2023 Audi Q5 Sportback SUV

　　

2023 Audi Q5 Sportback Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　, rating written byMark TakahashiReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　Coupe-like SUVs began showing up in 2008, offering a sportier silhouette than the typical boxy SUV. The unfortunate trade-off comes with a cut in rear passenger headroom and cargo capacity, which runs counters to a central appeal of an SUV. In recent years several luxury brands have introduced their own models with tapering rooflines. Audi was fairly late to the coupe-like SUV game when it introduced the Q5 Sportback in 2021, but it seems like time well spent.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Audi Q5 Sportback Premium S line 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

　　$188/mo  for Q5 Sportback Premium S line

　　Q5 Sportback Premium S line

　　Premium S line 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) - $51,000 MSRPPremium Plus S line 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) (Most Popular) - $54,600 MSRPPrestige S line 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) - $59,700 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Unlike its coupe-shaped rivals, the 2023 Audi Q5 Sportback makes few sacrifices to interior space. You'll lose about 2 inches of rear headroom but just less than a cubic foot of cargo capacity compared to the standard Q5. This year, the Q5 adds further enticement with standard adaptive cruise control for all models and premium audio for the midrange trim.

　　Unfortunately, the Q5 Sportback is handicapped by a noticeable delay in acceleration, making it feel much slower than it is. We cover that, and the rest of the Q5's advantages and drawbacks, in detail in our Expert Rating below. Check it out to see how it compares to our favorites in the class, including the BMW X3, Acura RDX and Genesis GV70.

　　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 amid 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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below