2019 Audi S5 Sportback
The S5 is the stylish fastback companion to Audi's compact S4 sedan. Its strengths include a swanky interior, composed handling, a spacious interior, and the four-seasons capability of quattro all-wheel drive.
It's part of a line-up that includes coupe and convertible variants of both the A5 and the S5, the A5 Sportback, and the immensely powerful RS 5.
Overview
With classic "look at me" proportions, a fast-sloping roof line, and an aggressive face, the S5 Sportback continues Audi's departure from the brand's outgoing design language, which was elegant yet decidedly understated. The S5 features sleek headlights, a bold rendition of Audi's trademarked singleframe radiator grille and an aggressive front bumper.
Inside, the S5 Sportback upholds Audi's reputation for high-quality cabins with a sleek dashboard, plenty of soft-touch materials and user-friendly controls. Available features include Audi's MMI infotainment system and Audi Connect, which brings in-car internet connectivity and Google Earth integration - complete with panoramic views and high-resolution 3D satellite and aerial imagery.
It's more spacious than the S4 and the S5 coupe. It offers 21.8 cubic feet of trunk space with five passengers abroad and a crossover-like 35 cubes with the second-row seats folded flat.
Under the hood
The S5 Sportback builds on the A5 with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine rated at 354 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. It spins all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission and Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system. It takes 4.5 seconds to reach 60 mph from a stop.An eight-speed automatic transmission and Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system both come standard. Fuel mileage checks in at 21 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg in a combined cycle.
Standard and optional features
The S5 Sportback can be had in two trim levels - Premium and Premium Plus.
The Premium models comes standard with a seven-inch touch screen, voice recognition, HD Radio, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, a HomeLink transceiver, keyless start and entry, parking sensors on both ends, rain-sensing wipers, Audi's pre-sense city and basic technologies, heated front seats, a combination of leather and Alcantara upholstery, three-zone A/C, split-folding rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, brushed aluminum inlays, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The Premium Plus trim adds navigation, handwriting-recognition technology, a top view camera, a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, Audi's virtual cockpit, and a head-up display.
Notable options include 19-inch alloy wheels, dynamic steering, a heated steering wheel, and carbon fiber inlays.
Occupant safety
All S5 models come standard with dual front, front side, front knee and side curtain airbags in addition to traction and stability control systems and a tire-pressure monitoring system.
Key competitors
Buyers in the market for an S5 Sportback don't have many options to choose from. Its closest rival is the Volkswagen Arteon. Motorists can also consider the more awkward-looking BMW 6 Series GT.
