Audi Q5 Sportback (2021-2024) Review

The Q5 Sportback was Audi’s answer to a question premium buyers had been asking for years – what if you like the size, quality and road manners of a family SUV, but want something a bit more design-led than the regular square-backed norm? Audi had already offered this sort of idea higher up the range in the shape of the Q8, but the Q5 Sportback brought it into a much more mainstream premium sweet spot.

That meant its brief was very clear. It didn’t need to transform the Q5 into some radically different kind of car. It simply needed to take the things the regular Q5 already did well – refinement, quality, family usability and understated premium appeal – and wrap them in a shape that looked more interesting on the driveway.

The clever part is that Audi didn’t sacrifice as much practicality as you might expect. Yes, the boot is smaller than in the standard Q5 and the rear roofline is lower, but the Sportback never feels like a fashion victim in the way some coupe-SUVs do. It still works as a family car, which is a big part of why it makes sense as a used buy.

Audi’s range has now moved on to a newer Q5 Sportback, so this 2021-2024 car is only available used, but it still feels modern enough, still looks sharp, and now makes a more convincing financial case than it did when new.

For most used buyers, it’s the 40 TDI in Sport or S line trim. It has the sort of easy torque and long-distance refinement that suits the Q5 Sportback well, while also making far more sense on fuel than the petrol.

If your mileage is lower, the 45 TFSI is still a smooth and genuinely punchy alternative, but it's harder to justify if economy matters.

Trim matters here, too. Sport is the sensible place to start because it rides more sweetly on its smaller wheels, while S line adds the extra visual drama many buyers will understandably want. Black Edition and Vorsprung cars can look tempting, but they also bring bigger wheels and more cost.

Used Audi Q5 Sportback prices now start from around £30,000 for early Sport models, while later plug-in hybrids, upper trims and performance versions sit much higher.

There's less choice than with the regular Q5 because the Sportback arrived later and sold in smaller numbers, but there's still enough variety to be selective. As ever, trim, wheel size and engine all make a noticeable difference to how convincing the car feels.

For many buyers, the best value sits in the middle of the range with a sensibly specified diesel rather than a heavily optioned top trim or plug-in hybrid.

The BMW X4 is the most obvious direct alternative if you want a more driver-focused take on the same broad idea, while the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe is the one to look at if badge appeal and a richer-feeling cabin matter most.

The Porsche Macan is another tempting option if you value sharper road manners, while the Range Rover Velar and the Jaguar F-Pace offer slightly different takes on style-led premium SUV ownership.

The Q5 Sportback’s strength is that it still feels like one of the easiest coupe-SUVs to justify. It's polished, practical enough and more understated than some rivals.

The Q5 Sportback is less practical than the regular Q5, but not by as much as the shape first suggests. Up front, there's loads of room, a comfortable driving position and enough storage to make everyday life straightforward.

Rear-seat space is also better than many buyers will expect. A couple of adults can sit comfortably enough in the back, and while headroom is a little tighter than in the regular Q5, it's not a major issue unless you regularly carry taller passengers.

The main sacrifice is in the boot. At 510 litres, it's down on the standard Q5, but still decent by class standards and enough for most family use. The plug-in hybrid takes a bigger hit, with capacity dropping to 380 litres.

The rear seats split 40:20:40, and some higher-spec cars had the Rear Bench Seat Plus setup that allowed extra sliding and reclining flexibility. That's an option worth seeking out if practicality matters to you.

The Audi Q5 Sportback measures 4,689mm long, 2,140mm wide and 1,660mm high. It shares the same broad footprint as the regular Q5, but the sleeker rear treatment gives it a lower, more style-led stance.

In practice, it still feels manageable enough for town use and easy enough to manoeuvre on the road.

The Q5 Sportback gets Audi’s 10.1-inch infotainment screen and Virtual Cockpit Plus digital instruments, both of which still look sharp and feel suitably premium.

The main frustration is the loss of the rotary controller found in earlier models. The touchscreen-only setup looks modern, and the screen itself is mounted high enough to be easy to see, but it's not as intuitive to use on the move as the older system Audi used to fit.

Even so, the overall tech offering is strong, with wireless smartphone connectivity and a digital instrument display that still feels among the best in this class.

Material quality is one of the car’s strongest suits. The upper dashboard, switchgear, and trim all feel dense and expensive, and the whole cabin gives off a reassuringly solid feel.

This is one of those interiors where the extra money is easy to see and feel. It may not be the most flamboyant design in the class, but it's among the best executed.

Used buyers will mainly be choosing between the 40 TDI, 45 TFSI and the 50 TFSI e plug-in hybrid, while some early cars also broaden the picture with the more powerful 55 TFSI e plug-in hybrid and the SQ5 Sportback sitting separately as the performance outlier.

The 40 TDI is the key engine in the range for most buyers. It has the torque the Q5 Sportback really wants, it's refined enough for long trips, and it makes the strongest case on running costs.

The 45 TFSI is the smoother petrol alternative, while the 50 TFSI e only really makes sense if your driving pattern suits regular charging. Early cars also included a 55 TFSI e with more power, but the 50 is the more relevant used buy for most people.

The Q5 Sportback feels secure and reassuring on the road. Around town, it's easy enough to manoeuvre, the steering is light enough, and the standard parking sensors and reversing camera take some of the stress out of manoeuvring.

On a faster road, the Audi settles down into an easy, refined rhythm. It's quiet, stable and does a fine job of isolating occupants from the outside world, which makes it a very pleasant long-distance car.

Ride comfort depends quite heavily on wheel and suspension choice. Sport trim on its smaller wheels is the place to start if comfort matters most, while S line and Black Edition cars with larger alloys can feel firmer than you might want.

High-end Vorsprung models with adaptive air suspension are more supple, but for most buyers a sensibly specified Sport or S line is the more convincing used buy.

The Q5 Sportback was not separately tested by independent safety organisation Euro NCAP, but the closely related Q5 scored the maximum five stars in 2017 and the two cars share the same core safety systems.

The amount of standard kit is solid, with autonomous emergency braking, parking sensors and a reversing camera included, while higher-spec cars or optional packs add more of the clever assistance systems. As ever, it's worth checking the exact specification of any used example.

Fuel economy is respectable rather than outstanding. The 40 TDI is the best all-round choice with MPG up to around 44, while the 45 TFSI is notably thirstier with economy in the low 30s.

The plug-in hybrid looks excellent on paper, but that only really stacks up if you charge it regularly and make proper use of the electric running – up to 37 miles on battery power only. If not, you're carrying extra weight and sacrificing boot space for very little reward.

Any remaining manufacturer warranty will depend on the age of the car, but Audi Approved Used examples remain the most reassuring place to start.

Audi Approved Used currently includes a minimum of one year Audi Warranty, one year of roadside assistance and a 30-day exchange plan, which adds useful reassurance on a used premium SUV.

Audi servicing is generally straightforward, but on used examples it's still worth checking the history carefully, particularly on plug-in hybrid cars and highly specified versions with more complex optional systems.

Insurance varies across the range, but even the mainstream versions sit firmly in premium-SUV territory, ranging from groups 31 to 45 (of 50).

The 40 TDI Sport is the sensible place to start, while plug-in hybrids and higher trims climb more quickly. As always, it's worth checking quotes before you buy.

All Audi Q5 Sportbacks are liable not just for the standard annual Vehicle Excise Duty rate of £200, but also the Expensive Car Supplement for five years from the second year of registration, because all models cost more than £40,000 when new. That takes the annual bill to £640, or £56 a month by Direct Debit.