Audi Q5 Sportback Premium Plus 2021 in Daytona Gray ($595)
2022 Audi Q5 Sportback Premium Plus
Class: High-end compact crossover
Driving miles: 724
Fuel used: 30.4 gallons
Real-world fuel economy: 23.8 mpg
| Corporate governance report card | |
|---|---|
| Rooms and Facilities | B- |
| Power and performance | REMOVE |
| Fit and perfect | ONE- |
| Energy saving | B- |
| Value | REMOVE |
| The score of the report card is obtained from the consensus of the test-driver assessments. All classes are compared with other vehicles in the same class. The value tier is for the specific level being evaluated and may not reflect the Consumer Guide’s impression of the entire product line. | |
| Comfortable big & tall | |
| Big boy | ONE- |
| Tall guy | One |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for the front seats only. The “Large” rating is based on a male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, the “High” rating is based on a 6’6″ tall male tester. | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine Specifications | 261 hp 2.0L |
| Engine type | Turbo 4 cylinder |
| Transmission process | 7-speed automatic transmission |
| Steering wheel | AWD |
Combined driving: 45% city, 55% highway
EPA estimated fuel economy: 23/28/25 (mpg city/highway/combined)
Fuel Type: Premium gasoline
Base price (model year 2021): $47,800 (excluding $1095 transport fee)
Options (model year 2021): Daytona Gray Pearl Effect Paint ($595), Premium Plus Package ($3200), Navigation Pack ($1500), Sports Pack ($1400), Bang & Olufsen Sound System with 3D Sound ($950) )
Price as checked: $56,540
Quick hits
Wonderful thing: Sophisticated cabin space; fashion design inside and out; good driving/handling balance
Good: Rich list of standard features; classy interior materials; relatively simple infotainment interface
Not so good: Cheaper and less practical than the regular Q5 series; Our observed fuel economy does not quite match the EPA estimate
More Q5 price and availability information
Damon Bell
If you can’t beat them, join them. Last year, Audi entered the covered SUV game with the introduction of a Sportback version of its compact Q5 crossover. Several luxury brands offer “coupe-esque” versions of their regular SUVs — in lieu of the standard vertical roofline, these variants gain a sleeker look through the stylish rear roof shape. reverse car, and sometimes some rougher front and rear -fasciae styling to boot. You’ll pay a price for that extra style, though, as the lower roofline often affects maximum cargo capacity, rear-view visibility, and rear-seat space. Literally, you’ll also pay a price — as well as a higher transaction price — as manufacturers charge a premium for these models over their standard lineup. (The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus model is about $2700 more expensive than the equivalent regular Q5.)
The Audi Q5 Sportback follows the sporty-SUV-style formula of rivals such as the BMW X4 and Infiniti QX55 — taking a mainstream premium brand crossover and giving it a sleeker, sexier roofline and charge premium for it.
This formula seems to be working well, consistently attracting enough buyers to keep the genre alive. Particularly in the premium small SUV segment, BMW offers an X4 version of its mainstream X3, Mercedes-Benz offers a Coupe version of the GLC-Class and Infiniti launches a QX55 version of the QX50 as a new model. for the year 2022.
The entire Audi Q5 line-up has been refreshed for 2021, including updated exterior styling and a larger touchscreen with updated infotainment software, as well as a slight increase in horsepower and a mild-hybrid system. for 2.0 liter turbocharged 4 cylinder engine. As before, all Q5s come standard with all-wheel drive (Audi calls it “Quattro”). For 2022, the Q5 Sportback mostly stands, save for some minor changes to standard and optional features and the addition of “Black Optic” exterior trim to the Sport Package. And, of course, the price is higher, too: The late 2021 test car shown here has a final sticker price of $56,540, but to recreate this car into the 2022 model is equipped with the Sports Pack black, you’ll have to go back to the $60,240 tone.
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The interior of the Q5 is very cool and sophisticated in the best fashion of the German brand. The Premium Plus version adds a host of desirable features, such as Audi’s sleek Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster and heated steering wheel.
