Audi Q5

The Q5's big Audi grille is flanked by LED-surrounded headlights that dip automatically.

No, really, it was. After customarily getting lost in Dubai, then regaining my inner peace and curbing my bad language, I joined a few friends at a new restaurant for a huge steak dinner in the city last weekend. At the end, I felt like I had ordered the full cow, and as we all waddled outside afterwards we discovered a light rain falling from the dark sky. While I always appreciate precipitation in this part of the world, I didn't look forward to the long trip back to Abu Dhabi on slick roads.

But I took some comfort in the fact I was driving a Q5, Audi's new small crossover that debuted late last year. For one thing, I knew that it was fitted with the company's quattro all-wheel drive, one of the best systems in the industry. And its Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP), the electronic nanny that helps keep the wheels on the road, is also first-rate, which was demonstrated previously on closed courses.

So, fine, onwards and upwards and all that. Thankfully, the Q5 tracked true along the soggy waterway that was the E11, making light work of the pools of water along the way. But, bathed in the warm, red glow of the interior lights, my passengers and I were in awe of something else. We realised, after a while, that the speed of the windshield wipers was actually adjusting to the different levels of rain - seamlessly. Here was a system that actually worked well, especially given the fact that we hardly noticed it working at all.

When you pay Dh180,000 for a vehicle, you better get you're money's worth. And, at first glance, the Q5 seems a bit pricey for a small cross- over. But underneath its taut skin (one of the better-looking crossovers, in my opinion) lies a myriad of thoughtful touches and electronic goodies, along with said wiper sensors. The headlights (with cool LED surrounds) also dip automatically; the roof rack can sense if there is anything strapped to it, and the ESP re-maps itself for the vehicle's taller centre of gravity; the sound system is Bluetooth-compatible for your phone, and it has a plug for your music player - both can be controlled through the radio or with buttons on the steering wheel. And the panoramic, roof-wide glass roof is one of my favourite features - when open, there is little turbulence in the car, but it manages to brighten up an all-black interior that, while well put together, is just far too dark for my liking.

With a hill-descending assist feature, coupled with high ground clearance, a water fording depth of 500 millimetres and quattro, Audi claims it would be good off-road, too. But I doubt you'll find many Q5s crossing rivers or sand dunes. I can't list all the features. But I can say the ride is comfortable and handling is excellent, with very little lean in hard turns. You can drive the Q5 in a sedate or spirited manner, and it will be happy in both scenarios.

It's listed as a five-passenger car, though the centre seat in the rear is just too firm for an unlucky person on long voyages. But everyone else will find comfortable leather seats and lots of headroom. And the cargo space behind the rear seats seems downright cavernous, though at 540 litres with the seat backs up, it is considerably less than the BMW X3's 850 L. The space expands to 1,560 L with the seats down. Handy, though I would prefer the seats to fold completely flat, which they don't.

But this isn't my biggest bugaboo about the car - that is reserved for the engine. Accelerating from a stop, the 2.0-litre, turbocharged four cylinder shows its size. A hard stomp on the throttle at the line results in, well, not much. Its slow march forward seems detached from the input on the pedal until the revs reach just under 2,000 rpm. Then, the turbo kicks in and rockets the car forward, to startling effect. This is especially harrowing in a parking lot, necessitating sharp reflexes and instant adjustments with the right foot.

But I say it's a shame because, after the car is moving, it doesn't want for power. The four cylinder really punches above its weight on the road - you could fool yourself into thinking there's a small V6 under the bonnet. It's no barnburner, mind you, but passing cars and staying in the fast lane is not a problem, and all this in a smooth-running package. And it gets amazing fuel economy. After filling up just outside of Abu Dhabi, the round trip - including the added distance of circling Dubai's Trade Centre Roundabout over and over - cost me just a quarter tank of fuel. Amazing. If Audi can figure out how to beat the turbo lag, it will have an engine that everyone will want.

If you can get past the anemic acceleration, the style and technology make the Q5 2.0 TFSI worth a look. [e-mail]