Cars
AUDI Q5
Inducted into The Good 12 for a second time, the 2011 Audi Q5 is primed to remain a challenger to the Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic and the all-new 2011 BMW X3. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, but the eyes of most beholders hold fast when suggesting this cute-ute of Audi's is quite comely.
The Q5's beauty isn't only skin-deep. Audi's entry-level turbocharged four-cylinder engine has substantially more torque than the upper-tier Q5 3.2's V6 and has two more speeds in its transmission. Audi's famed Quattro all-wheel drive system makes every Q5 served to North America a winter beast (at least when equipped with winter tires). To those who say these small crossovers don't have as much space as they'd been expectin', take note of the Q5's advantage over the 2011 Audi A3 - 18 extra cubic feet of cargo capacity.
The Audi Q5 isn't just a mathematical equation... 211 + 20 + 57.3 + 8 - 6 x 4 doesn't equal $35,200. If you're after a Q5 instead of a Honda CR-V or Volkswagen Tiguan or Subaru Forester it's because you have a yearning for finer things. That's where power-operated tailgates, panorama sunroofs, and Bang & Olufsen sound systems come into play. Along with Teak Brown Metallic paint, a colour GoodCarBadCar.net has fawned over before.
Technology and luxury and four-ringed badges aren't necessary to get you through life. With the 2011 Audi Q5, it's not about what's required versus what's elective. The Q5 is simply about having the best and most beautiful because you can.
Engines: 211 horsepower; 258 lb-ft of torque from a 2.0L turbocharged inline-four or 270 horsepower; 243 lb-ft of torque from a 3.2L V6
Base USD/CAD Price: $35,200 / $41,200
City Fuel Economy: 18-20 miles per gallon
Cargo Capacity: 29.1 cubic feet or 57.3 cubic feet with rear seats folded
Sales Stats: Through the first three quarters of 2010, sales of the Audi Q5 in Canada had jumped 93.2% over the same period of 2009. In the United States, Audi Q5 sales were up 78.4% in the first three quarters of 2010. September sales in the United States were 2277 and 219 in Canada.
- The Good 12 V4.0 Part 12 - Toyota Venza
TOYOTA VENZA Wagons, depending on who's answering the question, are either truly, wonderfully cool or very, very objectionable. Despite the Venza's elevated height, an increasingly common feature of many new cars, the Toyota Venza is for all...
- The Good 12 V4.0 Part 11 - Porsche Cayenne
PORSCHE CAYENNE Like a frog turned into a prince, the Porsche Cayenne was once useful and dynamic but is now, in generation deux, useful, dynamic and handsome. The first-generation Cayenne's 2007 facelift did it no favours, but one never heard...
- The Good 12 V4.0 Part 8 - Jeep Wrangler
JEEP WRANGLER The 2011 Jeep Wrangler - a vehicle many consider a handful of compromises too many - is more of an all-in-one vehicle than anything else on the market today. Listen to this list of demands and try and think of any other vehicle capable...
- The Good 12 V4.0 Part 5 - Ford F-150
FORD F-150 Before Ford decided to completely revamp the F-150's engine lineup, GoodCarBadCar.net placed the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor in The Good 12. This year, however, Ford has developed a new range of engines for the F-150: delightfully...
- The Good 12 V4.0 Part 2 - Buick Enclave
BUICK ENCLAVE Repeating for a third consecutive installment, the 2011 Buick Enclave is a resounding success for one of the fastest growing automotive brands in North America. It doesn't hurt that the Enclave is supremely quiet, eminently comfortable,...
Cars
The Good 12 v4.0 Part 1 - Audi Q5
AUDI Q5
Inducted into The Good 12 for a second time, the 2011 Audi Q5 is primed to remain a challenger to the Mercedes-Benz GLK350 4Matic and the all-new 2011 BMW X3. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, but the eyes of most beholders hold fast when suggesting this cute-ute of Audi's is quite comely.
The Audi Q5 isn't just a mathematical equation... 211 + 20 + 57.3 + 8 - 6 x 4 doesn't equal $35,200. If you're after a Q5 instead of a Honda CR-V or Volkswagen Tiguan or Subaru Forester it's because you have a yearning for finer things. That's where power-operated tailgates, panorama sunroofs, and Bang & Olufsen sound systems come into play. Along with Teak Brown Metallic paint, a colour GoodCarBadCar.net has fawned over before.
Technology and luxury and four-ringed badges aren't necessary to get you through life. With the 2011 Audi Q5, it's not about what's required versus what's elective. The Q5 is simply about having the best and most beautiful because you can.
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Engines: 211 horsepower; 258 lb-ft of torque from a 2.0L turbocharged inline-four or 270 horsepower; 243 lb-ft of torque from a 3.2L V6
Base USD/CAD Price: $35,200 / $41,200
City Fuel Economy: 18-20 miles per gallon
Cargo Capacity: 29.1 cubic feet or 57.3 cubic feet with rear seats folded
Sales Stats: Through the first three quarters of 2010, sales of the Audi Q5 in Canada had jumped 93.2% over the same period of 2009. In the United States, Audi Q5 sales were up 78.4% in the first three quarters of 2010. September sales in the United States were 2277 and 219 in Canada.
The Good 12
Buick Enclave - Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
Fiat 500 - Ford F-150 - Ford Mustang V6 - Infiniti G25
Jeep Wrangler - Nissan Juke - Porsche Boxster Spyder
Fiat 500 - Ford F-150 - Ford Mustang V6 - Infiniti G25
Jeep Wrangler - Nissan Juke - Porsche Boxster Spyder
Porsche Cayenne - Toyota Venza
The Bad 8
The Bad 8
Acura ZDX - BMW 5-Series GT- BMW X6
Honda Accord Crosstour - Lexus HS250h
Lincoln MKT - Nissan Leaf - Nissan Versa Sedan
Honda Accord Crosstour - Lexus HS250h
Lincoln MKT - Nissan Leaf - Nissan Versa Sedan
Rules & Nominees
- The Good 12 V4.0 Part 12 - Toyota Venza
TOYOTA VENZA Wagons, depending on who's answering the question, are either truly, wonderfully cool or very, very objectionable. Despite the Venza's elevated height, an increasingly common feature of many new cars, the Toyota Venza is for all...
- The Good 12 V4.0 Part 11 - Porsche Cayenne
PORSCHE CAYENNE Like a frog turned into a prince, the Porsche Cayenne was once useful and dynamic but is now, in generation deux, useful, dynamic and handsome. The first-generation Cayenne's 2007 facelift did it no favours, but one never heard...
- The Good 12 V4.0 Part 8 - Jeep Wrangler
JEEP WRANGLER The 2011 Jeep Wrangler - a vehicle many consider a handful of compromises too many - is more of an all-in-one vehicle than anything else on the market today. Listen to this list of demands and try and think of any other vehicle capable...
- The Good 12 V4.0 Part 5 - Ford F-150
FORD F-150 Before Ford decided to completely revamp the F-150's engine lineup, GoodCarBadCar.net placed the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor in The Good 12. This year, however, Ford has developed a new range of engines for the F-150: delightfully...
- The Good 12 V4.0 Part 2 - Buick Enclave
BUICK ENCLAVE Repeating for a third consecutive installment, the 2011 Buick Enclave is a resounding success for one of the fastest growing automotive brands in North America. It doesn't hurt that the Enclave is supremely quiet, eminently comfortable,...