Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TFSI 211 quattro S line 5dr Review

For The 2.0-litre turbo A5 offers hot hatch pace, yet it averages over 40mpg. S line spec cars get extra sporty trim and xenon headlights.

Against Big wheels and sports suspension combine to make this model’s ride overly firm. The 2.0-litre diesel model is far more frugal.

What Car? says

3 out of 5 stars

Audi’s 2.0-litre petrol engine is fast, refined and reasonably efficient, but the 1.8-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel are significantly cheaper to run.

What Car? readers say

3.5

Key facts

0–60mph: 6.6 secs
Top speed: 150 mph
Average mpg: 41.5
Tank range: 593 miles

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Features

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Size

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View the whole Audi A5 Sportback range

The full Audi A5 review

Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Strong range of engines
Ride & Handling
3 out of 5 stars
Neither especially supple nor dynamic
Refinement
3 out of 5 stars
Shame about the road and exhaust noise
Buying & Owning
4 out of 5 stars
Strong residuals and some clean engines
Quality & Reliability
3 out of 5 stars
It's good, but not great
Safety & Security
5 out of 5 stars
No skimping
Behind The Wheel
2 out of 5 stars
Too many ergonomic issues
Space & Practicality
3 out of 5 stars
Comparable with an A4
Equipment
4 out of 5 stars
SE spec cars come well equipped

Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

For years there's been an unwritten law in compact executive cars that says hatchbacks are a no-no, while saloons, estates, coupes and convertibles are all fine.

Not any more - but ignore the marketing spin. The truth is that the Audi A5 Sportback is a hatchback, albeit with frameless side windows and a four-seater cabin to try to convince you it's a coupe. It's based on the longer version of Audi's medium-car platform, as used for the A4 saloon, so it has comparable passenger and luggage space.

Our favourite version is the 1.8 TFSI, which makes more sense than the diesel model. In everyday driving it’s plenty quick enough, yet it still averages almost 50mpg.

Leather upholstery is standard on SE models and above, but cruise control and satellite-navigation are desirable extras.

Reader test team says:

Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TFSI quattro SE auto 5dr

It is an excellent car, in fact the best car I have ever owned. It is used as a family car at the weekends, but a company car during the week, and it…

Matthew Aldridge

2 out of 5 stars