Audi A5 Sportback review by Top Gear

Beautifully built and beautiful to look at. But we have a question for Audi. What's the point of the A5 Sportback?

• Comfort

  Unlike the A5 coupe, this is a proper family car with proper back seats. But, mysteriously, there’s only two of them, so one of your triplets is going to have an uncomfortable journey.

  

• Performance

  Five engines are available: two petrols (a 1.8 TFSI and 2.0TFSI) and two diesels (2.0 and 3.0 V6). None of them throw up any surprises. The two-litre TDI is as strong and refined as ever, however the two-litre petrol is so much smoother and quieter it's enough to put you off diesel for life, especially if you don't notch up too many fuel-consuming motorway miles.

  

• Cool

  More funk than a rep-saloon, but not as much as a stealth-spec A5 coupe. The Sportback definitely says something about you... we’re just not quite sure what.

  

• Quality

  No surprises here - the interior is built to Audi's high standards and it's all very similar to the Audi A4 saloon. However, look closely and there are one or two places that aren't up to scratch because they will. Scratch, that is.

  

• Handling

  Somehow in the transition from A4 saloon to A5 Sportback, things have gone a bit soft. There's more body roll than in the A4/A5 and a floaty feeling on motorways, which on our test route, were as smooth as boiled sweets. Audi reckons the spring and damper rates are identical to the coupe, but it doesn't feel like it.

  

• Practicality

  Swing open a rear door and all seems pretty normal. Legroom is the same as the A4 saloon and headroom is down by just 5mm, which isn't a bad payoff for that sloping roofline. But look closer and you'll notice the lack of a middle seatbelt. Audi is selling this thing as a four-seater, which would be fine if the rear seats were artistically sculpted to cuddle your torso. But they're not. It's just a regular bench with a raised cushion where the middle seat would usually be. Despite the new arty silhouette the boot has a wide and unobstructed aperture through which to load your stuff. At 480 litres, luggage space is exactly the same as the A4 saloon, only more accessible as the hatch opens its big, yawning mouth.

  

• Running costs

  The 2.0TFSI and TDI models are very cost effective to run. Expect 45.6mpg from the petrol and 60.1mpg from the diesel. However, if you're after more power, go for the 3.0-litre TDI.

Article source: www.topgear.com