With the Q5, Audi has led the way. In 2008 it attacked an already very populated segment, that of medium SUVs, and revolutionized it with comfort and driving like a “normal” car, typical Audi quality and a massive dose of practicality. The second generation of Audi Q5, launched in 2016, confirmed the success of this model. And Q5, with the restyling of this year, does not leave, but even doubles. In fact, the Audi Q5 Sportback, the coupé version of the beloved SUV of the Four Rings, arrives in 2021. Will it be able to combine the sportier and more captivating aesthetics with the qualities of space and livability that have made the Audi Q5 great? We have been trying for two weeks Audi Q5 Sportback in the 40 TDI quattro version to find out, and we found a reference SUV. Are you curious to know more?
With the restyling, the new Sportback: what changes compared to the “traditional” Q5?
Audi Q5 is one of the most successful cars of the House of the Four Rings of recent years. Q5 has managed, since its debut, to condense the typical characteristics of an Audi such as aesthetics, stability, build quality and the inevitable all-wheel drive in a complete, spacious and practical SUV. Although there are more and more rivals, the Audi Q5 is always on the crest of the wave, representing the center of Audi’s Q range. Larger than the Q2 and Q3 but more compact than the Q7 and Q8, the Audi Q5 is the perfect example of the Latin proverb in medio stat virtus.
In fact, the Q5 exploits the MLB platform of its older sisters, the Volkswagen Group’s “good suit”, but without exceeding in size and overall dimensions. After a very popular first generation, still highly sought after on the used market, Audi is still focusing on the second generation launched in 2016. This year, however, a restyling which changed something aesthetically, internally and changed the engine range a bit.
The big news, however, is right here in front of your eyes: the Sportback version, the one with the sloping rear window and coupé-like air. The Audi Q5 has learned from its little sister Q3, and the Sportback is the big news of 2021 for the range. Before this year, it was only focusing on the “traditional” version of the Ingolstadt SUV. The Q5 Sportback takes everything good about the Q5, and only modifies the rear. The rear window is in fact quite inclined, and gives the car more dynamism and a more modern cut. In addition, the Sportback version comes standard with S-Line suspension, which is more rigid than the traditional ones, to give all Sportback versions a slightly tastier ride.
The aesthetics of the Audi Q5 Sportback: massive but refined, it stands out without being tacky
The Sportback cut is then particularly noticeable on our Q5, which sports a sportier S-Line trim and one very eye-catching color scheme: Ice White metallic paintwork with black rims, moldings and badges. The rear it is the part that causes the most discussion, between those who love it and just can’t see it. Live, however, convinces almost everyone. The cut of the rear window is in fact very natural, and fits well with the lines of the headlights and the full-width molding, which on our specimen is total black, unchanged compared to the traditional Q5, and which accentuate its width. The rear lights then have OLED technology: flawless at night, they perform a “dance” every time the car is started and make the Q5 Sportback unmistakable at night.
From the side you can see how much Audi Q5 Sportback, even if it is not a huge car (measure 4.69 m long, 1.89 m wide and 1.66 m high) has a massive and mighty appearance. It is not aggressive or tacky, it is… a lot, immediately recognizable as an Audi e capable of transmitting its being premium at first glance. The merit is also of the rather generous height from the ground, of 20 cm, proof of dirt roads and dirt roads, of the generous step of 2.82 m and the rather long hood, which indicates that there is a longitudinal engine. The whole car has a elegant bearing but of substance, exactly what is expected of an SUV of this lineage.
Beautiful then i 21-inch diamond-coated Audi Sport wheels, with the red brake calipers peeking out behind the rims. A beautiful detail is the small logo of the Four Rings placed in the lower corner of each rear door, which refers to the rally past of the Ingolstadt manufacturer. However, it is the front that strikes the most. The calandra Single Frame, the signature of every Audi of the last 20 years, has become even bigger with the restyling, and painted in total black like ours gives a very distinct personality to the car. The headlights, with Matrix LED technology, thin but generous in size joined to large air vents below them give the Q5 Sportback a look that strikes much more than you might think.
Almost threatening when you meet her on the street, many turn to look at it: thanks to the black-white combination of the bodywork certainly, but also to his own aggressive lines but never tacky or excessive. Audi Q5 Sportback is a car that, despite not being a Supercar or an exotic car, it stands out a lot. It will be the logo he proudly carries on the hood, it will be the lines of high-end SUVs, but Audi Q5 Sportback is a car that people like a lot. A final applause to finishes and assemblies, simply impeccable.
