Audi‘s attempts to cover every available niche see the five-door Sportback slot in between the A4 Avant and the A5 coupe, making a five-model line-up in the sector of saloon, estate, hatchback, coupe and convertible.
Priced below the coupe, the new four-seater is available initially with a choice of three petrol and three diesel engines. Having tried what should be the biggest seller, the 170PS 2.0 diesel, earlier this year, we’ve now had the chance to try the 3.0 TDI S-tronic, which is an excellent engine even if the auto gearbox pushes emissions up to 174g/km.
The design looks imposing, and the car gives the appearance of looking larger than it actually is, while offering a little too much metalwork. The extra practicality of the hatchback is, though, welcome, even if it does come at a price. By branding the car A5, rather than A4 Sportback and making it part of the coupe’s line-up, there’s a big premium over a saloon A4, which is essentially the same car, save some specification differences, and a saloon rather than hatch. Kwikcarcost doesn’t seem entirely convinced, either, handing out just a 36.8% residual value prediction, giving this 3.0 diesel a hefty 71.7p per mile figure.
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