Audi A5 Sportback 2010 Review
Audi claims the A5 Sportback creates a new segment... Saab and Rover fans of old may disagreeLithgow, NSW
What we liked
>>Unique styling
>>Improved steering
>>Usual Audi build quality
>>Too similar to the A4 sedan
>>Trademark DSG hesitation on take-off
Overall rating: 3.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 2.5/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 2.5/5.0
Safety: 3.0/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.0/5.0
X-factor: 4.0/5.0
About our ratings
With Rover long gone and Saab on the brink of extinction, it seemed the large four-door luxury hatch was consigned to history. Luckily Audi has stepped in to save the day with the new A5 Sportback, the answer to prayers for disaffected Rover SD1 and Saab 900 owners.
That may be a little unkind, but Audi's latest niche model isn't really as ground-breaking as the company makes out. While it's true that no company is currently offering such a model, Saab, Rover and even Citroen could argue the segment isn't quite virgin territory.
Officially, the brand calls the Sportback a "5-door Coupe" and it is designed to sit as the entry-level model of the A5 range, below the Coupe and Cabriolet.
"It seems that once again Audi has managed to successfully combine conflicting traits -- blending emotional design with a car that is functional in terms of space, even offering a very large rear tailgate for ease of access," says outgoing Audi Australia boss, Joerg Hoffmann.
It is the second example of the concept that Audi introduced in its A3 range and the company says it's a clearer representation of just what the Sportback stands for. But we'll get into the details of just what the Sportback concept is in PACKAGING below.
There are certainly big expectations on the car. Audi Australia's marketing general manager Immo Buschmann compares the launch of the Sportback with the first Avant (Audi-speak for wagon) back in 1971, which he claims created the premium wagon segment. Indeed, Audi obviously has faith in both the concept and the success of the A5 because the A7 Sportback will debut in Europe before 2010 is over.
Underneath the new sheetmetal though the A5 Sportback shares plenty in common with the rest of the Audi range; seemingly underlining the notion that these days you can pick your Audi to size. Decide how many people you want to carry and how much stuff you are going to take with you and Audi will offer you a model to suit.
The running gear and design of the cars is increasingly similar. Good news if you like Audi's design language and engineering, but not so good if you don't...
Standard equipment on both models include eight airbags, Audi music interface, 6.5-inch colour screen, electric handbrake, three-zone air-conditioning, single-disc CD audio system, leather sports steering wheel, S tronic transmission, Bluetooth, keyless entry and start, Xenon headlights, cruise control, electronic front seats and leather upholstery.
The expected S Line package, which adds the usual bigger alloy wheels and sporty touches, is available on both cars and costs $6200 for the 2.0 TFSI and $4500 in 3.0TDI guise. It consists of 18-inch wheels, sports suspension, sports front seats in Milano leather, S Line steering wheel, aluminium inlays and black headlining.
MECHANICAL
The Sportback is available with two engines at launch, the previously mentioned 2.0 TFSI and 3.0 TDI. A supercharged V6 S5 variant is scheduled for release later this year.
The direct-injection power units are the same ones found under the bonnets of the sister A5 Coupe and Cabriolet and A4 sedan and Avant. That means the 2.0 TFSI produces 155kW at 4300rpm and 350Nm between 1500-42000rpm, while the 3.0 TDI pumps out 176kW at 4000rpm and 500Nm between 1500-3000rpm.
Both cars are fitted with Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system as standard as well as the company's seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic automated manual transmission. Sourced from the S5 sedan, an optional sports differential that varies the drive distribution to the rear wheels is available for those in search of a more dynamic driving experience.
Suspension is also carried over from the A4/A5 siblings with five-link front suspension with upper and lower wishbones and independent-wheel, trapezoidal-link rear suspension.
The 2.0 TFSI runs on 17-inch alloys while the 3.0 TDI rolls on 18-inch rims.
This is where the A5 Sportback story gets interesting. Given that the mechanical architecture is shared with the Coupe, sedan and Avant, it is the style and size of the Sportback that gives the car its identity.
The challenge for Audi is quite clear though, to separate the A5 Sportback from the A4 sedan as much as possible. To that end the company's official line is that the Sportback is based on the A5 Coupe platform and not the A4. Given that both are based on the same architecture anyway, it seems like splitting hairs to us.
Dimensionally the Sportback is the same width as the Coupe, which makes it 28mm wider than the sedan. It is 86mm longer overall and 59mm longer in the wheelbase than the Coupe, but compared to the sedan the Sportback is only 8mm longer overall and has a scant 2mm longer wheelbase.
With this in mind, and despite Audi's ‘unique' label for the car, there is a very real danger that the A5 Sportback could steal sales from the A4 sedan and Avant, the company's biggest sellers. Officially, the company is more worried about the new model stealing customers from the A6 but that is probably optimistic thinking.
In a bid to try and curb the erosion of A4 sales, Audi is only offering the A5 Sportback with four-seats. Given the Sportback and A4 sedan both have 480-litres of boot space it's hard to see the fifth seat swinging too many buyers.
The twin rear seats deliver space that's good for passengers up to six-feet tall with enough head and legroom -- just like the A4.
For more details on the A4 sedan, A4 Avant and A5 Coupe ranges, check out our local launch reviews.
"The car has no real competitors because there are no cars out there like this," says Buschmann.
Putting aside the second-hand Rover SDI and Saab 900 market, the competitors are more obvious than Buschmann is willing to admit.
As mentioned above in terms of dimensions and mechanical hardware the A4 sedan is by far the most obvious competitor to the A5 Sportback. It's a good thing for Audi therefore that the ‘5-door Coupe' is more expensive because its naïve to think the newer, sleek model won't steal sales from its sibling.
You can probably add to that the cheaper, but equally stylish, Volkswagen Passat CC and even Skoda's new Twindoor-equipped Superb, which also offers hatchback convenience…. And then there's the small matter of BMW's 5 GT. The Bavarian car is not as svelte as the A5 (and perhaps more aimed at the upcoming A7), but it gets a two-way hatch-cum-boot and a whole lot more badge cred [than Skoda] to take on the Audi.
Both engines are what you'd expect from Audi; quiet and refined but with an ability to rev freely and offer up plenty of torque. The S tronic has typical double-clutch hesitation on take-off but is otherwise a good unit.
All up, the A5 Sportback is a good car but so are the A5 Coupe and A4 sedan and wagon.
As I said at the start, if you like Audi's you'll like the A5 Sportback. It's stylish, practical and a genuine performer. But if the A5 Coupe or A4 sedan isn't your cup of tea, the Sportback is equally unlikely to swing your vote.
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