The GC doesn't really compare to the Q5, it's more the size of a X5/Q7/ML and actually rides on the ML-chassis.

I've been on a test drive with Meiac09 of the Q5 and it wasn't particularly remarkable. Plus, the 3.0 TFSI version starts at $44k and to get xenon headlamps, you have to bump up to the Prestige version which is upper $40s which is fantastically poor value. Plus, the Q5 is decidedly on-road based yet not as sharp as say, an X1 or the old X3. Plus, it rides on the firm side, not what I really want after a day of work.

I'm still glad I took on my friend's advice to drive it though. I treat my X3 somewhat like a Jeep already- mud and debris on seats and carpet from a bike ride is never a concern, and I do tend to be a bit of a hooligan on the forest roads ("Watch how sideways I can get it around this gravel turn"). Always a leery of hitting a hole or rock too fast and damaging the suspension, worries that would be less of an issue with Jeep. But definitely, I do have a priority towards on-road handling and given the pace with which I attack the corners, I'm not giving up my X3 soon. Thank god for the partial underbody cladding