Audi A5 Sportback 1.8 TFSI 160 CV, road test (Part III)

In the road test of the Audi A5 Sportback we already looked at how its 1.8 TFSI engine delivers 160 CV. Our test unit also came with the eight-speed Multitronic automatic gearbox paired with this engine, which stands out for the performance and comfort of its shifts, as we told you in the first part of the test.

In the second part we looked at the design of the A5 Sportback, a model that undoubtedly stands out for its exterior lines and for an interior that is typically coupé-like, with four spacious seats and a decent finish, in keeping with the type of vehicle it is. And now, in the third part of the test, we focus on the standard equipment, prices and our overall assessment of the model.

Equipment

As usual when we review the equipment, we start with the safety features, and the Audi A5 Sportback comes with plenty of elements to protect its occupants. As standard it has side airbags for driver and front passenger, front airbags, and stability control, among other things. Side rear airbags are available as an option, and it does not offer curtain airbags or a knee airbag, even as an option. We do not have EuroNCAP data since no Audi A5 has been tested, but since it shares many elements with the A4 we could expect similar results.

Once we have reviewed the safety equipment, the rest of the equipment remains. We are looking at a premium saloon, so, as with this type of car, the standard equipment is quite sparse, while there is a long list of extras to tailor the A5 Sportback to your taste.

As a curiosity, standard equipment includes: automatic climate control, electric mirrors, Concert radio with CD player, central locking, on-board computer, 17-inch alloy wheels and the light and rain sensor among the main items in the standard equipment.

The rest of the elements are optional, from the navigation system, bi-xenon lights or 18-inch wheels. Our test unit had a fairly well-chosen specification that equipped the A5 Sportback without needing many extras, among the optional items it had the navigation system (from 2,160 euros), the three-zone climate control which worked very well (from 545 euros), the three-spoke leather steering wheel with shift paddles (190 euros), adaptive xenon headlights (from 1,300 + 435 euros), sport front seats (740 euros) with Alcántara trim, and Bluetooth for the phone (370 euros), among others.

We chose this list of items because within the extensive optional equipment of the A5 Sportback, these are the ones that cover the most common needs without inflating the price of the car too much, and at the same time giving you an A5 Sportback with practically everything. The approximate price of our unit (according to the Audi configurator) came to around 48,800 euros.

We liked the operation of the MMI system, which covers the sound and navigation systems, since from the joystick we can control all the functions of the car, including the on-board computer. It takes a while to get used to, but it is a matter of practice. This system allowed two SD cards to be inserted with our music as a removable drive, and it also (as an extra) comes with its own adapter for USB or iPod.

Our unit also featured an assistant for the high beams, which switched them on or off automatically depending on the outside brightness or whether another vehicle was approaching. This is not the first time we have tried a similar system. In this case it seemed a little slow when a vehicle approached, but it remains a recommended extra if you travel a lot on motorways or highways at night, as it adds more comfort.

Overall Assessment

The first thing that catches your attention in the A5 Sportback is its design. It is what sets it apart from, for example, an Audi A4 or the rest of the premium saloons on the market. In exchange for that design we lose some space and are left with only four seats, but this Sportback version offers more versatility than the coupé model.

In this respect, if you want a different car and like its design, it is a good option that does not force you to give up the space of a saloon. As for the engine, our unit had the 160 CV petrol, but if you cover a lot of kilometres the most advisable choice is a TDI since it will be cheaper to run than this petrol, though in its favour the petrol has the character. It is an engine for those who like petrol cars and with which you can get the most out of the A5 Sportback, always maintaining a balance between performance and economy.

The eight-speed Multitronic automatic gearbox is recommended for its good response. When cruising calmly it keeps the engine at low revs to favour consumption, while switching to Sport mode gives a faster, more immediate response from the engine and makes driving considerably more enjoyable.

But, as always with this type of car, we find sparse standard equipment, meaning you have to rely on extras if you want a reasonably well-equipped car. In our case it started from 38,060 euros (with the automatic gearbox), and the optional equipment added 10,780 euros, so the final price of our A5 Sportback is 48,800 euros. And it only includes the typical elements of a saloon of this kind, since the list of extras is long and you could equip it with many more things. Comparatively, it sits in the normal range of the segment, for example the Mercedes C-Class we tested a few months ago exceeded 50,000 euros (with the equipment fitted to our test unit) and, compared with the rest of the range, the A5 Sportback is fairly well equipped for just a little more than the starting price of the 2.0 TFSI 211 CV (44,320 euros).

In short, the A5 Sportback is similar to an A4 in terms of interior space and finish, but you pay a little more for a design that is different from the rest. The entry-level petrol engine is more than enough to have fun behind the wheel if you love petrol cars, and it is complemented by a gearbox that is up to the task with eight speeds.

Prices

• 1.8 TFSI 160 CV 6-speed Front-wheel drive 35,530 euros
• 2.0 TFSI 180 CV 6-speed Front-wheel drive 36,270 euros
• 1.8 TFSI 160 CV Multitronic Front-wheel drive 38,060 euros
• 2.0 TFSI 211 CV 6-speed Front-wheel drive 40,150 euros
• 2.0 TFSI 180 CV Multitronic Front-wheel drive 40,280 euros
• 2.0 TFSI 211 CV 6-speed Quattro 44,010 euros
• 2.0 TFSI 211 CV Multitronic Front-wheel drive 44,320 euros
• 2.0 TFSI 211 CV S tronic Quattro 46,540 euros
• 3.2 FSI 265 CV S tronic Quattro 53,350 euros
• 2.0 TDI 143 CV 6-speed Front-wheel drive 36,560 euros
• 2.0 TDI 170 CV 6-speed Front-wheel drive 38,950 euros
• 2.0 TDI 143 CV Multitronic Front-wheel drive 38,990 euros
• 2.0 TDI 170 CV 6-speed Quattro 41,090 euros
• 2.7 TDI 190 CV 6-speed Front-wheel drive 41,740 euros
• 2.7 TDI 190 CV Multitronic Front-wheel drive 45,970 euros
• 3.0 TDI 240 CV 6-speed Quattro 48,870 euros
• 3.0 TDI 240 CV S tronic Quattro 51,400 euros

Photos | David Taboada