The Audi A5 Sportback is a five-door coupé rival to cars such as the Mercedes-Benz CLS and BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo. It aims to combine the benefits of a saloon, coupé and an estate into one package - and look good doing it.
Shorter and lower than the A4 saloon, the A5 Sportback claims to offer comfortable seating for four. Even more impressive, it crams in 480 litres of boot space with the rear seats in place - very nearly matching the A4 Avant, which offers 490 litres. The interior displays the usual Audi quality in both its design and materials.
A5 Sportback engines
Launch engines for the UK consist of 208bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol and 261bhp 3.2-litre V6 petrol, plus 167bhp 2.0-litre and 236bhp 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesels. The 2.0-litre diesel is the most economical, returning a claimed 54.3mpg combined, while the quickest is the 3.0-litre V6 diesel, which sprints from 0-62mph in just 6.1 seconds.
Every car features Audi’s 'recuperation' technology, which captures and reuses energy that would otherwise be wasted when braking, while the 2.0-litre diesel also benefits from an automatic stop-start system as standard.
Sophisticated chassis technology
Underpinning the new A5 Sportback is a range of front-wheel drive and quattro four-wheel drive transmissions. The chassis settings are based on those of the A5 coupé, and Audi's Drive Select system will be optional in various forms, giving the driver control over steering, throttle, suspension and gearshift settings.
Audi A5 Sportback prices start at a little over £25k
The A5 Sportback will come in Standard, SE and S Line specifications. Climate control is standard throughout, and the SE adds leather, rear parking sensors and automatic lights and wipers. The S Line gets sportier bodywork, larger alloy wheels, xenon headlamps and LED lights.
Options include a Bang & Olufsen stereo, satellite navigation, blindspot monitors and radar-guided cruise control.
A5 Sportback pricing
Best news of all, however, may be the price - especially if you were already considering one of its premium competitors.
The Audi A5 Sportback costs from £25,440 to £36,220. That is massively cheaper than the Mercedes CLS and the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, which start at £45,950 and £41,150 respectively.
The Sportback joins the A5 coupé and A5 cabriolet in the range, and is due to arrive on these shores in October.
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