Test drive Audi A5 Sportback: Alter Ego

The new addition to Audi's range is called the A5 Sportback and can be seen as a more practical and affordable coupe variant of the A5, but also as an attractive alternative to the classic A4 variants. Test version 2.0 TDI with 170 hp.

The very name of the new model from the Ingolstadt brand raises many questions. Audi marketing gurus are proud to present the car as an elegant yet practical four-door coupe, which is positioned below the A5 coupe and offers its customers an attractive sports model appearance combined with the functionality of the “standard” sedan and A4 station wagon. As is often the case when people try to do too many things together, defining the essence of this product sounds both promising and confusing. And when you come face to face with the A5 Sportback, the questions are not clear at all ...

Proportions

For some, the A5 Sportback actually looks like a four-door coupe, for others, the car looks more like an A4 hatchback with a large sloping tailgate. Positively, each of the two factions has strong arguments, so we prefer to look at the facts to get the most objective answers. The Sportback has the same wheelbase as the A4, the body width is 2,8 centimeters wider than the sedan, the length is slightly increased and the headroom is reduced by 3,6 centimeters.

On paper, these changes seem like a good basis for creating more dynamic proportions, and in real life they are - the A5 Sportback's broad-shouldered figure actually feels sportier than the A4. The rear is a particular kind of weaving of the A4 and A5 design elements, and from a purely functional standpoint, the large rear cover categorizes it as a hatchback (or fastback) rather than a coupe.

Under the hood is a cargo compartment with a nominal volume of 480 liters - the Avant station wagon boasts only twenty liters more. It is logical that when the rear seats are folded down, the difference between the two models becomes much more significant - the Sportback reaches a maximum volume of 980 liters versus 1430 liters for the station wagon. Since we are still talking about a car with a distinct lifestyle bias, comparing it at all costs to a classic station wagon is hardly correct. For this reason, the Sportback can be described as functional enough for family people or people who are interested in sports such as skiing and cycling.

Inside a man

Passenger space is up to expectations - the furniture almost completely echoes the A5, the quality of workmanship and raw materials is very high, the command order is typical for Audi and is unlikely to confuse anyone. The driving position is comfortable and pleasantly low, again bringing the Sportback closer to an A5 than an A4. There is plenty of front seating and the furniture is very comfortable, especially if the car is equipped with optional sports seats, as was the case with our test model. Passengers in the back row sit lower than expected in the shade, so their legs should be at a slightly unfamiliar angle. In addition, the sloping rear ceiling significantly limits the space above the rear seats, and for people over 1,80 meters tall, a long stay there is not very recommended.

Whatever the name, the Sportback offers passengers even better ride comfort than the A4 and A5. The explanation is that the chassis, borrowed directly from the A4 / A5, received a slightly more comfortable setup, and the increased weight also contributed to this. The A5 Sportback runs through bumps tightly (but not firmly) and quietly, without residual body vibration.

At the front

Precise and not too direct steering work is a great addition to the harmonious driving experience, the cornering behavior is also already well known to us from close relatives of the model. The decision of the Ingolstadt engineers to move the front axle and differential as soon as possible for a more balanced weight distribution proves its effectiveness once again - if you decide to test the limits of the A5 Sportback, you will be impressed with how long the car can stay neutral and how late it starts to show the inevitable trend. to understeer for any front-wheel drive. With a more relaxed driving experience, the car moves on the road with ease and provides superior safety without burdening you. However, one of the worst features of some of the older models of the company has been preserved - on wet surfaces, the front wheels turn sharply even with a not very sharp gas supply, and then the traction control system and the ESP system should work quite intensively.

It is hardly possible to say something new about the 2.0 TDI version drive - the diesel engine with direct fuel injection into the cylinders using the Common Rail system, known to everyone from the huge number of concern models, once again demonstrates its classic advantages and only one significant drawback. The engine pulls smoothly and confidently, its power is developed smoothly, the manners are good, only the weakness at start-up remains a little unpleasant. Along with a well-placed six-speed manual transmission, the engine once again demonstrates its enviable fuel-saving potential - the average consumption in the test was only 7,1 liters per 100 kilometers, and the minimum value in the standardized AMS cycle remained at an incredible 4,8 liters. / 100 km. Pay attention - we are talking about 170 hp so far. power, maximum torque of 350 Nm and a vehicle weight of almost 1,6 tons…

And what price?

Another important question remains - how is the A5 Sportback positioned in terms of price. With comparable engines and equipment, a new modification costs an average of about 2000 5 levs. Cheaper than the A8000 coupe and at least BGN 4. More expensive than the A5 sedan. So, depending on the understanding, one can consider the A4 Sportback as a slightly cheaper and more practical alternative to the sleek coupe, or as a more eccentric and much more expensive version of the AXNUMX. Which of the two definitions is more correct, buyers will say.

By the way, Audi plans to sell 40 to 000 units of its new model a year, so the question raised above will be answered soon. So far, we can only give a brief assessment of the final, and these are five stars according to the auto motor und sport criteria.

text: Boyan Boshnakov

a photo: Miroslav Nikolov

Evaluation

Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TDI

The Audi A5 Sportback is a practical enough car to sit somewhere between the A4 and A5. Traditionally for the brand, excellent workmanship and road behavior, the engine demonstrates impressive efficiency.

technical details

Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TDI
Working volume	-
Power	170 k. From. at 4200 rpm
Maximum torque	-
Acceleration 0-100 km / h	9,2 with
Braking distances at a speed of 100 km / h	38 m
full speed	228 km / h
Average consumption fuel in the test	7,1 l
Base Price	68 890 levov