New Audi A5 Sportback
From £39,600
When he created the original Audi A5, designer Walter de Silva described it as ‘the most beautiful car I have ever built’. Now, the all-new Audi A5 takes his vision further; retaining its distinctive lines, it has evolved with a sharper, more focused appearance. While inside, our latest innovations bring the A5 right up to date.
Sharper, stronger, more focused
The Audi A5 has always been distinguished by its stunning, elegant looks. The second generation boasts a highly desirable combination of sporty yet sophisticated design, everyday practicality and impressive power and driving dynamics. So whilst still in keeping with the distinctive beauty of the Coupé silhouette and sweeping lines, the 5-door Sportback design makes this A5 suitable for 5-9 and well as 9-5.
Beauty, inside and out
Beautiful inside as well as out, the all-new A5 Sportback also features state of the art infotainment and connectivity, and high resolution displays, such as the Audi Virtual Cockpit as standard, putting everything you need directly in front of you to allow you to drive with confidence.
You can also find new Audi Connect and Audi Smartphone Interface for seamless access to your apps - turning your car into an extension of your phone by connecting one directly with the other.
What trim levels are on the Audi A5 Sportback?
Sport:
- 18" x 8.5J '5-twin spoke' design cast aluminium alloy wheels
- LED headlights and rear lights with LED daytime-running lights
- MMI Navigation Plus with MMI Touch and Audi Virtual Cockpit
- Front sport seats in twin leather
S line:
In addition to Sport:
- 19" x 8.5J '5-spoke Cavo' design alloy wheels in contrasting grey, partly polished
- Audi Matrix LED headlights with LED rear lights and dynamic front and rear indicators
- S line exterior styling
- Front sport seats in leather/dinamica with 'S' embossed logo
Black Edition:
In addition to S line:
- 20" x 9J '5-twin spoke polygon' design alloy wheels in gloss anthracite black
- Black exterior styling pack
- Black Audi rings and model badging
- Inlays in piano black
- Flat-bottomed 3-spoke leather high multi-function Sport steering wheel
Search Audi A5 Sportback
What is the Audi A5 Sportback?
The new Audi A5 Sportback is for people who want all of the coupe looks without any of the coupe practicality drawbacks.
With better access to the rear of the cabin, thanks to an extra set of doors, as well as a more practical boot style, it’s ideal for people who want just a little more room. However, thanks to good build quality and a fine range of engines, it’s still very much a proper Audi product.
What’s new in the Audi A5 Sportback?
Of course, the biggest change with the Sportback over the regular A5 is the extra set of doors.
This gives better access to the rear of the car, but there’s not as much headroom because of a more sloping roofline than the previous-generation model. Under the bonnet sits a range of Audi’s latest engines, although our test car came with a 187bhp, 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel – likely to be one of the best sellers.
What’s under the bonnet of the Audi A5 Sportback?
As mentioned, our car used a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel. Being a quattro model, power goes to all four wheels – ideal for UK drivers, particularly as the roads become greasier. A seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic sends drive to the wheels, and this can be left in full auto mode or controlled via paddles on the steering wheel.
It’s an efficient set-up, with Audi claiming that the diesel will return 62.8mpg and emit just 124g/km CO2 – ideal for business users or high-mileage buyers.
What’s the Audi A5 Sportback like to drive?
It’s a drama-free experience driving the A5 Sportback. There’s plenty of torque making merging on to motorways hassle-free, although we felt that the engine doesn’t have a lot of character.
How does the Audi A5 Sportback look?
In our eyes at least, the Audi A5 Sportback is a very good-looking car. Ours was an S Line specification, and that meant it featured a lower ride height and larger alloy wheels, both contributing to its road presence.
The ‘Scuba Blue’ paint colour that it was finished in may have been a £550 option, but it didn’t do the car any favours – a lighter shade or a more dramatic grey colour would give the car more impact.
What’s the Audi A5 Sportback like inside?
As with the vast majority of current Audi vehicles, the A5 Sportback’s interior is a lovely place to be.
There are lots of high-quality materials used throughout, and everything feels very well screwed together. Our test car benefitted from the manufacturer’s excellent Virtual Cockpit infotainment system, which replaces the traditional analogue dials with TFT screens and is capable of displaying information such as satellite navigation readouts and media functions. At £250, it’s an option well worth specifying.
What’s the Audi A5 Sportback spec like?
There’s quite a lot on offer as standard with the A5 Sportback. Our S Line test car featured 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and a full sports styling pack, as well as lowered sports suspension for a more dynamic drive. You also get electrically adjustable heated sports seats as standard, alongside Audi’s full navigation system. That said, our car was fitted with the optional Virtual Cockpit system which, at £250, is an option we’d thoroughly recommend specifying, as it transforms the overall experience inside the car.
Our test car weighed in at £42,310 which, given the level of equipment on offer, actually seems like a good deal – and you could drive this down by limiting the number of options you choose.
Verdict
The Audi A5 Sportback is a great option for those who want the looks of the regular A5 with an added level of practicality. It’s good looking, relatively involving to drive and offers low running costs, too. Go for the right specification plus a choice number of options and there’s no reason why you wouldn’t be pleased with the keys to an Audi A5 Sportback.
Audi A5 Sportback: The Knowledge
Model: Audi A5 Sportback
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel
Power (bhp): 187
Torque (Nm): 400
Max speed (mph): 146
0-60mph: 7.2 seconds
MPG (combined): 62.8
Emissions (g/km): 121