Audi A5 Sportback: Again — A5

You can have different attitudes towards the German auto industry: some unconditionally adore these cars, others prefer technology from Asia. However, it is impossible to argue with the fact that it is German engineers who virtuosically rework frankly two-door "cars for the ego" into almost full-fledged four-door ones, and also perform the reverse trick.

Today we will talk about just such an amazing transformation — from a chic sports coupe into an equally attractive hot hatchback. A5 sportback — what is it? Perhaps it is an artificial expansion of the model line? Such a thought could well come to mind, but not in the case of the four rings on the radiator grille. A5 sportback is a gesture of respect to the huge army of fans and owners of cars of this brand.

The silhouette of the A5 sportback compared to the A5 coupe has become less aggressive, but the sloping rear overhang gives the car a more dynamic look.

I think many of you are familiar with the situation when you are choosing a car, you already have a budget and a rough idea of what you are looking for. The search circle gradually narrows, and here it is — the final candidate. In front of you is a wonderful, stylish, and uncompromising A5 coupe. Everything suits you: the design, the interior, the powertrain. You are ready to part with your money. But there is one catch: a couple of months ago, you and your friends celebrated a round date — 30 or 35 years. And something in your value system has subtly changed. You look at the incredibly beautiful A5, and a thought runs through your head: you want the same, but a little calmer, not so youthful, but more solid.

And then — bam! — like a picture in a children's filmstrip, another car appears before you in the showroom. Then everything goes smoothly. You are absolutely delighted that your wishes were guessed, and the showroom managers barely have time to react. You come to your senses already at the cash register, tightly clutching the receipt for payment for the car of your dreams.

The Audi interior exudes restrained luxury and practicality in everything. Using all the main controls is easy and simple.

I turn the key! I insert it into the slot to the right of the steering wheel, a light press — and the naturally aspirated V6 with a displacement of 3.2 liters, producing 265 hp and 330 Nm of torque, begins to murmur barely audibly under the hood. I am sitting in the already familiar, meticulously refined driver's cockpit in the Audi style and watch as the tachometer and speedometer needles smoothly traverse the dials: from the lower position, where they freeze strictly vertically, as in sports cars, to the red zone, where they will soon have to rush.

The interior of this car can be described in one phrase — everything is familiar and native. The difference between the interiors of the A4, A5, and Q5 is practically imperceptible. The distances to all important controls are verified, the trim materials are ergonomic and incredibly pleasant to the touch — you have already seen and know all this.

The rear of the car, in addition to 2 additional doors, has in its arsenal a fairly spacious trunk by the standards of this class.

But let's pay attention to what is behind my back — in the rear passenger area. The seats are anatomically impeccable, with an excellent backrest angle, but you should be careful with the height of passengers. For people above average height, there is not enough headroom: due to the sloping roofline, they risk rubbing the top of their heads against the ceiling. There will be no injuries, of course, but rubbing the headliner with your hair is quite possible. Also, getting onto the rear sofa through frameless doors is not very convenient — the opening is a bit narrow. But all these shortcomings are just nitpicking, because compared to a classic coupe, this car is much more practical and convenient.

The frameless glazing of all 4 doors once again hints at the "coupe" origin of the body. Doors with such glazing look very impressive

Having seated everyone who wants to in the car, do not forget about their luggage. And here the Audi A5 Sportback pleasantly surprises: the trunk volume is quite unexpected for a car with such swift, almost air-cutting body contours, like a "katana" sword. In addition to impressive dynamic qualities, the car, by good tradition, also indulges with impeccable road behavior.

The seats of the A5 Sportback are civilly comfortable and sportily tenacious. A pleasant addition to the overall seat profile is the extending knee support.

In the new generation of quattro, the Torsen differential has become asymmetric: in normal mode, torque is distributed in a 60 to 40 ratio in favor of the rear axle. This makes the car more precise and predictable in handling, because shifting torque to the rear compensates for the weight distribution shortcomings caused by the heavy engine in the front.

But in the handling character of Audi there is one constant trait: whoever buys a car of this brand can always be sure that the car will behave predictably and reliably in any situation, not allowing the driver to make a mistake due to inexperience or for any other reason.

The huge lid swings open at an impressive angle, providing convenient access to the luggage compartment.

Time flew by unnoticed, and that very buyer who once wavered in doubt, having already driven more than one thousand kilometers, continues to rejoice in his unmistakable choice. The A5 sportback was created precisely for "its" owner.

Dmitry Malygin.