Audi Q5 Sportback (2020 - )

The Audi Q5 Sportback is great if you're indecisive. No, that's not a criticism of you if you're thinking of buying one. After all, SUV's are the car of choice nowadays, but Audi coupes are equally irresistible. That's the whole point of the Sportback: you get the best of both worlds, and it's a concept that's proving very popular indeed. It's not as roomy or practical as the standard Q5, but it looks the part. There's a 2-0litre diesel producing 204PS, a 2.0-litre petrol generating 265PS and two plug-in hybrid versions, which we'll come on to later. You get a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox throughout the range, as well as four-wheel drive. Standard equipment in the entry-level Sport trim includes 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and taillights. You also get a 10.1-inch infotainment screen with SatNav and a 12.3-inch screen housing Audi Virtual Cockpit. S-Line models get 19-inch alloys and matrix LED headlights with dynamic indicators, privacy glass on the rear windows, and dinamica and leather upholstery. Edition 1 trim gets 20-inch rims, a black styling pack, a three-spoke flat-bottomed leather steering wheel, a multi-coloured LED interior lighting pack and leather upholstery. Vorsprung get 21-inch wheels with OLED rear lights, a panoramic sunroof, Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, a 360-degree camera and an electric tailgate. 

The Q5 Sportback looks identical to a standard Q5, except it's had a wedge chopped off its upper rear. As a result, it has a sloping roofline to give it a couple-like effect, helped by a spoiler overhanging the rear window. The rest of the posterior looks like any other Audi, with a horizontal silver strip, wraparound taillights at the corners and the Audi badge in the centre. Around the side, the door has a sizeable indentation to give it more of an athletic appearance, with side skirts hanging underneath. The front looks mean and sporty, with a huge hexagonal grille, large air intakes on either side and pointed front headlights. Inside, it looks as good as we've come to expect from Audi's design team, with silver trim on the steering wheel, air vents, centre console and doors, with glossy piano black surrounding the gear selector. The 10.1-inch infotainment system is perched on the dashboard next to the steering wheel. While it's nice, clear, crisp and easy to reach, the lack of a rotary dial like you'd find on a BMW makes it all the trickier to operate on the move. Nevertheless, the interior build quality exceeds both BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and it feels like every switch, dial, and button has had a lot of thought out into it. 

The diesel engine may be the lower powered one. But if you're likely going to be getting from 0-40mph most of the time, you probably won't benefit from the additional power of the petrol. The diesel gets from 0-62 mph in 7.6-seconds, while the petrol manages the same in 6.1-seconds. But it's the diesel, thanks to its superior torque, which is marginally quicker in the early stages. Alternatively, there are two plug-in hybrids based on a 2.0-litre petrol engine that produce 299PS and 367PS, respectively. Regardless of your choice, the same engines and tried and tested in other models and are smooth and well refined, In addition, they are quiet and offer a relaxing drive in all conditions. The entry-level Sport model offers the most comfortable ride at a sensible price on 18-inch wheels and standard suspension, which stiffens the ride, The larger wheels on the higher grades add to the firmness, though all models retain a good level of ride comfort. Top-of-the-range Vorsprung uses air suspension, which is arguably the most comfortable of the lot, despite its 21-inch wheels, but it's costly. The handling is impressive, with little body roll in the corners. the Q5 Sportback is still an SUV, so it's not exceptional in the bends, but Audi has minimised the downsides considerably, and it feels nimble for a vehicle of its size. Arguably the steering is too light to be suitable for keener drivers, though, as it doesn't sufficiently weight up in the corners. If you're after performance, we'd point you towards the superfast 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel SQ5 version. However, you'll need bottomless pockets. 

There is plenty of adjustment in the Q5 Sportback's driver's seat, so finding a comfy driving position is straightforward. Your viewpoint is not high as in some SUV's. But the front visibility is still good, though the sweeping roofline means the rear pillars are much thicker, so restrict your view. Still, the rear camera helps to negate this when you're reversing. Four-way powered lumbar support adjustment is also included on all models to increase comfort levels. At the same time, the S-Line model features special sports seats, which are also absorbing. There's plenty of space in the front to accommodate the tallest of drivers. And, despite the roofline, there's still a good deal of room in the rear, so only tall passengers will be brushing their heads off the ceiling The door bins are on the large side; the glove compartment is also relatively generous, and there's a liberal amount of storage space in the centre console cubby. In the boot, you lose around 40 litres of space compared with the standard Q5. So, cargo capacity measures 510 litres (although this is further reduced to 455 litres in the plug-in-hybrids). That's still more than you get in a Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe but slightly less than the BMW X4. The seats in the rear fold in a 40:20:40 arrangement, making it more convenient and versatile than the standard 60:40 in most cars. Fold them away, and boot space increases to 1,480 litres (1,365 litres in the hybrids). If you want even more versatility, the optional ‘rear bench seat plus’ enables the seats to slide forward, backwards and recline.

Precise figures differ slightly depending on the trim. But, at entry-level, the diesel manages 42.2-44.8mpg, producing 165-175g/km of CO2, while the petrol is capable of 31.7-33.6mpg, making 191-202g/km of CO2. Both can do up to 38 miles of all-electric range on their 14.4kWh batteries. The hybrids are a no-brainer for company car consumers, thanks to the saving in Benefit in kind. In terms of reliability, Audi isn't especially highly rated nowadays. That said, both the standard and Sportback versions of the Q5 seem to have bucked the trend, outperforming most of Audi's range. A three-year, 60,000-mile warranty is included, though extended warranties are available for an extra tee. 

The Audi Q5 Sportback is a tempting buy, It's got more going for it than the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe and the BMW X4, not that either is a poor alternative. The Sportback has a good choice of engines and is relatively economical (especially in hybrid form), while it's stylish, luxurious and well-equipped. Entry-level Sport trim will suffice for most, especially as higher trims sacrifices some ride comfort. However, keener drivers will want to look at the S-Line for its sports suspension. the standard Q5 is best if you're after practicality, though as the Sportback doesn't offer anything other than reducing practicality while increasing the price. As a result, buying or leasing a Sportback version over the standard Q5 will involve your emotions rather than logic.