For style and function, Audi’s A5 Sportback is unique
Published: 15 Nov. 2013, 20:42
There are undoubtedly various reasons to explain Audi’s success in Korea, but the impression I have is that the brand has positioned itself well between its German compatriots and competitors BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It is sporty and young, but a bit more fashionable and not as “heavy” compared to those other German brands.
When I talk to friends or colleagues about Audi, one aspect always comes out - its sexy designs, highlighted by sleek curves. No wonder the brand has many young women fans. As for men, design appeals to them as well, but they also point out the famous Audi Quattro technology.
Most Audis you see on the streets of Seoul are even-numbered sedans like the A4 or A6. But to diversify its portfolio, Audi Korea has been introducing various models, and the A5 Sportback stands out in terms of uniqueness. At first thought, the name “A5” poses a question: “What can this car offer being placed between the A4 and A6?” But anyone who knows the A5 coupe or cabriolet realizes the A5 is more sporty and dynamic than those two. In fact, it would be better to call the A5 a younger brother of the A7.
The bigger question is what Sportback means.
At first glance, you could confuse the A5 Sportback with the A4 sedan (size-wise, people will easily notice that this is not the A6). They look almost the same from the front and back. The headlamps - which remind me of the eyes of Iron Man - are slightly different from the A4, but would be easy to overlook. The tail lamps are almost identical.
The highlight of A5 Sportback is its trunk. The lid includes the rear window, making it easy for drivers to load and unload their cargo. The trunk has 480 liters (126.8 gallons) of capacity, which is enough to hold three golf bags. By folding down the back seat, the capacity doubles. Provided by the company
Looking “sporty” only partly explains the name “Sportback.” When I opened the trunk, I discovered the answer.
The A5 Sportback combines the rear window and trunk into one large piece that opens to reveal 480 liters (126.8 gallons) of trunk capacity. According to Audi Korea, it is enough to hold three golf bags, and from my personal experience, it was big enough to hold my camping equipment. Furthermore, folding down the back seat will double the cargo space.
So, the trunk is a compromise between a standard sedan trunk, a station wagon and a hatchback. With a coupe-like design with four doors, the car, after all, shares characteristics of sedans, coupes and even hatchbacks.
After opening the frame-less doors and sitting in the driver seat, you get a sporty feeling with a lower sitting position. In the back seats, the space is roomy enough. The A5 Sportback has a longer wheelbase than the A5 coupe or A4 sedan.
The interior design is not particularly unique. In fact, it’s almost the same as the A4. From the instrumental panel to the steering wheel, it’s what you can expect from other Audi models. But as with other Audis, the navigation system is difficult to operate in terms of entering destinations compared to touch-screen navigation systems.
The driving performance is also what you can expect from Audi. The A5 Sportback isn’t a sport car, but compared to the A4 or A6 sedan it gives a different driving feel, probably because the body is set lower.
The A5 Sportback is equipped with a 2-liter TDI engine, which already has been tested and verified in the market so many times by the owners of the Audi A or Q series, Volkswagen Golf, Passat or CC.
The diesel engine can give 177 maximum horsepower and with a 7-speed S-tronic gearbox, it is enough to enjoy instant speed. The noise of the diesel engine isn’t intrusive.
The car is also fun to drive because it’s equipped with Audi’s famous Drive Select system. Four modes - Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Individual - will automatically modify the reactiveness of the engine, steering, transmission shifts and gives different modes of driving. The paddle shift behind the steering wheel is also enjoyable. It is difficult to think of competitors to the A5 Sportback because the style of the car is really unique. BMW’s GT or Touring and Mercedes-Benz’s Shooting Brake or CLS come to mind, but none are really the same.
The price of the A5 Sportback starts from 58.4 million won with the dynamic edition sold at 62.9 million won ($59,161). The price of the car is comparable to the Audi A6 or other German midsize sedans, but if you like to experience some “mixed taste,” this is the car to consider.
Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TDI Quattro
Length : 4.7 m
Width : 1.85 m
Height :1.39 m
Engine displacement: 1,968 cc
Max. Horsepower: 177 hp / 4,200 rpm
Max. Torque: 38.8 kg.m / 1,750-2,200 rpm
Max. Speed: 222 km/h
Fuel efficiency: 15 km/l
Source: the company
By joo kyung-don [kjoo@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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