Audi A5 2010 review

Audi has been accused of having too many variants before, and it wouldn't be the first time that an importer was accused of having too many models in what really is a small market.  But the number of models Audi has on offer now could have some people again wondering how it supports such a broad range on low volumes. But if the buyers are there and the four-ringed brand is making money, who are we to argue?

The A5 range has comprised a two-door coupe and droptop adjunct to the A4 sedan and wagon range. But now we have the A5 Sportback - a four-door four-seat coupe version of the A4, but sleeker and even more elegant than the handsome sedan.  It weighs less than the long-running A4 sedan, but is longer, wider and lower and just 2mm longer in the wheelbase.

Drivetrain and price

We're in the all-wheel drive three-litre turbodiesel V6, certainly the pick of Audi's mainstream engine range - although the 4.2-litre V8 in the old RS4 and the R8 remains a firm personal favourite - but the diesel has some irresistible numbers.

The particle-filtered V6 has common-rail direct-injection and a variable-geometry turbo that produces 176kW and 500Nm, the latter on tap from 1500rpm through to 3000rpm.  The as-tested cost of the test car is $103,070, quite a jump from the list starting price of $89,100 and similar money to roomier and perhaps more versatile machines.

Fit-out and equipment

The cabin is very Teutonic - laid out and finished superbly, with plenty of safety and other equipment, much of it even as standard - eight airbags surround the occupants, who describe the vehicle around them as feeling solid and strong.  The centre screen displays all the infotainment functions including the optional $4550 multi-media satnav system and six-CD changer (for $970), which includes a hard drive for the good-quality sound system.

The front ($850 optional) sport seating is firm but not uncomfortable, with the new Audi centre armrest set-up now not intruding on the elbow room, restricting centre console storage flexibility or impeding the handbrake (which is now a little electronic lever anyway), it's a nice place to be.

Rear room for the two occupants is not cavernous - the elegant roofline restricts headroom a little (a problem felt by several four-door ‘coupes’), and the leg room is limited.  Bootspace area is reasonable but it's not an overly deep or wide load space, so even a folded stroller can take a big chunk of the room.

Driving

The powerplant performs admirably in other Audi product and its track record is certainly not tarnished here - very quiet, smooth, frugal and deceptively rapid, there's precious little wrong with the engine.  It gets the Sportback up and running just a touch quicker than the other A5 and A4 variants with the same powerplant, but all reach 100km/h in around six seconds, which is good going regardless of the fuel being used.

The seven-speed double-clutch auto works well with the torquey powerplant most of the time, with slick and well-timed upshifts in all three drive modes (an option), although some downshifts (even in comfort mode) are a little jerky.

The three-mode system tightens up suspension, steering and alters throttle response and it is noticeable the change in character.  For a family all-rounder there probably needs to be a more cosseting base-line for the comfort mode, as the ride - while more compliant than Dynamic mode - still doesn't fit the definition of ‘comfort’.

But the Sportback has ample in common with the coupe and A4 sedan. It's not anywhere near as nose-heavy as earlier examples of the breed, pointing into corners with plenty of enthusiasm, with heaps of grip and no excuses for the stability control to interfere.

It has the sort of back-road talent that could shame many sportscars, but much of that comes down to the three-mode drive system Audi calls drive select - comprising adaptive dampers, dynamic steering and a sport electronic locking differential. It's a $7600 option, so it would want to be an effective system.

In isolation, the A5 Sportback is a good machine, but the question remains as to whether it’s sure what it wants to be – a practical family car or a peppery sportscar.

Audi A5 Sportback 3.0 TDI quattro

Engine: three-litre common-rail direct injection 24-valve DOHC intercooled turbocharged V6 diesel engine.
Power: 176kW between 4000 & 4400rpm.
Torque: 500Nm between 1500 & 3000rpm.
Transmission: seven-speed double-clutch automatic, permanent all-wheel drive with self-locking centre differential.
Performance: Top speed 250km/h, 0-100km/h 6.1 seconds.
Fuel consumption: combined 6.6 l/100km, on test 11 litres per 100km, tank 64 litres.
Emissions: 174 g/km.