Expert answer

Hi Pat,

For the moment, the 190hp engine is only available with the S tronic automatic transmission and quattro four-wheel drive, but we'd expect a front-drive version to become available in due course. In the Q5, the quattro system does drive all the wheels, but if it doesn't detect any slippage, it will reduce power to the rear wheels in order to save fuel. 

Expert answer

Hi Darren,

It depends on the seat you’re using. Some seats need a separate ISOFIX base to attach to the latching points, especially the very first seats that newborns can go into.

That said, it could be the car — there seems to be some difficulty with that generation of A6 having been advertised across Europe with ISOFIX, but not having it fitted as standard in all markets. If the car was advertised with ISOFIX and you bought it on that basis, bring it back to the dealer and demand a retro-fit. If not, make a note of the car’s VIN number (it should be visible through the base of the windscreen) and call your nearest Audi dealer and ask them if they can help.

Expert answer

Hi Fergal,

Well, it depends on which model you're looking at. In general buying an automatic these days doesn't have the fuel consumption (and CO₂) penalties of old, although it's fair to say that not all automatics are equal. They can be very expensive up front though (BMW asks €2,500 for an auto) and, depending on the car, you won't always make that back at resale time. Certainly on a Ford you might struggle with automatic resale, but a BMW or Audi should do better as people expect the auto in those. 

Expert answer

Hi Marie,

If it's running costs that concern you, you should probably consider coming down in price and, a little, in size a bit. Both the Evoque and the Q5 are premium-badge SUVs and while neither is excessively thirsty, both will be expensive to run and service.

I'd suggest, instead, checking out a Honda CR-V - tonnes of space, hugely reliable, comfortable and with the 1.6 I-DTEC diesel engine and four-wheel drive, both frugal and ideal for country roads. Good to drive too.

Other good options are the Mazda CX-5, the Kia Sportage, Hyundai Santa Fe, Volkswagen Tiguan or Toyota RAV4. Here are our reviews to help you decide:

Range Rover Evoque review

Audi Q5 review

Honda CR-V review

Mazda CX-5 review

Kia Sportage review

Hyundai Santa Fe review

Volkswagen Tiguan review

Toyota RAV4 review

Expert answer

Hi Fergal,

In a purely objective sense? No, there’s nothing. Will you get an interior that looks and feels a bit classier? Yes. Will you get a badge that has a bit more appeal? Yes. Do these things really matter? Not to everyone. If you’ve got a Mondeo then you already have a well-made, comfortable car that’s good to drive. So upgrading to an Audi or BMW will get you… a shinier badge. If you want something that feels as good as the premium stuff but costs less, have a look at a Volkswagen Passat or Mazda6 as a potential replacement. The only area in which the German cars are quantifiably better is in resale value.

Expert answer

Hi Anthony,

It depends on the year of your current A6, but while there's not a huge jump in emissions by going for the V6 TDI, there is a big jump in price so it's certainly not going to be cheap. Others well worth considering are the incoming new BMW 5 Series with the 530d engine (or consider arguing yourself a good deal on a runout current shape model), the excellent new-shape Mercedes-Benz E 350 d or the Jaguar XF 3.0 V6 D. Test drives below to tease you further...

Audi A6 3.0 TDI review

2017 BMW 5 Series review

Mercedes-Benz E 350 d review

Jaguar XF S review

Expert answer

Hi Peter,

Sounds like an excellent choice. Our Editor, Shane, has driven the Sportback on its international launch recently and rates it. The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is a little sharper to drive, but the new A5 has caught up some in the dynamic stakes, added to which it's truly gorgeous inside and out. Here are links to his test drives:

Audi A5 TDI Sportback review

Audi S5 Sportback review

Expert answer

Hi John,

No, it’s not just another cost to the consumer. Stop-start systems are designed to prevent the car from running the engine unnecessarily at standstill when doing so would be at its most wasteful of fuel. After all, if you’re not moving then what is the point in having the engine on? Stop-start systems are specially designed with either a beefed-up alternator or an integrated starter/generator so that it can handle multiple stops and restarts in rapid succession, and it’s estimated that on an average car, stop-start can save as much as ten per cent of overall fuel consumption – not to be sniffed at, never mind the benefits to city-centre air quality.

Admittedly, the car makers have brought in stop-start to bring their cars' official CO₂ and fuel consumption figures down, and the benefits are only really felt if you are stopping and starting regularly. If you spend all your driving time on the motorway then you won't use the system at all.

Expert answer

Hi Philip,

You’ve pretty much summed it up there. I guess it depends where your priorities lie – performance or comfort. There’s no doubting the sheer thrust of the 300hp Audi, but I would suggest that if it’s performance you crave, skip the Cabriolet and buy the Saloon, which is much better to drive. If it’s the open top that you fancy, then go for the Mercedes, forget about performance (although the Merc is hardly a slouch in that regard) and instead revel in the comfort.

Read our Audi S3 Cabriolet review

Read our Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet review

Read our Mercedes-AMG C 63 Cabriolet review

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

Well, bearing in mind we have literally no idea what the market or running costs are like in Luxembourg, we reckon that a 2.0-litre Golf sounds like the best option there, especially if funds would stretch to either a GTI or GTD.

Read our Mercedes-Benz GLA review here

Read our Audi A3 Saloon review here

Read our Volkswagen Golf GTI review here

Read our Volkswagen Golf GTD review here

Read our BMW 1 Series review here