The mighty four-ringed marque of Audi from Ingolstadt, Germany, have been quiet in Malaysia of late, but that ended recently when they hosted their first press drive in a long time.

From what we can see, Audi are still very much alive in Malaysia, but their regional arm is running things through Audi Singapore. With a total of five dealers – i.e. Euromobil – still active nationwide, it’s obvious there is still demand for the four-ringed luxury carmaker’s offerings in Malaysia.

 With that in mind, they are definitely not taking things lightly, and have reciprocated by officially introducing four luxury crossover SUVs: the Q2, Q5, Q7 and Q8 flagship. Having sampled all four during their recent #GetIntoTheQ press drive, we’re certain that those with the means and desire for any of these are in for a treat.

Here’s how they performed in our full-day drive from Bangsar to Genting Highlands, Putrajaya and back.

Q2 – RM219,900*
We started off with the smallest offering in Audi’s Q family of SUVs. Sharing the same bones and mechanical heart as the seventh-gen Volkswagen Golf, the Q2 is the entry point for those wanting a taste of the four-ringed marque’s SUV recipe.

The Malaysian-spec Q2 is offered solely in a ‘sport’ trimline, harnessing a 1.4-litre TFSI petrol 4-cylinder heart that outputs 150hp and 250Nm to drive the front wheels via a 7-speed S-Tronic DSG dual-clutch box.

Despite its rather ‘miniscule’ size in this range plus the absence of the brand’s mighty ‘quattro’ AWD suite, things aren’t bad with the Q2 on the move. It feels fittingly peppy, though it’s arguably a better urban adventurer amongst the four we tested.

Q5 – RM339,900*
Moving up into the mid-size Q5, it’s not hard to see why so many of these – as well as the current Q3 – have flooded our roads. It’s the right size, packs the right amount of toys and plush amenities, and definitely one that drives as good as it looks.

Like the Q2, the 2019MY version of the Q5 comes solely in ‘sport’ trimline, packing a bigger and punchier 2.0-litre TFSI 4-cylinder heart with 252hp and 370Nm. Crucially, both outputs are managed by both a 7-speed S-Tronic box and Audi’s signature quattro AWD suite.

Notable on board amenities include a three-zone automatic climate control unit, a fully-digital instrument display yet again, premium 10-speaker hi-fi, power-adjustable sports front seats, as well as cabin ambient lighting amongst many others. And before you ask, yes, this one gets the sweeping LED signal blinkers in its tail-lights too.

While not the sharpest tool in this particular shed, the Q5 is perhaps the most comfortable of the lot. This mid-sized offering felt very much at home when cruising through highways and when subjected to the urban traffic crawl as oppose to a spirited jaunt through a twisty B-road – and that’s despite having quattro.

Ultimately, what’s really against the Q5 is its premium price tag. It’s safe to say that there are plenty of alternatives that command way less Ringgits that offer equal packages for luxury and tech, if not better. But like its little sibling the Q2, we reckon the Q5 will bait those with the means that want a plush SUV as such.

Q7 – RM599,900*
Stepping up into the second-gen Q7, it’s plain to see this was built for those who want more over the Q5. For starters, there’s more space and seats (seven in total). With that also comes more tech all around, more plush amenities to bask in, and perhaps a little more performance too.

Powering the Q7 is a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol heart that outputs 333hp and 440Nm of twist to get this plush and tech-laden behemoth going. Aiding the powertrain is Audi’s signature quattro AWD system yet again, this time paired with a slick 8-speed tiptronic transmission.

Despite its lumbering size, the Q7 doesn’t feel too much like a barge when taken through some twisty B-roads. We reckon the sticky Pirelli tyres shod on its 20-inch alloys plus the presence of adaptive air suspension and dampers have a lot to do with this surprisingly good drive dynamics.

Apart from the cramped seating in the third row seats, the Q7 is far from dismal to both drive or being driven in. Yes, there are plenty of alternatives at this price range, but arguably none matches up to this Audi’s posh, sleek tech-rich presentation.

Q8 – RM727,900
Lastly comes the flagship Q8. You can look at this from two ways. One, it’s a slightly cheaper Porsche Cayenne alternative, or two, it’s a watered-down Lamborghini Urus with a ‘bargain’ price tag. Yup, this flagship shares the same bones as the Porsche and Lamborghini SUVs, and it also packs styling that mirrors its Italian cousin too.

Much of what you see in the Q7 is present here, but the Q8 makes do without third-row seating. It’s centre console gets a neater presentation with two touchscreen controls for the infotainment, climate control, vehicle settings and more – a fitting match to the digital instrument display panel it boasts too.

By the way, this flagship gets the full bells and whistles, including sweeping LED signal blinkers front and aft – not just in the tail-lights as its lesser siblings. Also in this mix are things like a surround-view parking camera, a panoramic glass roof, not forgetting a premium hi-fi sourced from Bang & Olufsen.

If you think the Q8 is all show and no go, then you’d be dead wrong. This flagship has got the grunt to match its sporty looks as it employs a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 that makes 340hp and 500Nm. Again, drive is handled by quattro AWD and 8-speed tiptronic box, granting a 5.9-second 0-100kph sprint time and 250kph v-max.

Amongst the four we sampled on this drive, the Q8 was definitely the driver’s choice. Besides the high-output powertrain, much of this comes courtesy of the sport-focused adaptive air suspension and dampers. All these came into play whilst tackling some B-roads during our drive.

Clearly, if you thought the Q7 was a little too domesticated, then the Q8 with its sportier styling and drive might just swing you into its favour instead. It definitely isn’t a bargain, but it surely is a sweet alternative against something as ‘predictable’ as its Porsche cousin to say the least.