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- Highs Attractively luxurious and vice-versa, premium driving experience, hatchback bolsters practicality.
- Lows Rear seating is short on headroom, interior design lacks character, mediocre braking.
- Verdict Enthusiasts will enjoy how effortless it is to drive the A5 Sportback quickly, but those requiring more rear-seat space should consider the mechanically similar A4 sedan.
Overview
The A5 Sportback is a great-looking, fun-handling, smooth-driving premium sedan that isn’t as aggressive as the 349-hp S5 Sportback, which we review separately. As an lengthened version of the A5 coupe and convertible, the A5 Sportback uses an identical powertrain setup with a turbocharged inline-four bolted to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. A5 Sportback 40 model has 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, while A5 Sportback 45 model gains an additional 60 horsepower and 40 pound-feet of torque. A rich breadth of standard niceties such as high-quality leather, a panoramic sunroof, and moody ambient lighting make even the base A5 Sportback feel plush. While rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz C-class or Genesis G70 have arguably more stylish interiors, the Sportback’s is butressed by an incredibly clear and high-tech digital gauge display with available navigation handled by Google Earth imagery.
Where This Vehicle Ranks
What's New for 2023?
The Audi A5 Sportback arrives as mostly the same car, with only a few equipment changes for 2023. A new set of 18-inch wheels and Audi’s LED matrix-style headlights are now standard on all models. The Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system has also been added as standard equipment for the Premium Plus trim only. The Black Optic Plus appearance package has been expanded to include a black rear lip spoiler and exhaust tips. Adaptive cruise control is now included with the optional Convenience package. Finally, a new Chronos Gray color replaces Quantum Gray as a paint option for the 2023 A5 Sportback.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
We like the midrange Premium Plus. It adds plenty of features to justify its uptick in price, including Audi's trick Virtual Cockpit digital gauge display. We'd also suggest the significantly more powerful 45 model, which has 261 horsepower versus the 40's 201.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
For 2023, the A5 Sportback can be had with two turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains. Models wearing the 40 badge provide 201 horsepower while the 45s pump out 261 horses. All-wheel drive is standard and all A5 Sportbacks come with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. We haven't tested either model yet, but the last-generation car with a 252-hp engine managed a 5.0-second zero-to-60-mph result at our test track, so we expect the 45 to be similarly quick. The A5 Sportback is composed, confident, and easy to drive fast through corners; it's everything a modern sport sedan should be. Its agility belies its comfort, too: Potholes and broken pavement do little to upset it, especially when it's equipped with the optional adaptive suspension. The well-weighted steering feels natural in the driver's hands, and the front tires respond immediately to inputs, making this Audi a joy to pilot on twisty tarmac.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA estimates the A5 Sportback will earn up to 26 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. However, we can't evaluate its real-world mpg until we run it on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen. While we haven't tested a new A5 Sportback on our real-world highway fuel-economy route, an older model we evaluated returned 34 mpg during that test. For more information about the A5 Sportback's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The A5 Sportback's cabin isn't as plush as some might expect from a luxury brand, but all of the materials are of high quality, the fit and finish is superb, and there are enough high-end features to distance it from mainstream sedans. Rear-seat passenger space isn't as generous as in the Audi A4 sedan, but it's spacious enough for two average-size adults—and for the slight sacrifice in rear headroom, you get the A5 Sportback's sleek roofline, which is far sexier than that of its more angular and upright A4 sibling. All A5 Sportback models come well equipped with luxury necessities such as power front seats, leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, ambient interior lighting, and three-zone automatic climate control. A hatchback in disguise, the A5 Sportback's sloping rear roofline hides a power-operated liftgate and a large cargo hold, making it far more practical than the Audi A4 sedan or the A5 coupe and convertible. It proved its mettle in our carry-on suitcase testing by accommodating 16 cases despite having a smallish cargo area according to the numbers. In fact, the Sportback beat all of its direct rivals in our real-world cargo test.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Audi's MMI is one of the most pleasing-to-use infotainment systems among premium brands. It's made even better by the A5 Sportback's optional—and highly recommended—12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit digital gauge display. All models come with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen display that can also be controlled by a clickwheel mounted on the console between the driver and the front-seat passenger. Audi's MMI interface is easy to use while on the go, but Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration is standard if users prefer to interact directly with their smartphones instead. Navigation is optional and comes with access to a suite of internet and vehicle-connectivity features called Audi Connect Prime and Audi Connect Plus.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)
Audi offers a wide range of driver-assistance features, but some are only available on the more expensive Premium Plus and Prestige models.
For more information about the A5 Sportback's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with forward-collision warning
- Standard lane-departure warning
- Available adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Audi's warranty package doesn't stand out among rivals in this comparison. The Kia Stinger's 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain policy leads the segment in coverage.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
