The Sportback is the S5’s greatest physique type.
Steven Ewing/Roadshow
You know, a lot as I like the 444-horsepower Audi RS5 Sportback, it is just a bit too buttoned-up for its personal good. And after per week with the 349-hp S5 Sportback, I am unable to think about why you’d ever want one thing extra.
LikeHatchback versatilityComfortin a position and opulentSporty while you need it to beBest cabin tech within the phase
Don’t LikeV6 does not sound that greatRear headroom is briefly provide
All the issues I like in regards to the RS5 Sportback carry over to the S5. It appears nice, it is quiet, it is comfy, the tech is top-notch and you may throw a bunch of stuff within the again due to its hatch. The S5’s 3.0-liter turbo V6 makes 349 hp and 369 pound-feet of torque, which is lots, and with Quattro all-wheel drive and a quick-shifting, eight-speed automated transmission, this S5 will hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Yeah, the RS5 Sportback will do the 0-to-60-mph sprint in 3.8 seconds, however except you are often taking your four-door luxurious hatchback to the monitor (you are not), that 0.7-second discrepancy means subsequent to nothing in the actual world. Besides, one in all my key complaints in regards to the in any other case flawless RS5 is that it is type of sterile — like, positive, it is fast, however there isn’t any uncooked emotion. The S5 is like this, too, however it’s a little bit extra acceptable in a automobile that is alleged to be a midtier performer. There’s a giant distinction between a Mercedes-AMG C43 and C63, however the S5 and RS5 really feel remarkably comparable more often than not.
The S5’s 3.0-liter V6 is a pleasant engine. There’s a lot of low-end torque and the twin-scroll turbocharger spools up shortly to ship enhance on demand. Having enjoyable with the engine does not completely tank your gasoline financial system, both. I bought 23 miles per gallon throughout per week of enjoying round within the canyons and working errands round Los Angeles, matching the EPA-estimated mixed ranking.This top-level Prestige trim has the $2,500 S Sport Package add-on, which is a reasonably strong improve. You get a stiffer suspension with adaptive dampers, although it isn’t so harsh that it will punish you over freeway enlargement joints. But the actual purpose to seize this feature is the game rear differential, which provides torque-vectoring to the rear axle. And for the reason that Quattro all-wheel-drive system is rear-biased anyway, this makes the S5 a little bit extra energetic in tight corners. You’ll by no means mistake it for a rear-wheel-drive automobile, however that is high-quality. And if you happen to reside in a cold-weather state, slap a set of winter tires on this unhealthy boy and dwell it up when the roads are empty after a contemporary snowfall.
This is the primary purpose why you go for the Sportback.
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In addition to the standard Comfort, Auto and Dynamic settings, the Audi Drive Select has a customizable Individual mode, which I take advantage of on a regular basis. My favourite solution to drive the S5 is with the chassis on its softest setting, the steering in Dynamic and the engine in Auto. There’s a variable-ratio Dynamic Steering possibility which you can add for $1,500, and I like the way in which it quickens up the response in its sportiest setting, although it is fairly gentle within the default Comfort mode.
The smartest thing in regards to the S5 Sportback is a trait I’ve present in Audi’s different S automobiles: nice stability. With every thing turned to Dynamic it is a hoot on twisty roads, however dial it again to Auto and the S5 chills out and simply exists as a luxurious automobile, which is ideal for while you’re sitting in visitors or simply choosing up some carry-out from the taco place down the road. The RS5 has this good stability as effectively, however it’s $20,000 costlier than an S5, and the additional energy does not include the additional pleasure to make it definitely worth the surcharge. The S5 will get a number of little updates this 12 months, together with refreshed LED headlights and taillights that do not actually transfer the attractiveness needle for me somehow. I’m all for including the $2,200 Black Optic Package, although; the 20-inch wheels look superior and I just like the darker trim across the outdoors of the automobile. I’ll at all times favor the Sportback physique type to the two-door Coupe and Cabriolet, largely as a result of it provides a ton of performance with out screwing up the design. Pop the hatch and there is 21.8 cubic toes of space for storing, greater than doubling that of the S5 Coupe. Plus, you’ll be able to simply fold the seats right down to haul longer objects. I’d say, “Who needs a crossover?” But I’m not about to open that may of worms.The 10.1-inch middle show will get Audi’s newest infotainment tech.
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There’s some new cabin tech within the S5 this 12 months: Audi’s MIB 3 multimedia system, housed on a 10.1-inch show. The excellent news is that the primary menu tiles are colourful, the display instantly responds to inputs and the general menu construction is fairly simple to study. The unhealthy information is that the S5 does not get the second display beneath the sprint — like what you discover on the S6, for instance — so there is not an enormous pad for handwriting recognition. Instead, there is a easy row of local weather controls which appears high-quality on this refined cabin. Besides, the ace up the S5’s sleeve is the Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster, which continues to be one in all my favourite bits of automobile tech in spite of everything these years.All that stuff comes commonplace on the Prestige, which is an $8,400 upcharge over the S5 Sportback’s $52,895 beginning value (together with $995 for vacation spot). You additionally get all of Audi’s driver-assistance options, like full-speed adaptive cruise management with visitors jam help, lane-keeping help, a head-up show, visitors signal recognition, parking help, a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, wi-fi telephone charging and an entire bunch of different goodies.This is the perfect S5.
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A completely loaded S5 Sportback like this one is available in at $69,240. That looks like quite a bit, however it’s completely consistent with a Mercedes-AMG C43 (which is not even a hatchback and due to this fact not pretty much as good). I feel most individuals shall be high-quality with a midlevel Premium Plus and some alternative choices. I fooled round on Audi’s configurator and got here up with my excellent S5 Sportback and it is a barely extra cheap $63,340.The S5 Sportback is a extremely good all-rounder that is laborious to prime. Its predominant rivals are the BMW 440i Gran Coupe and Kia Stinger GT, except you wish to develop your considering to incorporate crossover-coupes which, effectively, no. The BMW is fairly previous at this level and I’m undecided Audi consumers are open-minded sufficient to contemplate stopping by a Kia supplier simply but, regardless of how cool the Stinger is. Honestly, the S5 Sportback’s closest opponents are different Audis — specifically the S4 sedan or, actually, an SQ5 crossover. But I’d completely have the S5 Sportback over each of these choices. After all, I’d have it over the hot-shot RS5, too.