Used buyer's guide: Audi A5 Sportback

On the day that Audi celebrated its 100th birthday in 2009, it announced the A5 Sportback. The five-door hatchback was hardly ground-breaking, but it wasn’t a bad way to notch up that first century of car production. Derived from the all-new A4, which had appeared during the previous year, the A5 Sportback offered style and hatchback practicality in one relatively affordable package. With the earliest cars now celebrating their fourth anniversaries, Sportback values have softened. There are lots of high-mileage examples about, but the car is proving incredibly easy to own – if not always especially cheap.

History

The first Sportbacks were delivered in October 2009. Buyers could choose from 2.0-litre TFSI or 3.2 FSI petrol engines, along with 2.0 TDI 170 or 3.0 TDI diesels. Performance junkies could buy an S5 Sportback from spring 2010. It had a 328bhp turbocharged 3.0 V6 petrol engine, and was fast and capable, if lacking in soul. The 2.0 TDIe engine, introduced in spring 2012, came with 134bhp or 163bhp, and a new SE Technik trim was added at the same time. In October 2011, the Sportback range was overhauled. As well as tweaking the exterior, Audi added 1.8 TFSI, 2.0 TDI 177 and 3.0-litre TDI 204 engines to the line-up.

Alternatives

Rivals include Audi’s own A4 Avant estate, along with the BMW 3 Series Touring and Mercedes C-Class estate. All offer a great image and are very well built, with some superb engines, although none of them is cheap to buy or run. The Volkswagen Passat CC – later just called CC – has the style, but not the A5 Sportback’s practicality. VW’s Passat estate is more practical, while the Honda Accord Tourer is also worth a closer look. how much Diesel Sportbacks outnumber petrol cars by around six to one, while about two-thirds of all those available are manuals. If you don’t mind a six-figure mileage, you can get an early example for around £12,000. It’ll almost certainly be a 2.0 TDI SE. Restrict the mileage to 60,000, and you’ll have to spend at least £14,000. The only V6 petrol cars you’re likely to find are S5s, which start at £28,000. The 3.0 V6 TDI is a better bet, from £20,000.

Running costs

All Sportbacks have variable servicing, which allows up to two years or 18,000 miles between garage visits. Hard-driven cars will need more frequent attention. Services alternate between minor and major, at £159 and £309 respectively for a four-cylinder petrol or diesel. Autos need a gearbox oil change at 40,000 miles (£140), and fresh brake fluid is required every two years (£59). Only the 2.0-litre TDI version has a cambelt – you need to replace this every 75,000 miles or five years (it costs £500, including a fresh water pump). The air-con should be checked every service – a re-gas is priced £79.