Following the Q3 Sportback and the e-tron Sportback, Audi now presents its third crossover utility vehicle, or CUV: the first-ever Q5 Sportback. This coupé with dynamic lines addresses customers who appreciate not just an expressive design and technical innovation but also a sporty character and a high level of everyday usability. Topping the model line-up is the SQ5 Sportback TFSI. Its three-litre TFSI offers concentrated power of 260 kW and 500 Nm of torque.

The Audi Q5 Sportback exudes a powerful presence as is typical for the Q models from Audi. Large air inlets flank the octagonal Singleframe. The headlights with their distinctive daytime running light signature feature LED as standard or Matrix LED technology as optional. The continuous, elegantly sweeping shoulder line emphasizes the wheels and with them the quattro all-wheel drive.

The side sill trim on the doors imbues the CUV with stability and robustness. The greenhouse extends low over the body and begins its downward slope early so that the third side window tapers sharply to the rear. The starkly sloped rear window and the seemingly high-mounted rear bumper give the Q5 Sportback a dynamic and powerful appearance.

Audi offers the new crossover utility vehicle in the “Advanced” and “S line” exterior trim lines. Differences lie in the Singleframe, the side air inlets and in particular the rear bumper as well as the wheel size and design. There are 11 paint finishes and a variety of trims for the add-on parts to choose from, including the black styling package and both full and contrasting paint finishes. At 4.69 metres, the Q5 Sportback is seven millimetres longer than its sister model, the Q5. It shares the same height (1.66 metres) and width (1.89 metres), but at 0.30 the drag also turns out lower.

The long wheelbase of 2.82 metres provides ample room on board. With its horizontal lines, the interior is clean and airy. The “S line” interior package gives it an even more elegant or sporty appearance. It offers a wide selection of colours and upholstery materials, including the option of sports seats and top-quality fine Nappa leather. The standard contour and ambient lighting package advances the interior look of the vehicle in the typical Audi model interior identity.

The luggage compartment has a volume of 510 litres, which increases to 1480 litres when loaded to the roof and with the rear seats folded down. Audi also offers the newest member of the family with the optional rear seat bench plus (standard on the SQ5), which can be shifted laterally and has adjustable seat back angles. This expands the volume of the luggage compartment in the base configuration by up to 60 litres – on the other hand, it offers enhanced comfort for the rear-seat passengers when the seat back and seating surface are set all the way back.

Thanks to its tight setup, the standard sport suspension offers direct contact with the road. Audi also offers an alternative suspension with controlled dampers or the versatile and comfortable adaptive air suspension. It adjusts the ride height over a wide range of 60 mm. The ground clearance can be increased by as much as 45 mm when driving on unpaved roads, while the body is lowered by 15 mm when driving fast. This reduces drag while increasing efficiency at the same time.

The Audi Q5 Sportback will be launched on the market in South Africa with two engine versions. Their power output ranges from 140 kW to 183 kW. A 2.0 TDI engine is responsible for propulsion in the Q5 Sportback 40 TDI quattro. It produces 140 kW) and 400 Nm of torque, and accelerates the large CUV from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 220 km/h.

Pricing:  R960,000 – R1,355,000.