Audi A5 Sportback 3.0 TDI quattro S line 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 roads with more stability, it also makes the ride quite uncomfortable and this is a major disadvantage.

The engines (both diesel and petrol) are quiet and refined and this means that the drive is smooth and quiet. Wind noise is also kept to a minimum thanks to the well insulated cabin but unfortunately the same cannot be said for noise generated by the exhaust and road. These sounds infiltrate the cabin with ease and can affect the overall comfort levels

The 3.0 TDI Quattro S line has a 242 bhp engine which delivers 368 lb-ft of torque. This allows the car to travel from 0-62 mph in 5.9 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph, giving it decent performance credentials for its class.

The 3.0 TDI Quattro S line comes with leather seats, power steering, climate control, stability control, alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth and stereo as standard, with optional extras including cruise control for £225, metallic paint for £615 and satellite navigation for £1,620.

The seat and steering wheel offer plenty of adjustment to drivers to provide high levels of comfort but unfortunately this is undermined by an awkward pedal set-up. The pedals are set off to the right and this means that over long distances they can be uncomfortable and difficult to operate. The clutch is also set into a slight recess in the floor which makes it awkward to control. Rear view visibility is also affected by the angled back window and high sides and this means visibility is not always good.

Overall, the interior and exterior of the car is well designed but there are some cheap materials used within the cabin which diminish this somewhat.

The A5 comes with all the safety equipment you would expect in a high-quality hatchback including numerous airbags as well as an alarm and immobiliser as standard. It also has stability control to prevent accidents and anti-lock brakes which are designed to keep the car controlled during harsh braking. There are also front and back ISOFIX child seat mounting points to provide the utmost safety for passengers and options to fit adaptive xenon headlights, lane-departure warning systems, a rear-view camera and blind-sport warning systems are also available to enhance security even further.

Unfortunately, the high safety levels of the Audi and not matched in reliability and that makes this model a bit of a risk. In the past few years, Audi’s reliability rating has suffered but thankfully the A5’s mechanical reliability received an average rating in the 2011 JD Power survey which shows that the brand are making improvements.

The boot is well sized for its class and even with the seats in place there is 480 litres of room on offer. With the rear seats folded down this expands to a much larger 980 litres, providing plenty of options for owners. On top of this practicality the car also has ample room in the front and rear seats for passengers and drivers and this makes overall comfort levels high.

The 3.0 TDI Quattro S line model costs £39,005 which is relatively high, but has a combined economy of 49.6 mpg and CO2 emission rate of 149 g/km, both of which are very favourable.

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. The SE trim is much better value for money than the S line as it comes with all of the same equipment as the pricier S line trim, which only adds the firmer sport suspension and a few other style changes.

The resale value on the A5 hatchback is great so it is a worthwhile investment for those interested in long term ownersip of a high performance car.