Had a different but similar (?) experience when we tried a Mazda CX5, back in the good ol’ days of 2019.
In the showroom we were very impressed with the quality of materials, fit and finish and standard equipment. “Almost Audi” is what we thought (we had a Q3 at the time)
Once on the road, what a disappointment. The 2.0 petrol automatic felt weedy and if you tried to rev it, it sounded strained. The ride was harsh and the seats which felt fine in the showroom had us sliding about in anything other than a slow corner.
Shows the importance of a proper extended test drive and not just a quick sit in the showroom.