In a League of its Own. The Audi A5 Sportback Review!

December 3, 2023 Jonathan Ho Off Audi, Reviews,

When Audi Malaysia offered us the opportunity to try the latest A5 Sportback for a week, how could we say no? Next thing you know, we were handed the key and walked towards a brand new Glacier White unit. The presence of the A5 Sportback remains undeniable as it looked absolutely stunning especially in white.

The colour totally compliments the overall exterior from the now-standard S line package to the two-tone 19-inch diamond cut rims which are carryovers from the facelifted A5 Sportback launched locally back in 2020.

Speaking of carryovers, the powertrain also remained unchanged for the 2023 A5 Sportback TFSI quattro. Under the bonnet you’ll find the familiar 2.0 liter turbocharged, four-cylinder direct injection engine also shared with Volkswagen and Porsche models.

However, the A5 Sportback is also equipped with a 12-volt mild hybrid system which is primarily used for the belt alternator starter, and provides the ability to coast at highway speeds with the engine off while powering auxiliaries to maximize fuel efficiency. Sounds complicated on paper, but it’s all very seamless in practice and you can just drive it like any regular combustion engine car.

Power is provided solely from the combustion engine, and the A5 Sportback makes a decent 245hp and 370 Nm of torque paired with Audi’s 7-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission, not to mention having quattro ultra permanent all-wheel-drive system. All of this translates to a 0-100km/h time of 6 seconds while returning a fuel consumption figure of around 7.5liter/100km during our week with it, consisting of a mix of city and highway driving.

The Sportback in the name signifies the addition of two extra doors and a rear hatch over the A5 coupé for those looking for more space while still looking stylish like a coupé. Audi nailed the stylish part, but less so on the space. Two adults will fit in the back, but anyone over 175cm tall will be brushing their heads on that sloping roof that makes it look so sleek on the outside. The high window sills plus tiny rear quarter windows also means shorter people such as children will feel pretty confined in the rear.

The black on black interior and the lack of any form of glass roof doesn’t help with the sense of space either. The middle rear seat is also best left unused as the tall transmission tunnel takes up all middle legroom. Having triple-zone climate control (dual zone front + single zone rear) means the rear passengers have their own climate control, plus a 12V socket.

Opening up the huge rear hatch gets you easy access to the 465 liters of boot space. Combine that with the rear seats folded flat and the A5 Sportback is more practical than it looks from the outside in terms of luggage capacity.

As we get to the front, the standard S line package means we get the “S” embossed on both front sport seats (12-way adjustable with memory for the driver), and a sportier S line steering wheel with paddle shifters which remains one of my favourites both in look and feel. All the seats are wrapped in black Nappa leather with contrasting white stitching which also extends to the steering wheel which is a nice touch. You’ll also get decorative matte brushed aluminum inserts on the dash and door trims, combined with with a bit too much gloss black especially around the gear selector area.

One thing I love is the suede-like material that covers most of the door card which feels very soft and pleasant to the touch. Overall the build quality is impeccable as you would expect from an Audi, and you won’t find a single squeak or rattle that is present even in other German brands. It’s just shame that our uninspiring local interior specification of black on black on black makes the interior look less premium than it really is. Just a bit more colour or more interesting materials goes a long way in lifting the interior up that is more justifiable of its large price tag.

In terms of infotainment, the A5 Sportback retains the MMI navigation plus system with its 10.1-inch touchscreen, along with the 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus instrument display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a ten-speaker, 180-watt sound system and a reverse camera are also part of the standard specification, which includes keyless entry, push-button start, hands-free power liftgate, and of course the triple-zone automatic climate control mentioned earlier.

There’s also Audi Drive Select with 5 different modes, and as the car has no adjustable suspension, they adjust other parameters such as throttle response and even the artificial engine sound.

Safety wise, the A5 Sportback has 6 airbags (2 front + 2 front side + 2 curtain), blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, lane change assist, rear cross traffic assist, exit warning system, and Audi pre sense front and rear which means the car will roll up all windows and pre-tension all passengers’ seatbelt when it detects an impending front or rear collision. Unfortunately, you don’t get adaptive cruise control or even automatic emergency braking which is inexcusable in this segment, let alone at this price.

Having covered 900 kilometers over the week, we found the A5 Sportback to be a very pleasant driver’s car. Equipped with Audi’s trademark all-wheel-drive system combined with the factory-fitted Bridgestone Potenza S001 tyres, we had total peace of mind when driving in pouring rain which we experienced quite often during our time with the car.

The multi-link front and rear greatly helps with handling, and despite its non-adjustable passive suspension, the ride is acceptable but some did find it harsh especially over sharp humps and potholes. External road and wind noises are also kept to a minimal despite having frameless doors, except for the start/stop system which we found pretty intrusive when it activates so we left it turned off most of the time.

Despite having spent a whole week using the A5 Sportback as my daily, I did not spot a single other A5 Sportback throughout my time. Perhaps that is where the car serves its purpose at its price: to stand out. Just like the title of this review, the A5 Sportback is in a league of its own within its segment and price. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia don’t sell the CLS here, and the BMW 6 Series four-door coupé ended with the previous generation, and is now a 6 Series Gran Turismo crossover, which incidentally also features a hatchback.

At the steep price of around RM450k, what you don’t get in on-paper performance and specification, you definitely get in road presence, rarity and attention. There’s not a single day during my week with the A5 Sportback where the car doesn’t get at least one stare or a head turn. I can guarantee it’s not because of the handsome driver.

However, if you don’t care to stand out and is simply looking for that Audi driving feel and exceptional build quality, then consider going electric and check out their electric e-tron model range instead.