2018 Audi A5 Sportback and S5 Sportback Preview
Competes with: BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe, Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
Looks like: The Audi A7 has a smaller sibling, and Audi is intent on calling four-door cars “coupes”
Drivetrain: 252-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder with seven-speed automatic transmission (A5) and 354-hp, turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 with eight-speed automatic (S5)
Hits dealerships: Spring 2017
Fresh from its debut of a redesigned A5 and S5, Audi has taken the wraps off two new versions of the cars. The Audi A5 Sportback and S5 Sportback bowed during the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show.
More 2016 L.A. Auto Show Coverage
Exterior
The big difference between the Sportbacks and other models, as you would expect, is best seen from the side, where the roofline flows back toward the rear just as it does on the larger Audi A7. That’s a good thing, as we’ve long been fond of the Audi A7’s sweeping design.
The A5 and S5 Sportback models still look like part of the Audi family up front, but they wear a wider, flatter grille.
Interior
Heavy packers can breathe easier as Audi says the Sportback models have double the cargo capacity of the coupe versions. That, combined with the rear hatch opening and the car’s folding seatbacks, should also make carrying longer items like skis much easier.Â
As far as electronics go, the A5 and S5 Sportbacks offer the same multimedia setup as the A5 coupe and cabriolet, meaning they have Audi’s trick Virtual Cockpit, MMI infotainment system with handwriting recognition and Audi Connect phone connectivity.
Under the Hood
The A5 version uses a 252-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 273 pounds-feet of torque, combined with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Audi says A5 models can go from zero-to-60 mph in 5.7 seconds.
The S5 version features a 354-hp, turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that makes 369 pounds-feet of torque combined with an eight-speed automatic. Audi says the S5 can do zero-to-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Both Sportback models come with Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system.
Safety
