together and you have a recipe for fuel consumption that would make an oil executive put a down payment on a second yacht. Bucking this trend, though, is the 2011 Audi Q5. Notable this year for the Q5 is a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers only a couple mpg less on the EPA driving cycles than the Audi A4 Avant wagon. Even the Q5 with its available, more powerful V6 is pretty good on gas. Yet fuel economy is only one of the Q5's many virtues. Thanks to its underpinnings from the Audi A4 sedan, the Q5 is one of the most entertaining vehicles to drive in the segment of luxury crossovers. It has the confident handling and alert responses of the A4, yet the Q5's decent cargo hold and generous passenger space mean it's pretty comfortable and practical, too. Indeed, its family-friendly sliding rear seat is the only one of its kind among luxury crossovers of this size.

The Q5's biggest downside is its price, which can end up thousands of dollars more than what you'd pay for some other competitors once you order all the familiar options. The Volvo XC60 is a bit bigger than the Audi and offers a few extra features that are useful for families. The Mercedes-Benz GLK350 is a bit smaller, but has a cheaper base price and a more solid feel to it. The BMW X3 has been redesigned for 2011 and will likely be the athlete of the class, while the new, surprisingly luxurious Jeep Grand Cherokee should appeal to those who plan on venturing off the beaten path every now and then. Certainly you're not going to go wrong with any of these choices. But considering the 2011 Audi Q5's well-rounded virtues as well as above-average fuel economy, we think this vehicle will suit luxury crossover shoppers quite nicely indeed.

Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options:

The 2011 Audi Q5 is a compact luxury crossover available in four trim levels: 2.0T Premium, 2.0T Premium Plus, 3.2 Premium Plus and 3.2 Prestige.

Standard equipment on the 2.0T Premium includes 18-inch wheels, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, roof rails, eight-way power front seats with adjustable lumbar, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, leather upholstery, tri-zone climate control, a sliding and reclining 40/20/40 rear seat, a dash-mounted Multi Media Interface (MMI) and a 10-speaker sound system with CD/MP3 player, auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio. Options on the Premium include a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats and Bluetooth. These items are included on the 2.0T Premium Plus, which also gets xenon headlights, LED running lights, a power tailgate, auto-dimming and power-folding exterior mirrors, an auto-dimming interior mirror and an iPod interface. Nineteen-inch wheels are optional. Step up to the 3.2 Premium Plus for a V6 engine, 19-inch wheels, headlight washers and S Line exterior trim. The top-shelf 3.2 Prestige adds adaptive headlights, a blind-spot warning system, keyless ignition/entry, a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and the Audi MMI Navigation Plus package (navigation system, digital music storage, voice controls, rearview camera, HD radio, CD/DVD player and center-console-mounted MMI system). The 3.2 Prestige can also be equipped with Audi Drive Select (four settings alter throttle response, transmission shift points and steering assist), adaptive cruise control and the Luxury package (ventilated front seats and upgraded leather). Both 3.2 models can be equipped with 20-inch wheels and the S Line package, which adds different 20-inch wheels, performance tires, a sport steering wheel, shift paddles and brushed aluminum trim. All but the 2.0T Premium can be equipped with the MMI Navigation Plus package and the Bang & Olufsen stereo.

Powertrains and Performance:

The 2011 Audi Q5 2.0T comes standard with all-wheel drive and a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine good for 211 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. The Audi Q5 3.2 gets a 3.2-liter V6 that produces 270 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic is standard. In Edmunds performance testing, a Q5 3.2 accelerated from a standstill to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, a performance on par with the Audi's peers. Estimated fuel economy stands at 18/23/20, which is tops among similarly powered all-wheel-drive crossovers. Towing capacity with the 3.2 is above average, with a 4,400-pound rating when properly equipped.

Safety:

The 2011 Audi Q5 comes standard with stability and traction control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. Rear side airbags are optional on all models, while a blind-spot warning system is standard on the 3.2 Prestige. In government crash tests, the Q5 achieved perfect five-star ratings for frontal and side impacts. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, the Q5 was likewise awarded the highest rating of "Good" in frontal-offset and side crash tests. In Edmunds braking testing, the Q5 came to a stop in 123 feet, a competitive performance.

Interior Design and Special Features:

Like other Audis, the Q5 benefits from classy interior design and top-notch construction. The center stack controls are canted toward the driver, although the layout depends on whether or not you opt for the navigation system.

Without navigation, the knob and buttons for the MMI system reside on the center stack, and the resulting procedure for using the stereo is not intuitive. With navigation, though, the controls migrate aft of the shift lever, where they fall more readily to hand. Navigation-equipped models also get the latest, third-generation MMI system with revised menus and an additional joystick button for enhanced control. Despite its compact size, the Q5 manages to feel roomy whether you're seated in the front or rear. The rear seats slide fore and aft, which is a rarity in this segment of luxury crossovers, and the seats also recline for greater comfort. Folding the rear seats down creates 57 cubic feet of maximum cargo space, which is a little below average for this segment.

Driving Impressions:

Though we have yet to drive the 2011 Audi Q5 with its new turbocharged inline-4 engine, we've had good experiences with this engine. The Q5's acceleration will likely seem relatively slow, but this torque-rich mill has surprising low-end punch and should return impressive fuel economy as well. The Q5's 3.2-liter V6 delivers smooth, powerful acceleration, and the six-speed automatic is also refined and responsive. With it, the Q5 matches European rivals like the X3, GLK350 and XC60 in terms of acceleration, though the Japanese Infiniti EX35 has more punch. Regardless of engine, the Q5's ride quality is firmer than the norm for this class of vehicle, but we've never found it to be harsh. In terms of handling, the 2011 Q5 is one of the sportiest crossovers on the market. One downside, though, is that the electric power steering has both a consistently artificial feel and an odd tendency to weight up suddenly at low speeds. We would skip the optional Audi Drive Select system as it's pricey and complicated; the car's standard setup is just fine.

While the coupe design of the Audi A7 attracts the eye, the aluminum-hybrid lightweight construction, with aluminum body panels and a steel frame, provides excellent handling, safety and fuel economy. The 3.0L TFSI V6 supercharged engine generates 310 horsepower and is paired with an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission yielding impressive fuel economy ratings (18 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, according to the U.S. EPA, for a combined fuel economy rating of 22 mpg) with quattro all-wheel drive standard.





The A7 delivers excellent performance characteristics with usable functionality. The integrated rear spoiler automatically deploys at higher speeds to achieve maximum down force and improved aerodynamics.



Continuing to take a leadership role in bringing progressive, innovative technologies to our customers, the Audi A7 is available with the latest MMI® technology that provides a user-friendly interface for navigation, audio, phone and vehicle customization functions. In addition, the MMI touch handwriting recognition system allows customers to enter destination or telephone information with the touch of a finger.





The MMI system also serves as the interface with the industry-first Audi Connect system, which brings a whole new level of real-time user-relevant information into the vehicle. With first-to-market voice-activated Google EarthTM, Google Local search, and, for passenger use, rolling Wi-Fi® hotspot functionality (first-to-market as Factory-installed option with integrated mobile broadband connectivity), the A7 enables new, progressive ways of interacting with the vehicle and its surroundings.



The A7 introduces an available Audi-first headup Display with a high-resolution, full-color display, as well as many innovative technologies which were recently introduced in the Audi A8 flagship, including available full LED headlights, Night vision assistant, Audi pre sense plus and the unmatched Bang & Olufsen® Advanced Audio System, which delivers 1,300 watts of audio bliss through 15 perfectly tuned speakers.



Design:

• Iconic 5-door coupe design utilizing aluminum hybrid lightweight construction.

• 4-seat configuration with folding rear seats

• Xenon plus headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights

• Unmistakable Audi Singleframe® grill design

• 7-inch Driver Information System

• 8-inch MMI screen with MMI touch technology

• Frameless side windows appropriate for coupe

• Ambient lighting plus using LED lighting technology



Engine/drivetrain:

• V6 3.0L TFSI supercharged engine delivering 310 hp and 325 lbs-ft of torque.

• 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission

• Legendary quattro all-wheel drive with 40:60 rear-bias torque split





Standard equipment:

• 18-inch wheels with all-season tires

• Xenon plus headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights

• Leather seating surfaces

• Power, heated front seats with driver lumbar support

• Automatic power tailgate

• Audi drive select

• SIRIUS® satellite radio

• Audi Music Interface

• Bluetooth® telephone and music player connection

• Homelink®

• Keyless go

• Power sunroof

• 3-zone automatic climate control

• Automatic headlights with light/rain sensor



Optional equipment:





Premium Plus includes:

