Audi A5 Sportback: Coupé Meets Sedan
The Audi A5 Sportback perfectly melds the sportiness of a coupé with the family-oriented luxury of a sedan.
So you’ve decided on an Audi. Then you get to the million-dollar question – coupé or sedan? If you can’t decide (we know how hard it is), Audi has solved the problem for you with the 2017 A5 Sportback. Set to make its debut at the Paris Motor Show on September 28, this new baby is best described as the unlikely lovechild of a sporty two-door coupe and a practical family car.
But the A5 Sportback looks far from awkward. In fact, it looks nearly identical to the brand’s new coupes, save for the fastback-like design at its rear, which softens the A5’s usual chiselled façade a notch. This means that you get a whole lot of sportiness in the front, and then some luxury at the back.
Besides a facelift, more interior space and more doors, this new baby packs a whole lot of punch with its engine options. Besides a 2.0-liter inline-four that delivers 190 horsepower, a 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel V6 version will provide 286 horsepower. You can then choose between a six-speed manual transmission, seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox or eight-speed tiptronic unit. Front-wheel drive comes as standard, with all-wheel drive an option unless you choose the more powerful engines. Fuel efficiency is now possible with Audi’s new Quattro Ultra all-wheel-drive system, which disconnects rear wheels.
Technologically superior to its namesake, the Audi A5 Sportback sees the latest generation infotainment system with Audi Connect smartphone app operation and updated driving aids. These include adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, collision avoidance and even adjustments in throttle and gears via GPS. High-end models will include an 8.3-inch screen with MMI touch besides the 12.3-inch TFT monitor.