BUY, LEASE OR FINANCE AN AUDI Q5 SPORTBACK FROM OSV: https://bit.ly/3skMX0E

Audi's Q5 Sportback offers strong competition to more established trendy mid-sized premium badged coupe-style SUVs like BMW's X4 and the Mercedes GLC Coupe. As with those cars, there aren't too many practical compromises in creation of this model's more stylish look and clever OLED rear lighting tech offers an extra showroom incentive.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00​​​​ Introduction
00:36 Background
02:54 Driving Experience
14:26 Design & Build
31:43 Market & Model Range
56:35 Cost of Ownership
01:13:14 Summary

Background

Audi's usually pretty good at filling obvious market niches but the brand was slow to spot the potential of coupe-style SUVs. The first such Ingolstadt model, the Q3 Sportback, wasn't introduced until 2019 - and that wasn't large enough to take on two more established mid-sized coupe-SUV contenders, the BMW X4 and the Mercedes GLC Coupe. Here though, is an Audi that is, the Q5 Sportback.

This Mexican-built model is significant in the way it will considerably broaden the appeal of Audi's global bestseller - over 300,000 Q5s were delivered in 2019. And its arrival now means that the Ingolstadt maker has the widest range of coupe-SUVs on the market, the Q3 and Q5 Sportback models sharing showroom space with the Q8 and the brand's all-electric e-tron Sportback.

Driving Experience

Though the engineering isn't really any different here from an ordinary Q5, this Q5 Sportback will feel a bit different to drive from most standard models because it only comes with firmer sports suspension. You might think it too firm, in which case you'll be minded to pay extra for either adaptive damping or full air suspension. The mainstream engine range is based around a couple of 2.0-litre models, the 204PS 40 TDI (diesel) and the 45 TFSI (petrol). These use a 7-speed S tronic dual clutch auto transmission. If you want more power, there's a potent SQ5 Sportback diesel variant with a 341PS twin turbo V6 TDI unit beneath the bonnet, mated to an 8-speed tiptronic auto transmission. You can also ask your Audi Centre about a couple of plug-in hybrid TFSI e petrol models, a 50 TFSI e variant, which offers 299PS, and a more potent 55 TFSI e version with 367PS.

Whatever Q5 you choose, it'll come with a quattro all wheel drive system that in some cases includes an on-demand system that can disengage the rear axle in everyday driving conditions for maximum efficiency, then reconnect it predictively within fractions of a second when required. The 'Audi drive select' driving modes dynamic handling system puts the driver in control of several technical components, including the air suspension in top variants.

Design and Build

There are no half measures here. The Q5 body shape has been completely re-designed from the B-pillar backwards, with a sloping roofline and a tapering rear window. Plus the lower body line has been raised to make the car appear longer - it actually is, but only by 7mm, due to a protruding set of OLED tail lamps which, in a segment first, can be customised with a choice of three lighting signatures. There are changes at the front too, the Sportback-specific grille featuring a bespoke honeycomb-style design borrowed from the brand's S performance models. This is flanked by the latest LED headlights lately introduced into the standard Q5.

Inside, it's the same as that standard model up-front of course - which means that like the latest improved version of the ordinary Q5, you get Ingolstadt's latest third generation MIB 3 infotainment platform with its bigger 10.1-inch screen. Plus a 12.3-inch 'Virtual Cockpit' instrument binnacle display of course. Out back, rear seat passengers lose 1-2cms of headroom to the sloping roofline, but can still benefit from the optional 'rear bench seat plus' sliding bench. Boot capacity falls from 550 to 510-litres, though you can increase that to 1480-litres by folding the rear seat.

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