Observations after driving a Q5 for the last week

VanB · Post by **VanB** » Mon Dec 18, 2017 3:35 pm

My Macan has been in for a repair after losing an argument with a pillar in a tight parking space so have been driving the wife's Q5 for the last week and this has really thrown up some interesting observations for me:

The Macan's steering is perfectly weighted, positive and precise by comparison
The engine (3.0 in a GTS) is remarkably smooth and refined
The Macan is a very quiet place to be at motorway speeds
Air suspension absorbs everything thrown at it and never crashes about
The Macan never wallows when cornering and is rock solid
The air circulation and conditioning is far superior to that in a Q5
Power delivery in the Macan is awesome
Ergonomically it is far superior to the Q5
The tech is nowhere near as bad as people make out
The noise on start up will always make me smile
The Macan is actually a rather good looking beast but it is bloody wide!
The Macan feels so much more "planted" than a Q5
I'll miss quite a lot about it when it goes.

In short a week in a Q5 (which is not a bad car) made me realise how bloody awesome the Macan really is. Night and day difference between the two despite sharing so many components.

Anyway just thought I'd share

Bazza06 · Post by **Bazza06** » Mon Dec 18, 2017 3:54 pm

I am so tempted to send this to my brother-in-law who (being a Q5 owner) said that the Macan is basically a Q5.

VanB · Post by **VanB** » Mon Dec 18, 2017 4:07 pm

If you ask Porsche over 75% of the components are different. The drive most certainly is. Absolutely night and day.

Dandock · Post by **Dandock** » Mon Dec 18, 2017 4:20 pm

VanB wrote: ↑Mon Dec 18, 2017 3:35 pm My Macan has been in for a repair after losing an argument with a pillar in a tight parking space so have been driving the wife's Q5 for the last week and this has really thrown up some interesting observations for me:

The Macan's steering is perfectly weighted, positive and precise by comparison
The engine (3.0 in a GTS) is remarkably smooth and refined
The Macan is a very quiet place to be at motorway speeds
Air suspension absorbs everything thrown at it and never crashes about
The Macan never wallows when cornering and is rock solid
The air circulation and conditioning is far superior to that in a Q5
Power delivery in the Macan is awesome
Ergonomically it is far superior to the Q5
The tech is nowhere near as bad as people make out
The noise on start up will always make me smile
The Macan is actually a rather good looking beast but it is bloody wide!
The Macan feels so much more "planted" than a Q5
I'll miss quite a lot about it when it goes.

In short a week in a Q5 (which is not a bad car) made me realise how bloody awesome the Macan really is. Night and day difference between the two despite sharing so many components.

Anyway just thought I'd share

That’s just how I felt when I lost mine for a couple of weeks recently.

nsm3 · Post by **nsm3** » Mon Dec 18, 2017 4:24 pm

Pretty much agree with that, as we have one of each, albeit only a 170 bhp 2.0tdi Q5, but that discrepancy aside, the Macan certainly feels like a >70% different car to drive?

Salty · Post by **Salty** » Mon Dec 18, 2017 4:53 pm

Thanks for sharing your observations. I’ve often thought that a Q5 might be a good alternative to a Macan. I’ve always thought that the tech in the Audi’s is so much better. Porsche are still in the dark ages compared to many manufacturers when it comes to tech I think.

GeoffH · Post by **GeoffH** » Mon Dec 18, 2017 5:00 pm

'Porsche are still in the dark ages compared to many manufacturers when it comes to tech I think.'

So am I! That's why I love my Macan - I can just about work out / understand what all the buttons are for.

VanB · Post by **VanB** » Mon Dec 18, 2017 5:01 pm

Salty, the tech is nowhere near as bad as people would have you believe. Sure there are things that could work better or be more intuitive but it does work. The lag in tech compared to other marques is more then made up for in driving experience IMO.

Dandock · Post by **Dandock** » Mon Dec 18, 2017 5:18 pm

Is it the Velar v GTS article that raises eyebrows at a CD player in the Macan? I don’t use my CD player often but I’m pleased it’s there cos I really can’t be arsed having to clone every CD or vinyl we buy.

I sometimes think that the world that thinks it knows what we want often looses sight of the reality.

VanB · Post by **VanB** » Mon Dec 18, 2017 5:21 pm

I don't think I've got a CD player in mine - 2 x SD slots yes although there may be a DVD player as well but not sure as I then to use radio, spotify or iPhone

Observations after driving a Q5 for the last week

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