New Audi Q5 TDI Tops Forbes Best Luxury Car Buys of the Year List

Nashua, USA, 10/22/2013 / SubmitMyPR /

Luxury-car buyers may pay more when purchasing their vehicles, but that doesn't mean they don't care about the value a model will provide them over time. To help those drivers find a ride that is both well appointed and wallet friendly, Forbes recently released its best luxury car buys of the year. Topping the list was a model that just went on sale late this past summer: the 2014 Audi Q5 TDI midsize crossover SUV.

To compile its best luxury car buys of the year list, Forbes enlisted the help of auto-research firm Vincentric to determine the five-year cost of ownership of premium and luxury vehicles from the 2013 and 2014 model years. In addition to considering base MSRP, which had to be more than $50,000, Vincentric factored in fuel costs, average national insurance rates, repairs, maintenance, interest, depreciation, opportunity costs and taxes. Audi's Q5 TDI bested all models with the lowest five-year cost of ownership of $57,315, while two other models from the luxury auto brand, the Audi A5 and Audi Q7 TDI, finished in the top 10.

"A luxury car is a significant investment, so you shouldn't have to be dealing with bloated fuel costs or excessive repair bills during ownership," said Larry Bedell, general manager of Audi of Nashua, an Audi dealer serving NH. "Audi's advanced diesel engines are particularly well suited for keeping costs down because they return incredible fuel economy, depreciate slowly and don't require much maintenance."

A 3.0-liter TDI V6 engine allowed the 2014 Audi Q5 TDI to achieve 31 mpg on the highway in EPA testing, but the model returned even more miles per gallon in Audi's "Truth in 48" cross-country efficiency drive last month. Traveling from Torrance, Calif., to New York City in just 46 hours and nine minutes, the Audi Q5 TDI netted roughly 39 mpg at an average speed of about 62 mph.

That impressive fuel efficiency has helped the Audi Q5 TDI quickly attract buyers, with the diesel model accounting for 15 percent of all Q5 sales in September. Overall, the Audi Q5 saw a 45 percent sales increase last month compared to September 2012, moving 3,268 units in the United States. Sales of the crossover SUV are now up by 44 percent year-over-year through nine months of 2013, totaling 28,599 units.

"The Audi Q5 is so popular because it looks similar to a coupe, handles like a sedan and still provides all the capability and versatility of an SUV," Bedell noted. "Even the super-efficient Q5 TDI packs in an eye-popping 428 pound-feet of torque, so drivers are never lacking in responsiveness."

About Audi of Nashua:
A five-time winner of Audi’s prestigious Magna Society award, Audi of Nashua invites those in search of the world’s finest vehicles to explore its inventory of new and used Audi cars for sale. New Hampshire
Audi owners will also find a complete selection of Audi parts and accessories, as well as expert Audi service from factory-trained technicians. Discover the quality, performance and engineering that make every Audi special by checking out their inventory at www.audinashua.com, liking them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/audiofnashua, or calling their dealership, located at 170 Main Dunstable Road in Nashua, N.H., at 888-475-5701.