X5 35d vs. Porsche Cayenne Diesel

For those keeping score. I had the 2012 Audi Q7 TDI in my driveway for a week (they just took it away). I put about 300 miles on it, of which 120 miles was pure highway travel to/from the airport. My average economy was 18.2 MPG (for comparison, my X5 35d would average about 22 mpg over the same route).

- Mike

Originally Posted by Emission

For those keeping score. I had the 2012 Audi Q7 TDI in my driveway for a week (they just took it away). I put about 300 miles on it, of which 120 miles was pure highway travel to/from the airport. My average economy was 18.2 MPG (for comparison, my X5 35d would average about 22 mpg over the same route).

- Mike

Not surprised. It's significantly heavier than the others. The MPG leaders in this category are the new ML and Cayenne now. Before it was the Touareg or X5.

I do not believe the economy difference results entirely from the weight difference. BMW diesel is simply better than Audi diesel. It has better economy despite BMW is bi-turbo vs Audi single-turbo.

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

Not surprised. It's significantly heavier than the others. The MPG leaders in this category are the new ML and Cayenne now. Before it was the Touareg or X5.

What does the ML tend to net people?

The drive back to back of the Cayenne and the T-egg would almost certainly have been done with the current Porsche (VAG) engine -- and the T-egg with the previous generation V6 (VAG) engine. The comparo to me is with the new series engine in both cars.
Mike, am sure you are pure -- however unfortunately there are those in the "buff book biz" who are not -- and we all know (or at least strongly suspect) who they might be. However it is not hard to understand wanting your job! Hopefully someone will do a comparo of the entire diesel offering line at some point in the future that will include the four major players as well as the Jeep GC.

Its unfortunete that you only get the X5 35d in the US to compare to Cayenne, when the X5 40d actually gets better miles per gal.

I have had the X5 30d, X5 35d & now the 50d, all my X5's have had the same options, but the 50d gets much better economy than the 35d. My average of 80% city driving & 20% country gives me 9.4ltr/100klm, and l am not a light footed driver.

The Cayenne here has an option of a offroad pack as well.

Originally Posted by UncleJ

The drive back to back of the Cayenne and the T-egg would almost certainly have been done with the current Porsche (VAG) engine -- and the T-egg with the previous generation V6 (VAG) engine. The comparo to me is with the new series engine in both cars.
Mike, am sure you are pure -- however unfortunately there are those in the "buff book biz" who are not -- and we all know (or at least strongly suspect) who they might be. However it is not hard to understand wanting your job! Hopefully someone will do a comparo of the entire diesel offering line at some point in the future that will include the four major players as well as the Jeep GC.

That would be a good comparo, and now that we have more players in the segment I am sure it will be done.

For the record, I've participated/written three comparos... and they are a royal PITA.

- Mike

Thanks Mike, will look forward to seeing something after the dust settles and the new offerings are out and about.

Originally Posted by Snipe656

What does the ML tend to net people?

I was reading that, due to the 7 speed box, it can net high 20s, low 30s quite easily on the highway.

The more I think about it... I like the X5 35d better than the Cayenne Diesel. The BMW is older and heavier, but this is all about the engine and BMW's is vastly superior in that regard. No regrets on my purchase.

- Mike

Originally Posted by Emission

The more I think about it... I like the X5 35d better than the Cayenne Diesel. The BMW is older and heavier, but this is all about the engine and BMW's is vastly superior in that regard. No regrets on my purchase.

- Mike

Hopefully, the combo of the slightly less powerful engine and weight reduction of the next generation X5 will help performance and MPGs

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

Hopefully, the combo of the slightly less powerful engine and weight reduction of the next generation X5 will help performance and MPGs

Agreed.

I also liked the Q7 TDI, but I prefer the sportiness of the X5 35d and the BMW's driving position (the Audi feels like a big sedan, while the BMW feels like a proper SUV).

I can't wait to see how much the next-gen X5 weighs. Thinking about a Q5 TDI if BMW blows it.

- Mike

Originally Posted by Emission

I can't wait to see how much the next-gen X5 weighs. Thinking about a Q5 TDI if BMW blows it.

- Mike

Yeah, the Q5 TDI seems like a good compromise, but it might be a little too small. I'm also looking forward to the upcoming Porsche Cajun.

I'd love to get back into an Audi, but my local dealer just SUCKS. The newest loaner car in their fleet is a 2007 B6 2.0T sedan. wtf.

The loaner '12 Q5 gasser I had for a couple of days seemed as large as an X3 (about the same size as the old X5 series) but that was just my perception -- I didn't actually measure, it was just getting pax in and out and driving. I liked the car a lot! Could only imagine how well it would perform with that nice 240 hp diesel in it! Much nicer interior than the X3 but I expected that from an Audi. Let us know when one "is delivered to your driveway" Mike!

Originally Posted by UncleJ

The loaner '12 Q5 gasser I had for a couple of days seemed as large as an X3 (about the same size as the old X5 series) but that was just my perception -- I didn't actually measure, it was just getting pax in and out and driving. I liked the car a lot! Could only imagine how well it would perform with that nice 240 hp diesel in it! Much nicer interior than the X3 but I expected that from an Audi. Let us know when one "is delivered to your driveway" Mike!

I was PMing a VAG engineer over on VWVortex who works in Michigan. His latest test car was the Q5 TDI US Spec. He was telling me to expect low-to-mid 5s 0-60 and low to mid 30s highway

Originally Posted by Emission

I also liked the Q7 TDI, but I prefer the sportiness of the X5 35d and the BMW's driving position (the Audi feels like a big sedan, while the BMW feels like a proper SUV).

- Mike

This.

My wife originally wanted the Q7 TDI but taking one overnight really highlighted that the Q7 seems like an SUV below the belt line and a sedan above resulting in a much different environment than the X5 (and different from what we were coming out of - an MDX - and preferred).

Originally Posted by BryanCO

This.

My wife originally wanted the Q7 TDI but taking one overnight really highlighted that the Q7 seems like an SUV below the belt line and a sedan above resulting in a much different environment than the X5 (and different from what we were coming out of - an MDX - and preferred).

+1

To its credit, the Q7 is a comfortable ride...

- Mike

A/U - did the VAG engineer mention when we might be seeing the Q5 TDI in our showrooms?

Originally Posted by UncleJ

A/U - did the VAG engineer mention when we might be seeing the Q5 TDI in our showrooms?

2014 model, as planned. That would mean this time next year...

- Mike

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

I was reading that, due to the 7 speed box, it can net high 20s, low 30s quite easily on the highway.

Our last gen ML was capable of low 30's on the highway so it wouldn't surprise me if the new one was even better. Speed limit is only 90 km/hr in the National Parks up here and if you go in the 90-100 km/hr range it would get those numbers.

We got an average of 29 mpg yesterday in the X5 doing the same drive over about a 300 km stretch.

How slow do you drive to get 29?

Thanks Mike. I'll watch for it, same time next year (hmmm sounds like a movie title).

Originally Posted by tonka858

How slow do you drive to get 29?

In my experience, driving 55-60mph can give you 29mpg. But I rarely do that

Now days it is rare even my 335d averages 29, my old 300SD would average that back when I still drove it. If I am reading the posts above correctly though it sounds like that average was gained by driving 90-100km/hr which is a pretty painfully slow pace in my neck of the woods. If I were to drive around 90km/hr in my big F250 I'd average almost 24mpg or that is what I got the one time I had to do that for a few hundred miles. It is amazing how much you can save on fuel if you stop wearing lead based socks/shoes

Originally Posted by UncleJ

A/U - did the VAG engineer mention when we might be seeing the Q5 TDI in our showrooms?

Yup. It's being certified with the A6 TDI, A8 TDI. MY14, so summer '13