2021 Audi Q5 Sportback Review

　　

2021 Audi Q5 Sportback Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　Luxury SUVs with coupe-like styling are a growing trend, and the 2021 Audi Q5 Sportback is the latest addition. It has a more rakish roofline than Audi's regular Q5 small SUV that imparts a sportier look, though it comes at the expense of reduced cargo space. Audi also fits the Q5 Sportback with a standard sport-tuned suspension and more thickly bolstered front seats to better hold you in place while cornering, but otherwise it's the same as the standard Q5.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Audi Q5 Sportback Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$187/mo  for Q5 Sportback Premium

　　Q5 Sportback Premium

　　Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) - $47,800 MSRPPremium Plus 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) (Most Popular) - $51,000 MSRPPrestige 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) - $56,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Three trim levels are available, and all are fitted with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that generates a respectable 261 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard and, as is expected of an Audi, the 2021 Q5 Sportback is awash in luxury and technology. Highlights include Audi's latest infotainment system, an available digital instrument panel display, and numerous driving assistance and collision avoidance systems.

　　The Q5 Sportback faces off against similarly conceived coupe-like SUVs such as the BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe. All of them are of somewhat questionable value — you're paying more for less utility than what the regular Q5, X3 and GLC provide — but it's hard to put a price on style. Check out our Expert Rating below to get our test team's full take on the Q5 Sportback.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Q5 Sportback drive? Our Q5 Sportback accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds at our test track. That's a respectably quick time for a small luxury SUV with a base engine. Out in real-world driving, however, the engine sometimes feels overworked and there's a noticeable delay when you press the gas pedal.

　　Braking is the opposite — it feels good on the street and makes it easy to bring the Audi to a smooth stop. But in our track performance braking testing, our Sportback needed 129 feet to stop from 60 mph, which is longer than average. The antilock braking system is pretty noisy too.

　　Other downsides include overly vague and imprecise steering (you don't get a good feel for the road) and an engine stop-start system that's overly jarring when it fires the engine back up. The Q5 Sportback does have good grip and poise when you push it hard around turns, but it's the singular bright spot for otherwise middling performance.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Q5 Sportback? Our test Q5 Sportback came in the Prestige trim with the superbly comfortable front sport seats that have heating and ventilation. These front seats are the single most premium item in the cabin. Sitting in the driver's seat, you feel very well insulated from the outside world.

　　However, there are issues with ride comfort. The suspension sends vibration from the road to your seat, making it unavoidable that you will feel cracks and bumps in the pavement. It's not especially firm or sporty — it's just constantly busy. The lack of a refined ride quality is unusual in luxury SUVs of this caliber, and we expect more from the Q5 Sportback.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? With the Sportback design, it can be a bit more difficult to get in and out than the standard Q5 — especially for tall passengers. But once you're inside, the cabin is spacious whether you're sitting in the front or the back seat. We also like the commanding driving position that provides impressive outward visibility.

　　The standard 10.1-inch touchscreen looks great, but it's mounted to the top of the dashboard like a tacked-on tablet. That looks a little awkward, and it's even stranger to use. There is no dial or touchpad controller, so you need to poke and swipe to operate the infotainment system. This feels like it could be made easier.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? Audi's navigation maps are clear and easy to read, with accurate turn-by-turn directions. Our test vehicle came with a rich and voluminous Bang & Olufsen stereo system that certainly scores some luxury points. The advanced driver aids also performed well. Adaptive cruise control is helpful to use on the freeway, and you can't possibly miss the flashing blind-spot warning lights — we actually wish they weren't as bright.

　　There were a few hiccups. Though wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone integration comes standard, connection issues forced us to plug in via a USB port. Bluetooth compatibility worked well, and our vehicle included a wireless charging station. Don't expect much from the voice activation system, which requires you to adhere to strict prompts.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? At 24.7 cubic feet, the Q5 Sportback's trunk is average for the class and only slightly smaller than the standard Q5's below the window beltline. Stack items higher and you'll notice a bigger difference. There are a few tie-down points inside but no underfloor storage. Small-item storage inside the cabin is a bit below average. There's an average-size center console and two small trays that could hold some business cards but not much else.

　　When so equipped, the Q5 boasts a maximum towing capacity up to 4,400 pounds, which is strong for the class. Only a few competitors can match it. For parents, the easily accessible car seat points and roomy back seat should make it easy to install even the bulkiest of rear-facing infant seats.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Q5 Sportback gets an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in combined driving (23 city/28 highway). That's the same as a BMW X3 xDrive30i and higher than the estimates for a Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic and Volvo XC60 AWD. Our test vehicle returned 26.8 mpg on our evaluation loop in real-world driving, which indicates this estimate should be accurate.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Q5 Sportback a good value? Build quality is a hallmark of Audi vehicles, and the Q5 Sportback is true to the brand. The interior panels exhibit a tight fit throughout the cabin, and there's an interesting mixture of authentic metals, leathers and woods inside. Some competitors do a better job of wowing you with crystals or flashy styling, but the Q5 Sportback brings a lot to the table.

　　The Sportback's base price is appealing for a luxury SUV considering you get standard all-wheel drive. But by the time you get up to the Prestige trim, pretty much every rival offers the same impressive set of features. There isn't a whole lot that separates the Audi from the pack at this price. Audi offers only four years/50,000 miles of coverage for the basic and powertrain warranties, which is merely average for the class.

　　

Wildcard

6.5/10

　　While the Q5 Sportback might be more visually appealing to some than the standard model, it's relatively uninspiring to drive. There's nothing dynamically impressive to spark driver interest or set it apart from the current crop of luxury SUVs. If you're looking for driving fun, an upgrade to the sportier SQ5 model might be your best bet.

　　

Which Q5 Sportback does zzdcar recommend?

While the standard Q5 Sportback Premium offers the best value, the Premium Plus trim level adds desirable features such as a configurable digital instrument panel (Audi Virtual Cockpit) and more driving assistance systems. Plus, it provides more choice in terms of optional equipment, including a Sport package, navigation and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system.

　　

2021 Audi Q5 Sportback models

Audi offers the Q5 Sportback in Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige trim levels. Each one carries a 45 TFSI designation, which means it has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (261 horsepower, 273 lb-ft of torque), a seven-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Audi also sells the new Q5 Sportback in a performance-tuned SQ5 variant, which is reviewed separately on zzdcar.

　　Premium

　　Audi is good about supplying features that you expect on a luxury vehicle as standard equipment. Highlights of the Premium trim include:

　　19-inch aluminum wheels LED headlights Panoramic sunroof Power rear liftgate Three-zone automatic climate control Front sport seats Leather upholstery Power-adjustable, heated front seats 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Frontal collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Front and rear parking sensorsPremium Plus

　　The Premium Plus adds several features that make the Q5 Sportback more desirable, such as:

　　Power-folding exterior mirrors Hands-free keyless entry Simulated leather on door armrests and center console Audi Virtual Cockpit digital instrumentation display Heated steering wheel Wireless smartphone charging Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Audi and the car in front) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Traffic Jam Assist (adaptive cruise control and lane keeping system for low-speed driving in traffic) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Q5 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)Prestige

　　The Q5 Sportback Prestige comes with the most standard features. Here you get:

　　Upgraded LED headlights Interior ambient lighting Sound-insulating front side windows Ventilated front seats Heated rear seats Navigation system Bang & Olufsen premium sound system Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)

　　

2021 Q5 Sportback Highlights

Trim: PremiumPremium PlusPrestigePremium

　　

Base MSRP	$47,800
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$187/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	24.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles