Audi Q5 Sportback review

The new Audi Q5 Sportback is an SUV for people who don’t want to look like they’ve bought an SUV, so it has a seriously rakish profile, like the BMW X4. It’s Audi’s third coupe-styled SUV after the Q3 Sportback and Q8 and comes with the same revisions as the recently updated Audi Q5.

The Q5 Sportback’s styling changes over the Q5 mean it’s a bit like a mullet haircut: it’s business up front and party at the back.

From the front, the new Audi only looks subtly different to the standard SUV. The grille comes with slightly different plastic mesh, and the air intake trims beneath the headlights have been tweaked, too. The Q5 Sportback is available with OLED lighting technology that makes the headlights and brake lights brighter and more efficient than ever.

You’ll see a much bigger difference from the side and rear. The Audi Q5 Sportback is only seven millimetres longer than the standard Q5 but its sloping roofline and heavily revised back end make it look lower, longer and sportier. The rear bumper has been tweaked too, with revised silver trim and different reflector strips under the boot lid.

The new Audi Q5 Sportback’s interior looks much the same as the standard Q5’s cabin, at least in the front. You get the same classy dashboard design with Audi’s latest infotainment system. This consists of a standard-fit 12-inch virtual cockpit and a free-standing 10-inch touchscreen display. Audi has also upgraded the voice commands that now respond to the ‘Hey Audi’ trigger phrase.

Thankfully, the standard Q5’s cabin was already among the best in its class – the technology all works well and build quality is extremely good. But there is a small sacrifice to be made when you climb in the back.

That swoopy roofline chops 17mm out of the roof height, with reduces headroom for passengers in the back. It’s only minor, and those under six foot or so won’t notice, but really tall adults will find their heads touching the roof where they didn’t in the Q5.

The 550 litres boot in the standard Q5 drops to 510 litres in the Sportback. Fold the Q5 Sportback’s rear seats down and this grows to 1,480 litres – although that’s still 70 litres less than you can fit in the standard Q5. For many that’ll be a small price to pay for style, however.

The new Audi Q5 Sportback goes on sale first with a pair of 2.0-litre engines – a 265hp 45 TFSI petrol and 204hp 40 TDI diesel. Audi has also launched a 347hp twin-turbo V6 diesel SQ5 Sportback model and is set to launch a pair of plug-in hybrid models in 2021. Every Audi Q5 Sportback – including the high-performance SQ5 Sportback – comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

The cabin is as classy as ever, and Audi has jumped on the 'Hey Audi' voice control bandwagon.

You’ll get deja vu if you step our of the Q5 and into the Q5 Sportback, as they’re almost identical to drive.

S Line models come with lowered, stiffer suspension to make them feel more sporting, and you’ll be able to pay extra for an adaptive suspension setup that lets you switch between a cushy ride and sharper cornering on the fly – the latter is recommended if you really want a proper luxury feel.

Adaptive air suspension that can vary the car’s ride height to make it lower for better stability and taller to deal with the odd spot of off-roading is also available. The Q5 Sportback is the most refined and comfortable car in its class if you do spec this option, and the flexibility it brings is handy.

And the price for the extra style? Well that’s…the price. The Audi Q5 Sportback is around £2,500 more expensive than the equivalent Q5. While that seems fair enough, you’ll have to really like the Sportback’s design. If you’re not bowled over by it you’d be much better off spending that £2,500 on options or a higher trim level in the normal Q5.

If this does sound like your next new car, check out the latest Audi Q5 Sportback deals.