Skip advert
Advertisement

Audi A5 Sportback hatchback - Engines, drive & performance (2017-2024)

The Audi A5 Sportback is agile, fast and quiet on the road

Carbuyer Rating

3.7 out of 5

Owners Rating

3.7 out of 5

Read owner reviews
Engines, drive & performance Rating

3.5 out of 5

There’s lots to like about the way the Audi A5 Sportback drives. The steering feels somewhat artificial, but other than that Audi has built a car that’s fast, quiet and enjoyable to hustle down country lanes. When we first drove the Sportback on smooth German roads, it was never anything other than comfortable; even on the largest wheels, its suspension provided a good amount of insulation when driving over drain covers and potholes. Happily, the same is the case on the UK’s more weathered roads, although poor surfaces do feel a bit more pronounced.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Audi A5 Sportback is impressively composed in fast corners, gripping the road tenaciously and not leaning too much. The steering is nicely weighted, but not particularly communicative. Front-wheel-drive variants don’t feel notably different to the four-wheel-drive quattro models.

The seven-speed automatic gearbox is excellent, though. Left to its own devices it can occasionally hesitate if you accelerate sharply after slowing down for traffic, but manual gearchanges – via the steering-wheel-mounted paddles – are almost instantaneous.

Audi A5 Sportback diesel engines

Most UK buyers are expected to choose the 201bhp 2.0-litre 40 TDI diesel and this is an engine we’re familiar with from the rest of Audi’s range. Its reasonable running costs and purchase price make it an appealing choice and it gives the A5 Sportback more than enough shove along with Audi's legendary quattro four-wheel drive system. Going from 0-62mph takes just 7 seconds and there’s loads of pulling power to make overtaking worry-free. There's a lesser 35 TDI as well, which produces 161bhp taking 8.4 seconds to go from 0-62mph but economy is similar in both diesels.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The S5 Sportback was discontinued in 2023 but had a powerful 336bhp 3.0-litre diesel engine that made it fast yet still reasonably economical. It's a great engine for long trips as it has effortless performance, though it's not very exciting for a sporty model.

Petrol engines

Although few buyers will choose it, the 201bhp 2.0-litre '40 TFSI' petrol engine is another Audi staple, and it’s an engine we like. While it’ll be more expensive to buy and run than the 201bhp 2.0-litre diesel, our experience has shown it to be smoother and faster – although this will be of little consequence if fuel economy is your priority; the diesels simply make more sense from the point of view of running costs. In performance terms, there is little to split the two cars, with the 40 TFSI capable of 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds and the 40 TDI managing it in 7 seconds dead. 

At the top of the standard A5 Sportback petrol engine range, the 45 TFSI uses the same turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, but with an increased power output of 261bhp. This makes it the fastest of the standard models, managing 0-62mph in only 5.6 seconds. 

Audi’s quattro four-wheel-drive system is standard with the 40 TDI diesel, 45 TFSI petrol and the fast S5 Sportback models. The extra grip it brings is reassuring but going for a quattro model costs more and tends to dent economy and increase emissions.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Charlie writes and edits news, review and advice articles for Carbuyer, as well as publishing content to its social media platforms. He has also been a regular contributor to its sister titles Auto Express, DrivingElectric and evo. As well as being consumed by everything automotive, Charlie is a speaker of five languages and once lived in Chile, Siberia and the Czech Republic, returning to the UK to write about his life-long passion: cars.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Hot car deal: premium Audi A5 Sportback for £287 a month
Audi A5 Sportback deal
Deals
29 Feb 2024

Hot car deal: premium Audi A5 Sportback for £287 a month

Most Popular

Volkswagen Black Editions: T-Cross and Tiguan get a stylish upgrade
Tiguan Black Edition
News
10 Dec 2024

Volkswagen Black Editions: T-Cross and Tiguan get a stylish upgrade

Skoda Elroq review – a great-value compact electric SUV
Skoda Elroq
In-depth reviews
9 Dec 2024

Skoda Elroq review – a great-value compact electric SUV

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
13 Dec 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
21 Oct 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Best electric cars
Best cars
16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024