Soccer Mom's Guide to Audi SUVs

By Enid Glasgow

On its website, Audi proudly proclaims that "More people are leaving BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus for Audi than ever before." Is it the quiet luxury of this unique brand? Is it their incredible selection of body styles? Is it their superb handling? Is it their relatively low price in the luxury market? Or is it their rugged all-season tires, spacious cargo area, roomy seating for 5 to 7 passengers, 3 zone automatic climate control, and entertainment features? If you are a busy mother, Audi makes sense for your family. Here is your guide to great Audi SUVs.

Q5. Audi also calls this their "crossover" model, perhaps hoping to entice those who don't want to admit they are soccer moms quite yet. This is a great car, SUV, vehicle. Whatever you call it, the Q5 delivers with 22mpg combined fuel economy, seating for 5, 211hp, 2.0L turbocharged 4 cylinder engine, 12-way power front seats with 4-way power lumbar adjustment, LED taillights and turn signals, leather seating, and a starting price of just $35,600.

The Q5 is full of safety features, including quattro All-wheel Drive, superior brakes, Servotronic steering, and hill descent control. But for those moms who want performance with their SUV, the Q5 has them covered with a 5-link front suspension and trapezoidal-link rear suspension for smooth handling, Valvelift system for smooth power buildup and instant throttle response (not to mention better gas mileage), and Audi drive select so you can have greater control of your ride.

Being a soccer mom is very, very good when you have a Q5.

Q7. The Q7 ups the ante with seating for 7 and bumps up the power to a 280hp, 3.0L supercharged V6. Features include leather seating, heated 12-way power front seats, Audi's parking system, music integration, HomeLink remote transmitter, Bluetooth, LED taillights, and power tailgate. It is a bit less efficient than the Q5 with 18mpg combined, but the trade-off is greater power and a few more bells and whistles than you get with the Q5. If you have a larger family or need the extra seating, the Q7 is one of the few vehicles that will accommodate you. Starting at about $46,000, it is a good choice for families.

Audi pours as much luxury and style into its SUVs as it does into its smaller models. Soccer moms, rest at ease: you can have practicality, convenience, and a hot car.