Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The A5 is a powerful hatchback even with the smaller engines in the range. The car handles well especially with the four-wheel-drive and has good grip, but the suspension can mean it is not as controlled on bumpy roads. Although the option of S line suspension is firmer and handles such road with more stability, it also makes the ride quite uncomfortable.

The engine is 1984cc and uses unleaded petrol with a fuel tank capacity of 61 litres. There is a seven-speed S Tronic automatic gearbox, which provides smooth acceleration.

The engines (both diesel and petrol) are quiet and refined, and the wind noise is fairly hushed too, but the road and exhaust noise penetrate.

The 2.0 TFSI Quattro S Tronic has a 208bhp engine delivering 258lb-ft of torque at 1500-4200rpm and reaches 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds with a top speed of 150mph.

The interior of the A5 is well-designed, but some slightly cheap looking features are a bit of a disappointment.

The seat and steering wheel adjust comfortably, although the pedals are set off to the right, which can be a bit uncomfortable over long distances and the clutch is in a recess in the floor which makes for awkward control. Rear view visibility is affected by the angled back window and high sides.

The 2.0 TFSI Quattro S Tronic comes with power steering, climate control, stability control, alloy wheels, MP3 connectivity and stereo as standard, with optional extras including leather seats for £1315, rear parking sensors for £335, cruise control for £225, Bluetooth for £650 and metallic paint for £615, but no option for satellite navigation.

For fuel economy, the A5 has a start/stop system and electromechanical power steering as standard, which allows for great efficiency and low CO2 emissions.

The A5 comes with all the safety equipment you would expect in a high-quality hatchback including driver, passenger and front side airbags, alarm and immobiliser as standard. It also has stability control to prevent accidents and anti-lock brakes. There are front and back ISOFIX child seat mounting points and options to fit adaptive xenon headlights, lane-departure, a rear-view camera and blind-sport warning systems.

In the past few years, Audi’s reliability rating has suffered, but the A5’s mechanical reliability received an average rating in the 2011 JD Power survey.

The boot is sizeable offering 480 litres with the rear seats up and 980 litres with the seats folded down. The A5 hatchback has got fair room in the front and back for passengers in both head and leg room.

The running costs are good with the A5 and CO2 emissions are fairly low. The 2.0 TFSI Quattro S Tronic costs £31,495 and has a combined economy of 40.4mpg and CO2 emission rate of 159g/km.

The diesel engine is much more efficient than the petrol version, but is worth the extra cost only if you make up enough miles to justify the price and the rising diesel prices. It will also save for company car drivers on tax due to the low CO2 emissions. The 2.0 litre engine is one of the best diesel options for value for money and the level of performance combined with low running costs.

The SE trim is much better value for money than the basic version as it comes with all the same equipment as the pricier S line trim, (which only adds the firmer sport suspension and a few style changes) for a very reasonable price. The basic trim misses out on a lot of the SE and S line standard equipment, such as rear parking sensors and leather seats.

The resale value on the A5 hatchback is great so it is a worthwhile investment. Audi promise good service and reliability as well and the car has low insurance rates.