By Tony Ng

Living in an urban jungle has its dangers. Your senses get dulled, dissociative identity disorder sets it. Set your eyes on grime-free SUVs once too often and you'll be deluded into thinking they're actually sedans. Because, hey, they are only used on-road in Singapore right? Therein lies the danger then, when perhaps, a few generations down the road, people will gradually forget about the potential soft-road capabilities in a crossover.

Launched in April, the crossover Q5 is a minature version of the gargantuan Q7. Q5's raison d'etre, it seems, is to capture a larger portion of the market with its compact CUV. Certainly not a bad move if you look at how Porsche's doing - its Cayenne accounts for a jaw-dropping 50 per cent of all Porsche sales.

Dimension-wise, Audi claims that it has the "sportiest proportions in its market category." The Q5 stands at 4.63 metres long, 1.88 metres wide but only 1.65 metres low. Sporty or not, Audi could very well be pitching the Q5 as an all-rounded crossover - because it is. The Q5 will suit three driving moods - sport, balanced or comfort. Choosing one will modify the throttle response, steering assist and of course, the damping.

(L) We haven't even started and there's already mud. (R) The Teutonic left-hand drive airfreighted from Germany - nobody can stop me, it's saying.

On paper, the speedometer will hit 100kmh in 7.2 seconds. But in reality, it doesn't feel like it. Along the Malaysian highways, the ride was solid, the steering light. The sense of speed is perceptibly absent - maybe because you're encased in solid metal in more ways than one.

You probably won't know you're in a crossover if you ignore the height. But even at 1.65m, the driving position is commanding.

One notes though, the Q5's muted presence. The Q5 is that person who remains at the back of parties - quiet and unassuming. But undoubtedly, capable and no pushover.

But enough of the musing. Here and now, we are jolted back to reality ("Vorsprung durch Technik!" we imagine the Germans shouting) as we enter the Sepang Offroad Park.

The offroad course was probably a precursor and an apt reminder of how things are supposed to be, given the vehicular alienation we suffer from driving SUVs in Singapore. Figures that usually remained at the back of our minds came to the forefront as we wiggled through the muddy turns and slopes. Hey, don't kick that mud into our windscreen!

PHOTO GALLERY Audi Q5 in M'sia

Climbing performance, as we found out, stood at 31 degrees. And thanks to the short overhangs, angles of approach and departure are 25 degrees. If you're interested in more numbers, the ramp breakover angle measures 17.6 degrees, lateral incline 25 degrees. The Q5 also has a ground clearance of 20cm.

And the next part of our course brought forth more technological functions - those that are not activated unless you breach certain limits - like entering turns at high speeds.

The slalom course was simple but for it being covered with grit. Which means more fun when entering corners, depending on how you look at it.

The Q5s nosed their way around the first time like hounds trying to fixate on the smell of their prey. And once that was done, surely it was logical to let them loose around the track. Slowly, the screeches and revs began to pile up as we pushed the Q5s all the way.

Despite the relatively high centre of gravity and weight, the Q5 managed to cut across the circuit effortlessly. Oversteering was unavoidable - the skit-covered road pushed the rear wheels out. But a combination of the quattro drive and the Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) placed the Q5 firmly back in its trajectory.

The surprise performer remains the 3.0 TDI left-hand drive that was specially freighted over from Germany. Inside the cabin, it was all quiet - like a petrol car. And even more powerful as it chalks up 500Nm from 1,500 to 3,000rpm. 6.5 seconds is all it needs to finish the century sprint. A pity though, it won't be landing here, left-hand drive or not.

To add to Q5's technological portfolio, you can also opt for Audi Lane Assist at $1,797 which helps drivers to keep in lane.

If you would like your bier served differently, there are two packages you can opt in. "Would you like your Q5 S-lined or off-roaded?" one imagines a German beer maid asking.

Served S-line, you'll get your Q5 adorned in sporty trim - think new grill design, bumpers, spoiler lip, diffuser insert, special body colours, sport suspensions, replete with S-line logos. Or go for gritty in the off-road bundle with wheel arch extensions, stainless steel underbody guard for the nose and tail ends, tailpipe and door trims.

But perhaps, all these options are not enough to attract you. Then Audi's (still) exotic daytime running lights will. If not, you're certainly asking for too much.

tonyng@sph.com.sg