The Q5’s cabin space is a strong point. The interior feels premium and the seats are comfortable, and a generously sized panoramic sunroof is standard. The front door apertures are a bit difficult for taller people – especially for an SUV – although there is good space for tall people once you’re in the seats. Rear seat space is not spacious; Legroom can be tight behind a tall front passenger, and that sloping roofline limits headroom for tall passengers. The rear seats recline back to free up a bit of headroom, but not very far – just about an inch or so.
The rear cargo area is nicely finished — it features handy vertical bins with cargo nets attached to the sidewalls, plus LED lights that illuminate the cargo area well in the dark. The cargo floor is designed to be lightweight, helping to keep goods from sliding or rolling out when the elevator doors are opened. As expected, the rear sloping roofline minimizes cargo space, but not significantly – the Sportback’s cargo volume measures up to 24.7 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats (about a foot less than that). cubic feet compared to the regular Q5) and 51.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded (about 2 cubic feet less than the Q5).
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A generously sized panoramic sunroof is standard equipment. There’s adequate space for adults in the rear, though the rear sloping roof can affect headroom for tall passengers.
The center armrest of the front seats is height-adjustable (a good touch), but can store small items better overall. Storage space in the center console below the armrest isn’t particularly generous; a wireless charging pad is cleverly integrated into a slide, but it hides the dual cup holders in its front position. None of the three shallow, oddly shaped center console bins work to hold a smartphone.
However, we don’t have any major problems with the control layout. The infotainment system is well laid out, and it delivers mild haptic feedback — and a clearly audible “split” sound — in response to inputs. We appreciate this feature, as we never had to wonder if our finger was “registered” to the system. The climate controls are also easy to use.
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The sloping roofline helps reduce maximum cargo weight compared to the regular Q5, but there’s still respectable space here: 24.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 51.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. .
Choosing the Premium Plus version offers many desirable features, including a 360-degree surround-view screen, a heated steering wheel with touch recognition, driver’s seat memory, adaptive cruise control with Traffic jam assist and Audi Active Lane Assist, electric-folding exterior mirrors with auto-dimming and Audi’s sleek Virtual Cockpit configurable digital instrument cluster.
The 261hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder – known as “45 TFSI” in Audi’s nomenclature – sounds appropriately sporty when throttled and offers respectable overall power, with the same transmission. Smooth 7-speed automatic transmission. However, the throttle response can feel soft when stopped, and the accelerator pedal itself feels mushy. There are multiple drive modes — Offroad, Comfort, Auto, and Dynamic, plus a customizable Personal mode — but we didn’t notice a huge difference between them while driving on the road. If you want more power, you’ll have to upgrade to the sportier SQ5 (349hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V6) or the Q5 55 plug-in-hybrid (combining a turbocharged four-cylinder with an electric motor and 17.9 kWh lithium-ion battery, for a total output of 362 hp). However, both of those versions are significantly more expensive, and the PHEV powertrain isn’t available with the Sportback trim.
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For 2021, all Q5s receive a slight styling change, giving the look a more consistent look with the rest of the Audi lineup.
In keeping with Audi’s sporty-luxury brand image, the Q5 performs well on bumps, but our test car drove quite well considering the sport suspension and wheels. Heavy 21 inches on low profile tires (all part of the optional Sport Package). However, its ride height is oddly high, for an SUV that focuses more on on-road sportiness than off-road. The aluminum suspension components visible through the large gap between the tire and the fender look a bit unsophisticated.
Overall, though, the Q5 Sportback delivers on what it sets out to offer: It effectively completes the look of the base Q5 without making major compromises.
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If you value sportier styling over optimal cargo volume and rear-seat space, and you’re willing to pay a premium for that sleek look, then the Audi Q5 Sportback is for you.
Audi Q5 Sportback showroom 2022
Click below to see enlarged image
2022 Audi Q5 Sportback
2022 Audi Q5 Sportback
