For The A5 Sportback looks good, is as spacious as an A4 saloon and has added versatility. It has some fine engines, too, with the four-cylinder diesel particularly tempting to fleet users.
Against It's neither sporty enough to be exciting to drive nor sufficiently comfortable to be truly relaxing. You won't like the off-set pedals.
What Car? says
The A5 Sportback gives you handsome coupe looks and a more versatile boot than you get in a saloon. Shame it's not better to drive and has only four seats.
There are 24 Audi A5 versions available
Buyer's notes
Target Price team says:
For years there's been an unwritten law in the world of compact executive cars that says hatchbacks are a no-no, while saloons, estates, coupes and convertibles are all fine.
Now Audi is challenging that. Ignore the marketing spin. The truth is that the A5 Sportback is a hatch, 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 - but costs quite a lot more money.
The car was launched with 2.0-litre petrol and turbodiesel engines and a couple of V6s – a 3.0-litre diesel and a 3.2 petrol - but there is now also 2.7-litre diesel. Most models have a seven-speed semi-auto gearbox, but the 2.0-litre diesel has a six-speed manual so that it can also have an engine stop-start system to keep CO2 levels down and make the car more appealing to business users.
Reader test team says:
Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TFSI Quattro SE Auto 5dr
I sometimes wonder if I'm driving the same car…
Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TFSI Quattro SE Auto 5dr
On looks alone it must be the best car in the Audi…
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