Audi A5 Sportback

Our A5 and I have come to blows in recent weeks. You see, whenever I get behind the wheel of the sleek Audi, it can be like entering the ring with a heavyweight boxing champion.

The problem is the steering, which is becoming increasingly unruly. On anything other than smooth, straight roads, the Sportback’s front wheels have a mind of their own. Bumps and cambers cause the nose to wander alarmingly and without warning, while the leather-bound rim bucks and writhes in your hands. This means that heading down a narrow back road can be unsettling and tiring, as every dab of the brakes or prod of the accelerator can cause the car to suddenly veer towards the hedge.

At first I thought I was imagining this wayward tendency, as colleagues didn’t detect anything remotely untoward after short stints behind the wheel. However, one by one they took the A5 for longer journeys, and returned with tales of torque steer and tramlining.

In the car’s defence, the problem has got worse as the front tyres have worn – the Bridgestone rubber is nearly down to its wear bars and needs changing. Yet the issue has been evident since the Sportback joined our fleet with only a few miles on the clock. I suspect the steamroller-wide optional 18-inch alloys are the culprit – I reckon a version on 17-inch rims would be a model of good behaviour.

It’s a shame that this shadow has been cast over the Audi, because in every other respect it is performing faultlessly as swift and stylish family transport. 

The rakish shape still turns heads, more than a year after the model hit UK showrooms. Only the other day, the attendant at a London petrol station remarked on what a lovely car it was. And the Sportback isn’t only a pretty face – it’s practical, too.

While the four-seater layout still irritates, the cavernous 480-litre boot swallows my 10-month-old daughter’s pram and assorted bags with ease. But it’s the quality, comfort and refinement of the cabin that really stand out.

Very few cars on our fleet can match the A5’s abilities as a long-distance express. The dash is perfectly laid out, noise is kept to a minimum and the £485 optional sports seats leave me ache free, even after a long stint behind the wheel. 

Better still, the 2.0-litre TDI is well and truly run in now, and serves up the sort of effortless pace and refinement you’d normally associate with a bigger six-cylinder unit. The only clue to the unit’s entry-level status is the 42.2mpg return at the pumps.

This mix of motorway-munching ability, great economy and desirable looks means the A5 has barely had a rest in the past 10 months. As a result, the service warning light has illuminated, 

so a trip to the dealer is on the cards. While it’s there, I’ll get the technicians to look at the tracking and fit new tyres. With luck, this fettling will restore the Audi’s composure, meaning I can once again enjoy it without worrying about any knock-out punches.

Second Opinion

“You can bet your mortgage on the fact that anybody who takes the A5 keys will come back moaning about its steering. This is a real shame because, as a car for tackling long journeys, the rest of the package is brilliant.”

Ross Pinnock, Road test editor