Test drive  Mercedes M-Class and Audi Q5

Clever gadgetry makes modern cars stand out—and here the muscular M-class is a triumph, writes Richard Cree

Nostalgia is big business in all areas of the economy, as the return of 1980s rockers Guns N' Roses proves. It's also evident in the car industry, where the success of the revamped Mini and the Fiat 500 shows a yearning for anything old. I have a theory that nostalgia thrives when an industry has become boring.

Besides the odd quirky design flourish and sillier model names, it's rare to come across a genuine turkey today. Most new cars are easy to drive, safe and provide decent fuel economy with fewer carbon emissions. There's little to distinguish between major marques in terms of what really matters—handling, comfort and quality of build. And the wide adoption of ABS and ESP technology has made cars safer.

Because the performance and handling of modern cars is so good, there is little rational basis on which to choose between them. Branding, aesthetics and gadgetry are more important than ever. And so we come to these two new SUVs, the revamped Mercedes M-Class and Audi's new Q5 (a smaller variant of the Q7, built on the A4/A5 platform). While both cars handle well enough on a dirt track or an icy mountain road, neither is intended as a serious off-roader. The cars tested here—both 3.0-litre turbo diesels—are typically  good. The M-class seemed less confident around corners than the Q5, which thanks to the latest version of Audi's quattro four-wheel drive technology, felt like it was fitted with some kind of giant road magnet. I even found it hard to skid the Q5 on a patch of loose gravel.

In fact, there is little between the pair. The £1,800 difference in price is as big as it gets. The pricier Mercedes is bigger, heavier and slower off the mark, but once the turbo kicks in, it won't disgrace you at the lights. In the M-Class you know you are in a big car, looking down at the cars around you. While the Q5 feels like an A4 on stilts.
When it comes to technical stuff, such as gear ratios and torque, the figures are close enough for only anoraks to get excited. The Q5 does better on fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions, but not by much.

But both cars were packed with clever gadgets, including their respective firm's media centres with iPod connectivity, Sat Nav, mobile telephony and a small hard drive on which to store music. They also offered thermal drinks holders and heated seats. But the Q5 won the amusing trick show with a built-in sunglasses case above the rear-view mirror, while the M-Class triumphed on serious gadgets, with handy side impact-warning lights on top of the dashboard.

When it comes to deciding which one you want parked in your drive, it's likely the last word will go to the M-Class's muscular good looks. And the 3.0-litre diesel is at the lower end of the M-Class range, which tops out at closer to £80,000 with the over-the-top AMG gangster variant. But, as with much of the car industry, there's very little in it.