2019 2019 Audi S5 Sportback 2019 Review 2019

When Audi brought the A7 to market in 2010 it was heralded as a assuming take on the traditional sedan. Iv frameless doors and a sleek rear hatch gave the A7 a sporty silhouette that nonetheless looks fresh today — especially in the guise of the fresh new 2d-generation A7. Audi may non have invented the 5-door liftback, but they've certainly elevated it to new heights with the A7 and its S7 and RS7 variants. Only not anybody needs the space or refinement of an executive-class vehicle; for those who desire the A7's manner at a more accessible price betoken there'southward now the S5 sportback, based on the A4 sedan but with the A5 coupe's commanding design language.

The A5 Sportback has been on sale in Europe since 2009, only only fabricated it to the U.S. market in 2017 as a 2018 model. The S5 variant, like its larger S7 stablemate, is a sportier variant of the A-badged car. I adopt the S7 to the even sportier RS7 and suspected I might feel the same about the S5 compared to the RS5 I tested in March of 2018. After a week with a Tango Ruby-red Metallic S5 Sportback I can confirm my suspicions were correct.

The Skillful: Nobody has figured out the 5 door liftback wait quite like Audi. The S5 Sportback is enjoyable to look at from every bending. The design doesn't endeavor to practice too much: there are creases and sporty flourishes in the right places, but it isn't shouting. This car can wing under the radar even in metallic red paint — and with the kind of power the 3.0T V6 puts out, it'due south easy to fly. Information technology's funny to consider a car with 354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque as the "sensible" choice, simply that's where we're at in 2019.

Who It'south For: People that want an S4 Avant even though Audi has stopped offering sporty wagons in the U.S. Also, anyone who wants the driving feel of a mid-size sport sedan but with more versatility, and who likes to become fast but await subtle while doing and so.

Watch Out For: I similar the interior of the S5 Sportback (shared with the current A4) but there's some longing for the next generation design and tech plant in the A6, A7, and Q8. As yous may expect, this being a German language car, options will movement the base of operations cost from "Reasonable" to "How much?!" without breaking a sweat.

Alternatives: Though Mercedes-Benz kicked off the trend with the CLS, they don't currently compete in the midsize sportback segment in the U.S. That leaves BMW, which offers the 4 Series Gran Coupe and 3 Series Gran Turismo. Both top out at 320 horsepower and even with the optional Grand-Sport parcel don't reach the same special feeling of the S5 Sportback, though they do handily outperform the S5's 35 cu-ft of cargo space with 45.9 and 56.8, respectively.

Review: When y'all've got the keys to a Quattro-equipped Audi and a wintertime storm bearing downwards on your favorite mountain resort a couple of hours abroad, there's only i thing to do: become while the getting's skilful. I shot out of LA just as the sun began its climb over the San Bernardino mountains, early on plenty for the freeways to be sparsely populated with cars. I'd already had a few days to enjoy Audi's suite of driver assistance technology, primarily the adaptive cruise control and active lane help. Both admirably reduce fatigue when traffic starts itch and keep things in check while traffic is flowing. In the wee hours of the morning, though, I had no demand for these advanced systems; it was just me, the turbocharged V6 and 6 lanes. Those 6 would eventually go four, then three, then 2.

As the hours wore on I came to appreciate more aspects of the car. The interior isn't as fresh as Audi's latest design but it's a great one in its own right, with loftier-quality materials, tasteful pattern choices and Audi'southward comfy sport seats with adjustable bolsters at both levels. This "Prestige" trim level came with Audi'south virtual cockpit cluster, which I kept in "Sport" configuration for the large tachometer fix expressionless-center. You can too show a total Google Earth map display on the cockpit, but that'southward better suited to the center-mounted tablet-style screen. Of course, Audi could do away that tablet screen entirely, like they do in the TT and R8, simply the correct-seat occupant might feel left out, this being a grand tourer and all.

Some may question the validity of a sportback equally a true k tourer, but the joyous way this auto gobbles asphalt puts that debate to remainder. The 2d-gen S5 Sportback was certainly built with American consumers in mind, offer plenty of comfort in one mode and impressive performance in another. My favorite combination for a balanced driving experience: Steering: Car; E-Diff: Dynamic; ACC: Auto; Intermission: Auto; Engine/Trans: Dynamic; Engine Sound: Dynamic. Should choosing your own chance bear witness to be too much of a headache, you can simply select from the pre-set Comfort, Auto or Dynamic modes.

The S5 Sportback doesn't have particularly bang-up steering feedback; leaving information technology in "Auto" lets the computer decide when to slide towards comfort or dynamic feel, and information technology really does a practiced job of choosing based on how you're driving. The optional rear sport differential, though, should stay set to Dynamic to maximize cornering capability through the magic of torque vectoring. Similarly, the eight-speed automatic plays best in Dynamic: shifts are crisp, ability is delivered predictably and the car merely keeps pulling thanks to all the low-end torque. (Keeping Engine Sound in Dynamic is self-explanatory — and I'll go on record saying the authentically visceral noises fabricated by the S5 Sportback exhaust are superior to those of the RS5, which audio too much like a video game.)

By the time I reached the snowline, the tempest hadn't quite blown out equally early as expected. A road closure slowed me down, but the S5's surefootedness guaranteed me turns in fresh powder that day. Boring and steady won the race, but I can only imagine what fun the terminal 45 minutes of the drive would take been with a set of proper winter tires on the motorcar. Merely even with the lower ride height that comes with the optional adaptive sport pause, the S5 Sportback got me through without flinching.

Verdict: The S5 Sportback isn't perfect, but it's damn shut. Where if falls short, it's close, and where it succeeds, information technology soars. It's the perfect everyday driver whether your commute is xv minutes or 2 hours. If y'all can afford to shop in this price bracket, the S5 Sportback deserves to be on your listing.

What Others Are Saying:

• "This swoopy S5 looks libation than the traditional A4 or S4 sedans, and the hatchback configuration makes it more than functional, to boot. Plus, it has four doors, so you can hands throw backpacks and grocery bags (and, you know, people) in the rear seats – no need to flip the forepart seats forward, like in a two-door A5/S5 Coupe. If I were shopping Audi A4/A5/S4/S5 models, this S5 Sportback is definitely the one I'd buy." – Steven Ewing, Motor1

• "The steering has a sharper and heavier experience to it in comparison with the A5, that shouldn't be confused with a harsh break. In fact, until those rare moments when the clouds of traffic part along with the clouds in the northwest sky, the S5 doesn't differ much in feel from its milder sibling, only offer a slightly meaner growl from the exhaust. When pressed, the S5 delivers flat cornering along with a solid boot in dispatch." – Jay Ramey, Autoweek

Specs:
Model Twelvemonth/Brand/Model: 2018 Audi S5 Sportback
Purchase URL: www.audiusa.com
Toll: $67,900 (As Tested) $54,400 (Base of operations MSRP)
Engine: 3.0-Liter V6 Turbo
Transmission: Eight Speed Tiptronic Automatic
Horsepower: 354
Torque: 369 lb-ft
0-60 mph: iv.5 seconds
MPG City/Highway/Rummage Est.: 21/24/30

Audi provided this product for review.

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