The interior of the Audi Q5 Sportback: a little behind the latest Audi, but in terms of quality and ergonomics it is at the top.
If outside we praised the assemblies and the finishes, inside we can not help but repeat our praises. Inside, in fact, the Audi Q5 Sportback 2021 is a car assembled almost to perfection. Although in fact it is not produced in Germany, but assembled in the historic Mexican factory in Puebla, Q5 Sportback perfectly represents that extreme quality of finishes, materials and combinations for which Audi is so famous around the globe. Each material, each component is made with quality materials and assembled with great care, for a passenger compartment that gives an immediate feeling of quality as soon as you get on board. The horizontal lines of the passenger compartment give an impression of fullness and quality, which is then confirmed by all the controls.
All the buttons on the dashboard and on the steering wheel return a solid feeback, tough, and details such as the door storage compartments covered in felt, the aluminum of the trims and the soft lights scattered throughout the cabin make the interior of the Audi Q5 Sportback one of the best in quality among competing SUVs. However, it must be said that Compared to the latest Audi, it has fallen behind a bit in terms of layout, lines and setting. The screen of the cantilevered infotainment system not integrated into the dashboard, the physical climate controls and the very classic dashboard show how the project was born 5 years ago and does not use those minimalism solutions and the new screens integrated into the lines of the passenger compartment of the latest Audi such as A6, e-tron GT and so on.
In reality, however, this is only one flaw for those who want the latest trend. The ergonomics are in fact impeccable, and the separate climate controls without touch screen are very easy to use and very pleasant to operate. The traditional gear lever is also very pleasant to use, and in general you feel the car’s years only from an aesthetic point of view. The ergonomics and quality, in fact, are still impeccable, and indeed better than some more modern but less pragmatic rivals.. Indeed, in this sense I almost miss the infotainment wheel that before the restyling stood near the gear lever.
Audi Q5 Sportback technology: quality infotainment, Virtual Cockpit and what a stereo system!
The infotainment system is now the latest generation MMI, with a 12.9-inch cantilever screen oriented towards the driver. It can be controlled via the touch panel or voice commands, and has the same interface as the latest Audi. It works very well, has great graphics and its functionality is flawless, but running a physical rotor would have been more practical. The only flaw of the infotainment is the absence of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay wireless. They are available within the system, but only in cable mode – a slightly subdued detail on such an expensive car.
There is also the now proverbial Audi Virtual Cockpit, the digital instrument cluster from 12.3 in. Also of excellent quality, it offers a lot of information and is always clear and crystalline in giving you information. It is always pleasant to be able to take advantage of the full-screen map in the digital instrument panel, to always have navigation under control. Speaking of control, they convinced me the ADAS systems that the Q5 Sportback is naturally equipped with. Here we are at level 2 autonomous driving, and the systems are perfectly tuned. Adaptive Cruise Control and Travel Assist, which combines adaptive cruise with lane keeping, allow long journeys with minimal effort. The 360 ° cameras also have excellent quality, making even the most difficult city maneuvers easy.
Last note of merit for the istereo speakers mounted on our test specimen, the Bang&Olufsen 3D Premium Soundsystem. With 19 speakers and a power of 755 W, the optional system of our test sports additional speakers integrated into the A-pillars, and is able to give a 3D sound experience. The plant it sounds great and does not distort even at maximum volume, and is capable of bringing music into the car in really good quality. More, its price is not excessive, 1,380 euros: absolutely recommended.
The space is surprising: compared to the “normal” Q5, little or nothing is lost
Conceptually, one might think that the Audi Q5 Sportback 2021 has decided to sacrifice on the altar of sporty aesthetics and appearances the practicality that has made the Q5 so popular for years. Although this has happened with some direct rivals, with the SUV Coupé versions noticeably less practical than the “traditional” models from which they derive, Audi has studied the question of practicality very well. By choosing the Sportback version, in fact, you will end up with a truly practical and functional SUV. If up to the B-pillar the space is the same, excellent, of the Q5, behind and in the trunk the Sportback version is surprisingly virtuous.
Behind, thanks to wheelbase of 2.82 m, the space for the legs is a lot, and even the transmission tunnel, although present, does not …