Audi A5 and S5 Sportback 2017 Review

Just right
Here we have the Goldilocks pick in the Audi Australia line-up. Actually, make that picks (plural).

The A5 Sportback and S5 Sportback have been updated for 2017, and just like the introductory models launched in 2010, they purportedly subscribe to a wider skillset than most Ingolstadt exports. Both are touted by Audi as the firm’s do-it-all offerings, offering equal measures of comfort, luxury and performance.

The changes for 2017 are substantial, and are matched by equally relatively attractive pricing and specifications. Both models, available nationally from July, are lighter than before, bring added interior and boot space, and are said to be more efficient and powerful. They are both better integrated into the growing A4/A5 family too, re-imagined from scratch alongside the regular A5 Coupe.

Prices for the three-tier A5 Sportback range start at $69,900 (plus on-road costs) for the front-drive 2.0 TFSI petrol, moving as high as $81,500 (plus ORCs) for the all-paw 2.0 TFSI quattro. At the mid-point of the range is the diesel-powered 2.0 TDI quattro, at $73,900 (plus ORCs).

The S5 now starts $105,800 (plus ORCs), a $4900 premium over the more conventional S4 sedan that shares its 3.0-litre V6 petrol drivetrain. The S5 price represents a circa $16,000 over the previous generation S5 Sportback model.

Proportionally, the A5 and S5 Sportback have grown incrementally to 4733mm in length, 1843mm wide and 1386mm high. New construction techniques and the use of aluminium on the tailgate have helped realise a weight loss in the order of 85kg.

More pronounced hunches, a reworked front-end and stronger character lines highlight visual tweaks aimed at imbuing the A5 and S5 with more “emotional elegance”.

“Design is one of the major drawcards of these models,” according to Audi product planning boss, Peter Strudwicke.

Underbody changes across the A5 Sportback and S5 Sportback ranges include new five-link aluminium-intensive suspension front and rear, mated to stiffer mounting points for enhanced ride and handling traits.

Teutonic interior
Added sportiness might be one of the big changes for 2017, but it is the A5 Sportback’s interior presentation that grabs your attention.

Settling into the cockpit for the first time feels as though you’ve stepped into the future. Crisp colour displays, Teutonic presentation and solid build quality imbue even the entry model A5 with a sense of occasion. The seats offer decent support, even though the leather is a little underdone compared to some Audi models, and the mix of materials is truly special – extending to real carbon-fibre inlays on the S5.

Of particular note is the brilliant Virtual Cockpit display that is standard across the range.

It provides graphic representations of the important driving functions, including the speedo and tacho, along with high resolution maps that streamline the navigation process. It is matched by an equally well presented centre screen conveying entertainment functions including Apple CarPlay, plus a reversing camera.

Safety is likewise five-star inside, thanks in part to eight airbags and a suite of driving functions including automated emergency braking.

Of course, there are numerous opportunities to plunder through the options list to enhance the first impression. This is an Audi.

A Tecknik package adds a further $5600 to the sticker price, for example, bringing a 19-speaker Bang and Olufson stereo, as well as Audi’s much-vaunted LED Matrix headlights. Adaptive cruise control and swerve avoidance technology are also part of an optional $2470 safety suite.

Further back the A5 offers good but not great proportions for two full-size adults, or three at a pinch. Shoulder-room is adequate, and six-footers should find no problems with head dimensions. Legroom is also sufficient, though there isn't much room to wiggle your toes under the seat in front.

The 480-litre boot is surprisingly deep and flat, accessed via a generous rear door aperture. It houses a space saver tyre under the floor, along with requisite hooks for shopping bags. Split-folding seats liberate luggage space to 1300 litres.

OK, so how does it drive?
The A5 Sportback quickly gets down to business during our drive along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria this week.

Early on, it’s clear there is a real nonchalance to the driving experience. Unflustered despite most models riding on larger 19-inch wheels, the A5 handles pockmarked roads with aplomb, soaking up niggly bumps and long amplitude compressions alike.

A stretched wheelbase is one of the key enablers, endowing the A5 with excellent body control through fast changes in direction and a controllable amount of body roll in keeping with its 1600kg kerb weight.

Our initial impression is that the optional adaptive dampers do a better job of isolating road imperfections than the standard configuration. This is particularly evident over harsh, choppy surfaces.

Lope onto more open roads and, needless to say, you’ll be relaxing all the way to the boardroom. Only a faint level of road noise enters the cabin, becoming more obvious over coarse-chip bitumen.

Audi’s electrically-assisted steering tune has attracted its share of criticism over the years, but you’d argue it isn’t warranted on the latest A5 Sportback, which offers excellent accuracy, precision and adequate feedback from the road.

In terms of A5 engine choices, we’ll reserve judgement on the two 2.0 TFSI petrol offerings for now. The 2.0 TDI diesel offered useable levels of torque down low before seguing into a meaty mid-range. It is devoid of typical diesel clutter other than at idle levels, and also promises to go close to its claimed 4.8L/100km fuel claim – impressive for a big five-seat car.

Audi S5
The S5 Sportback not only raises the stakes in performance, but serves as a promising portent to the upcoming RS5 Coupe due in November.

The S5’s new V6 engine, codenamed EA838, was jointly developed with Porsche and shares elements of the new Panamera V8. In this tune it develops 260kW and 500Nm, endowing the Sportback with a zero to 100km/h time of 4.7sec – line-ball with the last-generation, V8-powered Audi RS4 Avant, the car-maker says.

While its partially-synthetised engine note isn’t likely to appease V8 aficionados, it is clear there is power everywhere. Peak power arrives between 5400-6400rpm, just shy of the 7500rpm limiter, while peak torque is available from a lowly 1370rpm.

Bringing the engine together is a seamless all-wheel drive system driven by an eight-speed torque-converter automatic. Our test cars were fitted with an optional sports differential that helps deliver extra punch at the right moment, building on the all-wheel drives system to apportion up to 85 per cent of drive to the rear.

Like the A5 Sportback, the S5 feels extremely confident through the bends. Meatier steering, a stiffer body and lower stance help the sportier sibling hunker down in the bends more faithfully. The stability control suite also allows a healthy amount of free play, depending on driving mode, before intervening with benign but swift adjustments.

The S5 is discreet yet rampant on the right road, while maintaining the A5’s knack of ironing out the surface underneath. It might not satisfy the most ardent driving enthusiasts or track day warriors, but for the rest of us, it will do the job just fine.

The Verdict
The A5 and S5 Sportback are the final piece in the regular A4/A5 family, and not surprisingly, fit the bill as polished and impressive.

There’s no doubting the corporate face and niche characteristics of the Sportback won’t suit everyone, but for those that do, it promises to make a fine match.
Now, let’s cue the comparison with BMW’s 4 Series Gran Coupe.

2017 Audi A5 pricing and specifications:
Price: from $69,900 (2.0 TFSI), $73,900 (2.0 TDI), $81,500 (2.0 TFSI quattro) *plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol, 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 140kW/320Nm, 140kW/400Nm, 185kW/370Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 5.6L/100km, 4.8 L/100km, 6.5 L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 128g/km, 125 g/km, 149 g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

2017 Audi S5 pricing and specifications:
Price: $105,800 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo-petrol
Output: 260kW/500Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 175g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP