Audi Contract Hire and Audi Lease Car Offers

Big isn’t beautiful in this day and age, especially when it comes to cars, and even more so if they are sporting a four-wheel-drive badge.

Traditional big off-roaders have felt the chill breeze of harsh economic reality and the wrath of the green lobby. But all is not lost for those buyers who appreciate the qualities they offer as the Audi Q5 is one of a new generation of Sports Utility Vehicles that make 4x4 motoring cool again.

If you want an off-roader that handles like a hatchback – then the Audi Q5 is perfect. There’s immense grip, solid body control and nicely weighted steering, so you’ll have more fun driving it than perhaps any other SUV in its class.

But there is a cost for this ability – and it is a firm ride that may not be to everybody’s taste.

The Audi Q5 offers a very quiet way to get from A-B. There’s a smattering of wind and road noise, but not enough of either to get in a twist about.

The engines are tremendously refined with the diesels being smooth and quiet while the petrol gives off a pleasing rasp when worked hard.

As far as the environment is concerned the Audi Q5 is close to being as good as it gets for off-roaders.

Although the Audi A4 Cabriolet's platform has improved, BMW’s 3 series is still much more enjoyable. The A4 Cabriolet does come with the choice of several good engines. The two that really stand out are the 2.0-litre FSI turbo petrol and the diesel engine. The A4 is more of a fast paced cruiser than a performance car.

The Audi A4 Cabriolet does have family appeal. The car comfortably accommodates four adults. This is a good scenario for a growing family. The car has a fairly large boot space, but not large enough to accommodate a stroller or similar sized cargo.

The A4 Cabriolet is probably very appealing to most new drivers, and if the driver can afford the car and running costs, the Cabriolet would make an excellent first car. It is easy to drive and the controls are simple and easy to use. Parking the Cabriolet gets easier with practice, even with the top up. The price is the big draw back to purchasing the A4 as a first car. Unless money is not an object, the driver would be better off purchasing a less expensive car.

Audi has a great image in general. They have a large loyal following that is due partly to the masculinity of their image, and partly to the fact that they consistently produce quality, dependable products.

It’s certainly not a cheap car but the A5 looks good value. There’s no shortage of kit on any model and with the kind of class and quality on offer here, the price-tag is a good one.

The Audi A5 is reasonably friendly to the environment if you stick to the smaller petrol model or the diesel. The 1.8 petrol’s emissions of 169g/km of carbon dioxide are very impressive.

If you want to impress your friends the A5 has killer looks especially if you opt for the LED running lights stripped across the base of the headlamps. It also has a presence on the road without equal.

That said, it is a design which is colour sensitive. In darker colours the A5 looks outstanding but in lighter finishes – such as silver – some of the cut lines lose their emphasis.

The cabin has some elegant wooden trims and colour hides available along with the more traditional black and metallic interiors which have become an Audi trademark.

The instrument panel is a blend of conventional and modern with dials complemented by electronic readouts while the A5 also features Audi’s multimedia interface – a multi function control suite for the satellite navigation, communications and entertainment systems.

Although controlled via a rotary knob and push buttons it is more straightforward to use than some other similar systems.