Having owned one, I disagree. But as they say, beauty is in the eye........The styling may be a little conservative/familiar for some.

 

What German red tinged glasses? I've had 7 Lexus vehicles and have never owned a German car in my life. Never one. The Q7 is just a much better built, finished and more refined vehicle than the Highlander, which feels downmarket, has lots of questionable plastics inside and feels like a minivan on the road.

I think what you're seeing is through your "Toyota/Lexus before everything" green tinged glasses lol.

Having driven many Audis, I also have no idea what you're talking about. Audi makes beautiful cars, Q5, Q7, A6, A8, A4, all have an argument for being considered best in class. Interior quality is significantly higher than Lexus. Only reason I've never gotten an Audi is that I lease, and they don't have good leases.

 

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but the vast majority of written reviews of pretty much all Audis produced in the past 10 years does not support your opinion.

 

Audis are well built, finished etc no doubt but lately have been churning some of the most boring designs. New Q5, A4 have barely changed in terms of exterior design. The Q7 looks even more like a minivan than highlander does.

 

I'm talking about the last generation Audi Q5, not the new Q7.

Modern Audis are pretty good, but anything before C7 A6 was trash. This partially includes the C7, which has a rubbery plasticky interior, and cheap exterior surfaces that have already aged it poorly.

Also I never understood the media love affair with Audi interiors, sit in any lightly used Audi pre-C7 and it's just rattly, rubbery, plasticky, crap. the plastics peel pretty bad too. This includes the last gen Q5.

Lower end BMWs are the same way. last gen X1, X3, E90, etc... Interiors age terribly.

Not too concerned with what the media thinks, my opinions are based on my own experiences.

 

Maybe you got a bad Q5 loaner or two that was already beaten up.

We really wanted to buy the highlander and I especially like how it looks post-refresh but after seriously shopping the segment, its interior including the seating, packaging, and infotainment is really near the middle or even bottom of the market. The Pilot, Santa Fe, Sorento, Murano, and the domestics all have better interiors than a Highlander.

It is badly in need of a new model and if the new RAV4's design language is any indication I'm sure the next one will be a hit.

 

I think they're all classy, understated, elegant. I don't want "over the top" in my luxury sedan,.

 

I like the Q5. We seriously considered one a few years back.

I wouldn't say the Highlander is badly in need of a new model, as it's selling better than ever before. I have a 2016 and I generally agree with what you say about the interior. We absolutely love the car and plan on keeping it long term, but some of the plastics are disappointing. The feature content, layout, and packaging are tops, but some of the interior materials are showing their age. I still highly recommend it, though. It's been a perfect family vehicle for us. Our close family friends just got a new Pilot and they are already disappointed in it. Murano is great but lacks a third row seat. My sister has one and really likes it. So many good choices out there right now.

 

I really like it too, but it was the wrong vehicle at the wrong time for my family. The SE Highlander with any other rims but the ones it comes with looks great and was what I wanted at the time. It competed with the coffee brown Murano and Lexus NX for us, all at the same price point. Obviously the Lexus won out!

I think sales are similar to how the RAV4 was even super late in its product cycle, selling 400k a year. The Highlander will no doubt continue to keep selling but a refresh will be welcome (hopefully with Android Auto).

.

 

i get what you are saying as I am not a big fan of 'over the top' designs either. However I just feel that most of the newer gen models A4, Q5, Q7 are lazy redesigns.It seems to be working for them so i guess its just a matter of personal choice.

 

As mentioned above, I bought a post refresh 2013 Q5, my first Audi, and it was a positive trouble free experience. Both my wife and I really enjoyed the CUV. No squeaks, creaks or rattles and the interior was quiet and held up VERY well. It was a quiet solid cruiser on road trips. Based on this experience we bought a 2016 A6 and after nearly two years (in June). This car is even better out on the road and has been solid as a vault with quiet planted driving dynamics. The interiors of both vehicles might be getting a bit dated looking but they are very well put together and the MMI system in both, especially in the A6, work very well.

 

Consumer Reports has really taken a liking to newer Audis, and now rates them as one of their top overall brands.

 

Finished my rental with it, and here's my take below. In all, I think its a better car then the NX300, but price much higher though. Against an RX350, it doesn't have as much value, but thats what most comparos have it going against, but if you're looking for the polar opposite (the RX350 has comfy cushy ride, is larger inside and out, and has a more bright and charmy interior), the Q5 would be it.


Summary : Great little (and i stress little as in NX300 class) SUV with a very spunky engine (as long as you avoid turbo lag) and a sporty and taut, but compliant ride. The interior is very minimalistic (and doesnt exude luxury), and the quirky rotary **** to control the infotainment system is very distracting. Luckily, it support Android Auto / Car Play, so once you set it, you dont have to use it much.

Good: Well built, athletic handling, spunky engine, very compliant ride, deceptively larger than it really is, Android Auto is awesome!

Bad: Interior is a bit austere/spartan, seating is very firm, using rotory **** for infotainment is distracting, and ride has a little higher NVH (road noise) than expected

Ugly: Turbo lag can be a big issue off the line, exacerbated by the stop / start tech on the car.

 

All the experts have it wrong; you have it right. Q5 was trash. Got it.

 

History is rife with the "experts" getting it wrong, usually with german cars, and time reveals the truth.