• 19-inch 10-spoke wheels with all-season tires

• MMI navigation plus with MMI touch and Google Earth

• Audi Connect with 6 month complimentary data trial period

• Front and rear parking sensors and rearview camera

• 7-inch Driver Information System and 8” MMI screen

• HD Radio, CD changer and Jukebox



Prestige includes Premium Plus items and:

• S line® exterior (bumpers, grille)

• BOSE® surround sound system

• Advanced key (keyless entry)

• 4-zone climate control

• Ventilated front seats

• Adaptive headlights and cornering lights

• Power adjustable steering column

• Ambient lighting plus (LED interior lights)





Innovation Package:

• Full LED headlights

• Audi pre sense plus

• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go

• Audi side assist

• Head Up Display

• Night vision assistant



Sport Packages:

• 19-inch or 20-inch wheels with performance tires

• Sport suspension

• 3-spoke sport steering wheel with shift paddles





Driver Assistance Package:

• Audi pre sense plus

• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go

• Audi side assist



Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System (similar to A8 D4):

• 15 speakers including subwoofer and center speaker

• Acoustic lens emerging tweeters

• Speaker covers are polished aluminum

• 1300 watts of B&O® ICEpower®



- By: Omar Rana

Winning the Two-Horse Race



By Ronald Montoya, Consumer Advice Associate



Compact truck shoppers in 2011 will find that their choices have slimmed to a few key models, and many of the offerings from the domestic brands are no longer as competitive as they used to be. The Detroit labels have focused their resources on the more popular full-size trucks, leaving their compact trucks to stagnate with minimal updates or even discontinuing them altogether.





But not everyone wants to drive a big honking truck. There is a substantial size difference between a compact and a full-size pickup, and you can tell the difference when you're behind the wheel. Full-size trucks are harder to park, might not fit in your garage and consume more fuel — especially if you opt for the V8 engine. A compact truck might be all you want, and since it has nearly the same capabilities as a full-size truck in so many respects, it might be all you need.



Though the compact truck market has dwindled, the good news is that the best truck in this class is still alive and kicking. The 2011 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab V6 4x4 provides an excellent balance of size, fuel economy and interior refinement.



The general consensus among the Edmunds editors is that the current compact truck market is basically a two-horse race between the Toyota Tacoma and the Nissan Frontier. The Ford Ranger happens to sell more than the Frontier, but the Ranger is smaller and has not had a redesign in more than 10 years. The Chevrolet Colorado and Dodge Dakota can be ordered with V8 engines, which provide additional towing capacity, but neither truck's interior is as well appointed as the Tacoma's.



Performance



This 2011 Toyota Tacoma V6 Double Cab 4X4 we tested came with a 4.0-liter V6 engine that produces 236 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. During our instrumented testing, the Tacoma went from zero to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds — slightly above average for trucks in this class. The V6 is a breeze to drive around town, but this heavily optioned four-wheel-drive model still weighs 4,277 pounds, so it's no wonder that we felt that this engine could use a bit more power for getting up hills or for passing on the highway.





The Tacoma's brakes brought the truck to a halt in 126 feet and were able to withstand a number of hard stops without fading. But while the brakes performed admirably on the track, the brake pedal felt spongy and required a bit more effort than we felt comfortable with, a reminder that this is a pickup and not a car, as truckmakers are wary of quick response in a heavily loaded vehicle.



If you like to go off-road, the Tacoma is more than capable. The TRD Off-Road package features Bilstein dampers, a locking rear differential, BF Goodrich tires, a skid plate beneath the engine and a host of cosmetic parts like smoked headlights, TRD decals and color-keyed bumpers. This package works well, and it also gives the Tacoma some visual credibility against full-size pickups.



When equipped with the V6 tow package, the 2011 Toyota Tacoma can tow up to 6,400 pounds (6,300 pounds if you have the optional 6-foot bed). A full-size truck can tow more, though you have to wonder if you need 9,000 pounds of towing capacity in a personal truck.



Comfort



Despite the fact that this Tacoma had been outfitted with off-road equipment, we found the ride quality good enough for everyday driving, a reminder that pickup trucks are far more comfortable than most people suspect. The ride is lively but never harsh, and we enjoyed the truck's alert personality compared to the remote, carlike personality that full-size pickups have these days.





Our test vehicle came with a cat-back exhaust (it fits downstream of the catalyst) as part of the T/X Pro package. While the exhaust adds a bit more power, it also adds a substantial amount of noise, as do the Tacoma's off-road tires.





It is easy to find a good driving position thanks to the tilting and telescoping steering wheel. Similarly, the front seats are comfortable, spacious and offer numerous adjustments. Surprisingly enough, there is enough legroom in the backseats of the double cab for tall passengers.



Function



The stereo system has a simple and intuitive layout. The buttons are easy to reach and have additional controls on the steering wheel to skip songs or adjust volume. The climate controls feature the classic yet effective three-dial setup. Pairing your phone via Bluetooth requires a trip to the owner's manual, but works well once set up. You can also set up a few of your contacts with voice prompts for quick dialing.





There is plenty of room in the 5-foot cargo bed (a 6-footer is optional) and it doesn't take a stepladder to access it since the walls of the cargo bed don't tower over your head the way they do in a full-size pickup. Storage is limited within the cab, however. Aside from the glovebox, there are only a center console and small pockets in the front doors. For comparison, the Dodge Dakota has rear seats that fold away to reveal storage crates, while the Nissan Frontier has a dual-level glovebox.





As is the case for most trucks, rear visibility is adversely affected by the tailgate and small rear window. The good news is that pickup trucks can now be had with back-up cameras, although the Tacoma's system integrates the screen into the rearview mirror, so visibility isn't great.



Design/Fit and Finish



The 2011 Toyota Tacoma is a good-looking truck. Its swollen fenders and large trapezoidal grille give this pickup an aggressive look. Our test model also was equipped with an attractive set of 16-inch "beadlock-style" wheels as part of the T/X Pro package.



The Tacoma's interior is filled with hard plastics, but this is par for the course among compact trucks. That said, the Tacoma actually has one of the nicer interiors relative to its competition. The center stack has a silver finish that makes all the difference when compared to the drab black plastic found in other compact trucks.

Who should consider this vehicle



The 2011 Toyota Tacoma is a good example of what these compact-class trucks offer in comparison to full-size trucks. It looks great, drives in a lively and entertaining way and gets good fuel economy. It is also available in an amazing number of cab, cargo bed and powertrain configurations just like a full-size truck, from the cheaper two-wheel-drive chassis powered by a four-cylinder engine that costs about $16,000 to this elaborate four-wheel-drive model with a V6, a double cab and an off-road package that costs more than twice that.



It's true that a compact pickup does give up some utility to a full-size pickup — notably payload volume, payload capacity and towing capacity. But for a private owner, this theoretical margin of performance isn't something we use often. The assets of a compact-size pickup — its practical dimensions, fuel-efficient performance and enjoyable dynamics — are things that you can enjoy on a daily basis.



Lastly, the 2011 Toyota Tacoma is the only compact truck that comes with free maintenance as part of the Toyota Care program. The Nissan Frontier may have the better V6 and the Chevrolet Colorado has an available V8, but the Toyota Tacoma is the most well-rounded among these compact trucks.

The 2011 Acura TSX features a new wagon body style called the Sport Wagon. All TSXs also get a slight fuel economy gain, exterior design refinements, improved acoustic insulation and a new hard-drive-based navigation system with a higher-resolution display.





Introduction



The 2011 Acura TSX continues in its role as the gateway model into Honda's premium brand, a steady if somewhat plain performer in four-cylinder sedan trim and a more exciting sport sedan when equipped with the available V6. But the biggest news for the TSX line in 2011 is the addition of a wagon model. Offering more cargo room than most competitors, ample storage and a flat load floor that can accommodate objects nearly 70 inches long, the TSX Sport Wagon adds welcome versatility and panache to a model that frankly has been less interesting every year.





The Sport Wagon comes standard with the TSX's 201-horsepower, 2.4-liter inline-4 engine and five-speed automatic transmission. Although enthusiasts might prefer that this new Acura wagon be a rival to the sportier Audi A4 Avant and BMW 328i wagon by combining a V6 engine, a manual transmission and all-wheel drive, the reality is that the TSX Sport Wagon offers balanced performance in nearly every dynamic category as well as superior fuel economy. Acura only plans to offer 4,000 units in North America, a tentative way of taking the temperature of American enthusiasm for a luxury wagon from Japan, so get on the list if you want one.



The Sport Wagon also adds a new design perspective to the TSX, as its tapering roof line and sharp, future-shock angles give the wagon an image of velocity even at rest. Acura has also tamed the TSX beak, the polarizing design for the grille and front fascia that has undermined what is otherwise a solid car under the sheet metal. The front end of the 2011 Acura TSX still looks sharp and techno, but its metallic overbite has been substantially reduced.





Overall the TSX offers excellent manners in daily driving, a pleasing interior, an impressive amount of standard equipment, plus state-of-the-art navigation and entertainment systems. In four-cylinder guise, the driving experience can be a bit bland -- the A4 and 3 Series are just more fun to drive. And it might be worth looking at loaded versions of the Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima and Volkswagen CC as well. With the V6 and its sport-tuned suspension and steering, though, the TSX gains a more dynamic persona. In either case, the TSX is worth a look, and is certainly one of the better luxury sedan and wagon values on the market.



Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options



The 2011 Acura TSX is a compact entry-level luxury sedan available in base, wagon and V6 trim levels. The base TSX and TSX Sport Wagon offer standard equipment that includes 17-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, foglights, a sunroof, keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, an eight-way power driver seat with memory, a four-way power passenger seat, leather upholstery, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a 60/40-split-folding rear seatback. Also standard are Bluetooth and a seven-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, auxiliary audio jack and a USB port. In addition to more horsepower and displacement, the V6 adds a firmer suspension, 18-inch wheels and a road noise-cancelling feature for the sound system.





The optional Technology package adds a rearview camera, a hard-drive-based navigation system, voice recognition, real-time traffic and weather forecasting, a 10-speaker Acura/ELS surround-sound system with single-CD player, digital music storage and, for the wagon, a power liftgate.



Powertrains and Performance



The front-wheel-drive TSX is available with a choice of two engines. The 2.4-liter four-cylinder makes 201 hp and 170 pound-feet of torque (172 lb-ft when equipped with the manual transmission), while the 3.5-liter V6 generates 280 hp and 254 lb-ft. A five-speed automatic transmission with sport shift paddles is standard on all models, although a six-speed manual is available for the four-cylinder sedan only.





In Edmunds testing, a manual four-cylinder TSX sedan loped to 60 mph from a standstill in an unremarkable 7.7 seconds. The automatic sedan and Sport Wagon both crossed the lights about a second slower. The V6, on the other hand, posted a competitive 0-60 time of 6.4 seconds.



Estimated EPA fuel economy estimates for the four-cylinder automatic TSX sedan are 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway and 26 combined; the manual version drops to 21/29/24. The wagon achieves 22/30/25, while the V6 comes in at 19/28/23.



Safety



Standard safety equipment on the 2011 TSX includes antilock brakes (with brake assist), stability control, traction control, active head restraints, front seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, both the four- and six-cylinder versions of the TSX took 133 feet to stop from 60 mph. That's at least 10-15 feet longer than we'd expect for a comparable sport sedan. The Sport Wagon came to a halt in 127 feet.





The 2011 Acura TSX has not been rated using the government's new, more strenuous 2011 crash testing procedures. Its 2010 ratings for the sedan (which aren't comparable to 2011 tests) resulted in five-out-of-five stars for all frontal and side-impact tests. It also earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's top rating of "Good" in both frontal-offset and side-impact tests.



Interior Design and Special Features



Although toned down a bit from its predecessor, the 2011 Acura TSX is still dense with buttons and switchgear, particularly on its center stack. Most of the controls and commands are fairly intuitive and logical, however. Equipped with the Technology package, the TSX offers a very good navigation system (now hard-drive-based for 2011) featuring voice commands, real-time traffic, weather forecasting and a large LCD screen with a secondary control knob. The accompanying Acura/ELS surround-sound audio system is certainly good enough to justify the extra cost.





New heating/cooling vents at the rear of the center console ensure improved comfort for rear-seat passengers. The center console cargo box is now also climate-controlled, the better to keep drinks from a run to McDonald's either cool or warm. Interior room in the sedan is good, offering just a bit less volume than the larger TL and considerably more than a competitor like the Lexus IS 250. The trunk measures 12.6 cubic feet. The Sport Wagon opens up even more room, delivering nearly 61 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down. That betters both the Audi A4 Avant and the BMW 3 Series wagon.



Driving Impressions



The 2011 Acura TSX rides calmly and quietly at highway speeds thanks to thicker glass and improved acoustic insulation. Power from the four-cylinder engine is adequate, though compared to other entry-level luxury cars it leaves the TSX with a somewhat uninspired driving character. The V6 and Sport Wagon are more spirited thanks to their sport-tuned suspensions and, in the case of the V6, gutsier acceleration. Both transmissions work well; the manual is easy to work thanks to a short-travel clutch and linear throttle tip-in, while the automatic provides pleasantly smooth shifts.