Audi Q5 Sportback Review 2023
The Audi Q5 Sportback is a mid-sized SUV that's both stylish and versatile. Perfect for families looking for a luxury lease car, the Q5 Sportback has the practicality of an SUV with the sharp styling of a coupe.
Rivals to the Q5 Sportback include the Mercedes GLC Coupe, Porsche Cayenne Coupe, BMW X4, and Range Rover Velar.
Our Audi Q5 Sportback review covers:
- Coupe-like exterior with a sloping roofline
- Luxurious interior packed full of technology
- 510-litre boot
- Petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid engine options
- Three trim levels
Pros:
- Superb interior
- Sharp exterior styling
- Good engine line-up
Cons:
- Not as practical as the standard Q5
- Rear headroom limited
- Rivals are more enjoyable to drive
The Q5 Sportback looks the absolute business. There's an oval-like grille and slick LED lights at the front, a sloping rear roofline, and a refined rear end with a wide silver bar and big bumpers. Upgrade to the Black Edition trim which, as you'd expect, adds black, and it looks really good!
Although a coupe SUV, the Q5 Sportback doesn't lose much practicality compared to the original Q5. In the front, there's loads of head and legroom to get comfortable, and passengers in the rear don't have much to complain about. There's also plenty of storage, such as large door bins and a well-sized glovebox.
Open the boot, and it reveals 510 litres of space, which is in the middle of the BMW X4 and Mercedes GLC Coupe. It's a useful square shape and doesn't have a load lip, which is great and can be extended by split-folding the rear seats 40/20/40.
The interior of the Q5 Sportback is a thing of beauty. It looks fantastic and feels built to last while featuring premium materials like soft-touch plastics and leather. It's one of the best around and is certainly better than the BMW X4 and Mercedes GLC Coupe.
On the dash, you get a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a DAB radio, navigation, voice control, and Bluetooth. The screen sits atop the dashboard rather than being built in and sits above all the radio and climate control buttons, which we always like.
Behind the steering wheel is a 12.3-inch virtual cockpit that displays all the relevant driver information with sharp and responsive graphics.
Three trim levels are available: Sport, S Line, and Black Edition.
Sport has 18-inch five-twin spoke dynamic alloy wheels, LED headlights and tail lights, a 10.1-inch touchscreen with MMI navigation plus, a 12.3-inch virtual cockpit, Quattro drive, Audi drive select, and three-zone electronic climate control.
S Line adds 19-inch five-twin-spoke star alloy wheels, S Line sport suspension, S Line exterior styling, privacy glass on rear windows, and front sport seats in microfibre dinamica-leather with S embossing.
Black Editions completes the trim levels with 20-inch anthracite black Audi sport alloy wheels, a black styling pack that includes the roof rails and door mirrors, and a three-spoke flat-bottomed multi-function leather steering wheel.
The Q5 Sportback has two 2.0-litre engines, a plug-in hybrid, and a performance 3.0-litre diesel. All come with a seven-speed S Tronic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive.
The entry-level unit is the 45 TFSI petrol engine, which delivers 261hp and does 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds. It's a slick and smooth engine that pulls well from low revs, making it more than good enough for your average driver.
Our pick of the bunch is the mid-range 40 TDI diesel, which has 201bhp and achieves 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds. On the road, it's pretty similar to the petrol engine, but the reason we like it so much is because of its much-increased fuel economy. You'll get a fuel economy of around 42mpg in the diesel, compared to 32mpg in the petrol.
Those looking for reduced emissions will look towards the plug-in hybrid. Labelled the 50 TFSIe, it pairs a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to return a power output of 295hp. You'll go from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds, which is the same as the 45 TFSI, and you'll get an all-electric range of 38 miles.
The most powerful unit is the SQ5, which is a 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine that returns a whopping 341hp and does 0-62mph in just over five seconds. It's quick and effortless to drive and is good both around town and on the motorway.
The Q5 Sportback is easy to drive and comfortable on the road, but if you're looking for a really exciting drive, it falls short of some of its rivals, like the BMW X4.
Around town, the Q5 Sportback offers a really good driving experience. Its steering is light, the gearbox is smooth, and the suspension deals with bumps in the road with ease. Although rear visibility could be a bit better, the range of technology, such as parking sensors and a reversing camera, makes up for this.
Get up to motorway speeds, and the Q5 Sportback is a comfortable cruiser. There's minimal road and wind noise, and all versions come with cruise control, which helps on longer journeys.
The Q5 Sportback is comfortable and composed on a country road, showing excellent grip even on slippery surfaces. It does handle pretty well, but it's not as engaging as the BMW X4.
Prices for the new Audi Q5 Sportback start from £50,940.00 OTR* or to lease from £480.28 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the Audi Q5 Sportback? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.
