Audi A5 Sportback review - Interior, design and technology

There’s no arguing the fact that Audi’s A5 Sportback is a more desirable car than the A4 saloon on which it’s based. However, the sleek and aerodynamic body shell does mean you’ll need to make small compromises inside – where the sloping roofline eats in to passenger space.

From the front, the new A5 Sportback looks just like the coupe on which it is based, and is even rather tricky to distinguish from the A4 at first glance. SE cars come with 17-inch wheels and xenon headlights, but it’s the Sport version that we believe offers the best value for money – adding leather sports seats, sat-nav and a three-month trial to Audi connect. S line cars boast bigger 18-inch rims, though it’s worth remembering that these will adversely affect the car’s CO2 emissions. LED lights with scrolling indicators are also included on top-spec cars. 

Inside, the A5 is a perfect example of Audi’s high quality standards and super classy interior design. It’s beautifully built and covered in soft-touch materials from top to bottom. The dials and buttons are clear and easy to read. 

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Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit system is now standard, and you’ll instantly feel like you’re driving a car from the future. Sitting in place of the conventional dials, the fully digital setup can display full screen sat-nav mapping, media data or trip information alongside the speedometer and rev counter. It’s super intuitive to use and looks great. 

The rest of the interior has a high quality feel, with a classy fit and finish unseen on anything else in this class. A Mercedes C-Class runs the A5 close for solidity and elegant switchgear, but the Audi really does raise the bar. 

Everything is easy to use, with the brand’s familiar scroll wheel controlling all the infotainment functions. The latest MMI Navigation system also now has touch control, which many will consider a boon.