Audi Driving Experience: a cinematic road trip from Zagreb to Zadar

Last week, a ‘press drive’ took place along the route from Zagreb to Zadar, but it was actually a true little cinematic road trip with a gastronomic signature. Audi transformed this year’s Driving Experience into an event that makes us love driving. Top-notch cars, beautiful landscapes, good local highways and roads, and fine food. The plan was to stop by the Korak winery in Plešivica, then to Boškinac in Pag, and finally to Zadar, where the new Audi Q3 was ceremoniously presented for the first time. Two days, many kilometers, and even more impressions of how the new generation of Audi models is more digital, quieter, more elegant, yet still sporty. But let’s go in order.

Q5 TDI quattro to Plešivica

We set off from Zagreb in the morning, and the first Audi model I got to drive was the Audi Q5 TDI quattro with a new 2.0 diesel (mild-hybrid) engine producing 204 HP paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission. The car is fully equipped, from air suspension, seat memory, to S line interior and exterior.

It drives smoothly, and in sport mode, it shows its sporty character. One could say it is intended for a driver who desires comfort, quietness, and realistically moderate consumption, while also appreciating a safe yet unobtrusive character. In the Croatian market, the Q5 TDI starts at 60,300 euros. With such an unobtrusive character, we arrived at the Korak winery, where we enjoyed a few non-alcoholic cocktails and fine smoked trout. By the way, the family winery Korak is located on a property with a view of the rolling vineyards above Jastrebarsko, combining top-quality wine and serious cuisine. The restaurant is run by Bernard Korak, a chef who won his first Michelin star in 2023, as well as the Green Michelin for sustainable practices.

A quiet sprint to Pag

After a short break at the Korak family estate, I got into the A5 Limousine plug-in hybrid with a total system power of 270 kW (367 HP), where the petrol engine delivers 251 HP and the e-motor 55 kW. The plug-in limousine is as quiet as a morning in Plešivica. The electric drive pulls smoothly, and when the petrol engine kicks in, the transition is barely audible. With an economical consumption of 2.1 l/100 km and up to 103 km of electric range, the A5 tempts for an electric daily drive. However, the journey from Plešivica to Pag is long, leading along the A1 highway, so there was neither time nor desire to ‘turn on the electricity.’ The A5 drives perfectly, quickly, and quietly, with an exceptionally precise steering wheel. On the road, in the curves, it ‘sits’ low and planted. It’s a delightful feeling driving through the winding roads of Pag and the Zadar hinterland. The cabin features the MMI experience pro, which is clear, fast, logical, and Bang & Olufsen does what its name suggests. In any case, on the open road, the Audi A5 is a very good and comfortable choice. This particular model costs around 85,300 euros, while the range starts from 72,600 euros, and with it, we arrived from Pag to Boškinca.

Boškinac is a boutique hotel, winery, and restaurant in Pag, surrounded by vineyards above Novalja. It has held a Michelin star since 2020 and offers tasting menus inspired by island products such as Pag lamb, blue fish, cheeses, olive oil, and aromatic herbs.

A6 e-hybrid: power on the highway

After a fine lunch, we continued, and I got into the Audi A6, an e-hybrid quattro limousine with 367 horsepower. A delight, similar feeling to the A5 but still… On the road, the A6 and A5 differ at first glance: the A6 is longer, wider, and more formal, with classic ‘executive’ proportions and calm lines that emphasize the width of the body. The A5 appears tighter and sportier, with sharper headlights, a lower glass beltline, and more pronounced sides giving it an athletic stance. Up front, the A6 prefers a refined Singleframe with horizontal accents, while the A5 in S line opts for a more aggressive pattern and sharper DRL signature. At the rear, the A6 visually widens the car with horizontal lines and a ‘clean’ bumper, while the A5 features narrower lights and a pronounced diffuser that enhances the impression of dynamics. Of course, the A6 is also fully equipped, but when you put it in sport or active mode, much else becomes irrelevant. The A6 e-hybrid model with 270 kW is available from 79,367.50 euros.

Premiere: the new Q3 in Zadar

When we arrived in Zadar, the premiere of the new Q3 model was held at the Hayat hotel. This is the third generation of the model. The engine lineup starts from the 1.5 TFSI with 110 kW, through the 2.0 TDI with 110 kW, to more powerful TFSI versions (150 and 195 kW), with the top offering being the e-hybrid with a power of 200 kW. The plug-in hybrid brings a larger battery and up to 119 km of electric range. The cabin features new premium materials, a new ‘Digital Stage’ virtual cockpit, a tidier command layout, and a significant novelty, gear selection via a lever behind the steering wheel. The new Q3 comes with a large number of safety systems, including the Adaptive Driving Assistant Plus, an interior camera for drowsiness monitoring, Reverse Assist, and ‘trained parking’ that can remember ‘your complicated approach to the garage,’ which it then performs autonomously. Audi also boasts a light signature enabled by Digital Matrix LED headlights and rear OLED lighting.

Q5 Sportback: an elegant return home

However, this model was not yet available for driving, so I welcomed the morning in a beautiful green Audi Q5 Sportback TDI quattro with 204 HP. The Sportback is the more elegant twin of the standard Q5 and drives accordingly. The silhouette offers slightly less rear visibility, but the driver gets the impression of a more compact, tighter car. The diesel 2.0 TDI pulls from low revs, which in the real world means safer merges and calm overtakes, even with half-throttle. The air suspension here also does what is most important, preserving the back and nerves.

On faster sections, the car is stable and offers speed without stress, making the journey from Zadar to Zagreb feel like ‘no time at all.’ Inside, S line details and ambient lighting add a touch of glamour, while the MMI experience pro keeps pace with smartphone habits. The model is available from 62,686.62 euros.

At the Audi Driving Experience, two more models were available for driving, the Audi Q5 e-Hybrid and the Audi A6 e-tron. However, I did not get to them. Perhaps there will be an opportunity in the coming months.