Black Audi Q5 Rental in Los Angeles

Black suits the Q5 better than it suits most SUVs, because Audi's surfacing is subtle enough that a light colour can make the car look plain. In black the shoulder line above the rear arch and the tuck along the sill both catch the light, and the whole thing reads as one deliberate shape rather than as a tall hatchback.

It is the version to take when the SUV needs to look right at the end of the day — a black Q5 at a hotel forecourt or a restaurant valet is entirely at home, and it photographs properly under warm light after sunset. In exchange the cabin takes longer to cool and dust shows quickly, which is why the car is pre-cooled and hand-detailed before it reaches you.

The Q5 is the Audi most people should rent and the one the company sells most of, for the same reason: it is the size that works. Four adults sit properly, the boot takes four large cases, and it still goes into a Santa Monica parking structure without a negotiation. quattro all-wheel drive is standard, and the ride is set softer than its German rivals — which suits Los Angeles asphalt better than a firm sports setup does.

What you notice on a long day is how quiet it is. Wind and road noise are unusually well suppressed for the class, so a run to Palm Springs passes without raised voices. The turbocharged four has enough for a confident merge and stays out of the way otherwise.

Honest hook: comfortable and quiet rather than sharp. If you want an SUV that enjoys a canyon road, the Porsche Macan in the fleet is the one to ask about.