Make no mistake, the Audi Q5 is a high-tech big beast. But it doesn’t feel like that to drive.

The smaller, luxuriously equipped sibling of the Q7 jungle-crusher looks every bit the meaty Sports Utility Vehicle that it is, but it drives more like a sports saloon than it’s possible to imagine from a passing glance.

Driving an Audi is all about precision. Whether in the design, build quality, ride or handling, you are conscious nothing has been left to chance.

So it is little surprise that the Q5 delivers such light and easy-to-manage road manners, even on the twistiest country roads.

The test model was powered by a 2.0 TFSI engine, which uses the same petrol injection technology that powered Audi to victory eight years ago at Le Mans. Mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission, the engine develops 211 horsepower, which makes for lively performance and relaxed motorway cruising.

An optional piece of high technology fitted to the test vehicle even allows you to alter the overall feel of the car at the touch of a dashboard-mounted button. Available in three ‘packages’ – comfort, auto and dynamic – the Audi ‘drive select system’ enables you to instantly fine-tune suspension settings, steering behaviour, throttle response and transmission shift points.

Luxury looks are guaranteed by S line trim upgrades, that include 19in alloy wheels and super-bright xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights.

Inside, the cabin provides loads of space for five people with all five seats fitted with adjustable backrests.

The rear seats are easy to fold down by release levers in the luggage compartment, and when folded the load capacity almost trebles from 540 litres to 1,560.

If you want even more carrying space, Audi offers an optional sliding rear bench seat, which can slide 10cm forwards. Drivers regularly needing to transport longer objects can also opt for a front-folding passenger seat.

Audi is, of course, synonymous with quattro four-wheel-drive and its latest system delivers 40/60 front-to-rear power distribution in normal conditions, but can deliver up to 65 per cent to the front, or switch 85 per cent to the rear, if needed.

A specially-developed ‘off-road’ version of the electronic stabilisation program (ESP) also helps to improve traction off-road, with the anti-lock-braking system able to automatically recognise the consistency of the driving surface and select the ideal strategy for sand, gravel or loose rocks.

Hill descent control, which enables safe navigation of steep inclines by regulating a pre-selected speed when driving at below 19mph, is also built in. The system even incorporates a roof-rack sensor that ‘talks to’ the ESP if a roof rack has been mounted and adjusts settings to suit the resulting shift in the centre of gravity.

If you think that’s advanced technology, how about ‘climate-controlled’ cup holders. And no I am not joking...

Auto facts Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI quattro S line

Price: £32,890

Insurance group: 15

Fuel consumption (Combined): 33.2mpg

Top speed: 137mph

Length: 462.9cm/182.2in

Width: 188cm/74in

Luggage capacity: 19 cu ft

Fuel tank capacity: 16.5 gallons/75 litres

CO2 emissions: 197g/km

Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles