2010 Audi A5 Reviews

Convertibles, or cabriolets as they have become known, have had a resurgence in popularity in recent times and for good reason. Where they were basic and offered little refinement they now rival their closed cousins in comfort and convenience. Buy a cabriolet today and you lose almost nothing compared to a coupe.NEWThe Audi A5 cabriolet launched in 2009 delivered open-air motoring with all the closed-car refinement you could wish for. Audi chose to employ a conventional soft-top instead of a folding steel roof that many carmakers now offer, even on cheaper models.The A5's roof was a lightweight fabric one with a flat, clear glass rear window. With the roof up the cabin was quiet and comfortable, there was none of the buffeting or wind noise that was synonymous with convertibles of old. When wanted the roof could be lowered at the flick of a switch mounted on the centre console.A matter of just 15 seconds later it was folded away out of sight in the rear compartment. It was full automatic, and if needed it could be done while on the move at 50 km/h should you need to avoid getting wet.It only takes up a small amount of storage space, leaving plenty for luggage, and if the boot is full and there's insufficient space for the roof when you go to lower it an alarm sounds to warn you and the roof won't open.The A5 is a full four-seater able to accommodate four adults in comfort, and if needed the rear seat can be folded flat to create a large luggage space through to the boot.Audi offered the A5 cab with two petrol engines, a 2.0-litre turbo four and a 3.2-litre V6, and a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6. The entry model came with the 2.0-litre engine, CVT transmission and front-wheel drive; all others came with Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive system.All others came with a 7-speed dual clutch auto and the Quattro all-wheel drive system.NOWThe disadvantage of a cloth roof like the Audi's is that it wears and can be affected by the sun, sleet and snow. When checking the roof, run it up and down several times, when stationary and when on the move at slow speed, and make sure it goes up and down smoothly.Check for wear, particularly at the points where the roof folds, and check for rips and tears in the roof fabric. The A5 has a glass rear window, so there's none of the fogging associated with plastic windows of years gone by.Look for evidence on the inside of exposure to the sun, looking for trim that has faded or become brittle. Also pay attention for squeaks and rattles when test-driving a cabriolet. With a less sturdy body structure than a closed car they are more prone to developing body squeaks and rattles.The A5's transmissions also warrant thorough testing. Although they are quite different transmissions, one a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and the other a dual-clutch DSG automatic, they can have issues that can be expensive to rectify.When test-driving your potential purchase put it through its paces at low speed as well as high speed, fast and slow acceleration, and particularly check the take-off to make sure there is no hesitation, no shuddering or jerking, and progress is smooth and uninterrupted.Also give the car a thorough inspection, externally looking for bumps and scrapes, and under the bonnet where you should look for oil or coolant leaks.SMITHY SAYSA great cruiser if you're looking for a cool summer ride.Price new: $79,400 to $116,500Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder, 132 kW/320 Nm: 3.2 V6, 195 kW/300 Nm; 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel, 176 kW/500 Nm.Transmission: CVT, 7-speed DSG; FWD, AWD.Economy: 7.4 L/100 km (2.0T), 8.2 L/100 km (V6), 6.9 L/100 km (TD)Body: 2-door cabriolet Variants: 2.0 TFSi, 2.0 TFSi Quattro, 3.2 FSi Quattro, 3.0 TDi Quattro.Safety: Dual front, side head airbags, rollover protection, ABS, ESP.COMING UPDo you own a Holden Colorado? If so tell us what you think of it by sending your comments to Graham Smith at grah.smith@bigpond.com or Carsguide, PO Box 4245, Sydney, NSW, 2010.

Audi should sponsor the Freo Dockers. Both have done the hard yards and both have really pulled their socks up in the past year without any free kicks. For those that don't know about the Dockers - it's a football team in WA. For those who don't know about WA, stop reading now.Audi is already well known but that wasn't the case a decade ago when it was always a sidekick to BMW. Now Audi has 1.3 per cent of the Australian passenger car market while BMW has 1.7 per cent. The game is warming up.One of the reasons is that Audi has so many models. How many? It has 57 models at last count and 14 different engines.Compare that with Ford's range (not FPV, ute or van) with 40 distinct models and 11 engines for 9.3 per cent of the Australian car market and you can see how niche marketing can work.It may drive Audi's spare parts men crazy but it appears to appease car buyers. One of the latest reflects this technique of identifying a sometimes tiny niche market and then slotting into it with a specific model. In this case, Audi's A5 Sportback.Echoing the gentle hatchback styling of the Mercedes CLS, VW Passat CC and BMW 5-Series GT, the Audi A5 is aimed at the youthfully affluent that want cabin luxury with styling that hints at a sporty demeanour.Perhaps the only detraction is the nose. All Audi's share the in-ya-face full-depth grille and while it was sensational when launched, is becoming tired and fails to respect Audi's upmarket models.This five-door car comes as a petrol or diesel and costs a lot of money. Put it up against an Audi A4 with similar engine and drivetrain specs and there's $7000 difference - enough for some punters to baulk.The Sportback gets a fifth door accessing a huge luggage area and so becomes a very flexible machine that perhaps is an alternative to the A4's wagon. Boot space is actually less than the wagon - and only a bit up on the A4 sedan – but it's the hatchback's ability to accept various load shapes that makes it a winner.There is an implication that the A5 is more luxurious than the A4 and that's carried through to the cabin. Seating is for four. Don't think about five. If you have three children, one stays at home.Audi's 3-litre turbo-diesel has been around in various versions for ages and the Quattro all-wheel drive system practically draws the pension. But it's definitely not outdated and can run with the best of the pack.This is a maximum five-star crash-rated, German-built machine with all-paw drive that is so safe it could save a small planet. Your family, presupposing there's no fool behind the wheel, should be fine.Six airbags, electronic stability control, ABS brakes and so on - it's all there. It doesn't get a reverse camera - it's a recommended $1165 option but the trick is you have to also specify the $4550 MMI with sat-nav - but comes standard with front and rear park sensors.DRIVINGEverything about this car works beautifully. It impresses within the first kilometre by feeling confident, solid and comfortable on the road. And hear you say that at near-on $90,000, so it should.It feels safe and that makes me more relaxed about taking the family for a drive. Volkswagens, Skodas, Audis, BMWs and Porsches are some of the very few car brands that feel secure as soon as you turn the first corner. A lot do not.This is a big car with a long wheelbase that irons out a lot of road irregularities and, as such, loves the country. You can easily see that Audi's favourite test track is a local autobahn. The drivetrain is, however, conservative - almost pedestrian - and while it delivers an efficient and occasionally warming driving experience, there's never a lot of fizz. That's partly because the diesel spins relatively slowly and appears lazy against any high-revving petrol engine. It's also because the A5 is so well insulated from the outside world.That extends to steering that offers very little road feel and the DSG auto - with seven speeds - that can be awkwardly hesitate at low speeds. One can deduce that Audi has placed greater emphasis on cocooning the occupants from the world rather than involve them.Perhaps that's the idea. But in this cocoon you don't really notice the important things about driving. Like the A5's 0-100km/h time of 6.1 seconds - which isn't too shabby - and the way the 500Nm of torque slashes in-gear acceleration to create rapid overtaking times.And like the way the all-wheel drive bites hard on the bitumen to ensure it's secure through the corners and has the ability to shrug away traction concerns over wet roads.VERDICTIt has the looks and cargo versatility to make it more alluring than the A4 but it comes at the cost of an expensive price tag and four-only seating.AUDI A5 SPORTBACKOrigin: GermanyPrice: $89,888Engine: 3-litre, V6 turbo-dieselPower: 176kW @ 4000-4400rpmTorque: 500Nm @ 1500-3000rpm0-100km/h: 6.1 secondsTop speed: 250km/hFuel: DieselFuel tank: 64 litresEconomy: 6.6 litres/100km (official), 7.8 litres/100km (tested)Greenhouse: 174g/km (Corolla: 175g/km)Transmission: 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic, sequential; constant 4WDBrakes: 4-wheel vented discs, ESC, ABS, EBD, brake assistTurning circle: 11.5mSuspension: Front _ double wishbones, coils; Rear _ multi-link, coilsWheels: 18-inch alloy, 245/40R18 tyres; space-saver spareLength: 4711mmWidth: 1854mmHeight: 1391mmWheelbase: 2810mmWeight: 1720kgTow (max): 1900kgWarranty: 3yr/unlimited km, roadside assistService: 15,000km.FEATURESThree-zone climate air-conditioning10-speaker 1-CD iPod audio6 airbagsPark sensorsLeather.

No-one does plain old family sedans these days. Well, there is still the Falcon-Camry-Commodore combo in Australia, but most of the overseas action is in sedans which have morphed in another direction. Curvy coup-style sedans came first and the big new direction is liftbacks with style.Audi got there first with its A3 and A5 Sportback models, BMW has its new 5-Series GT and Mercedes-Benz is looking for ways to grow the CLS coupes and stretch the look down into C-Class territory. The foundation in every case is a four-door sedan, even if it is a couple of steps back on the evolutionary path. It provides the mechanical platform, and the engine and suspension, but a better looking 'top hat' is dropped down in place of the regular Camry-style sedan body.Audi was first to go new-age with curves and a hatch with its Sportback, which went from the A4 sedan through the A5 coupe on the way to the Carsguide garage this week. The test car is powered by Audi's impressive 3-litre V6 turbodiesel engine, which is strong and smooth. But the the pricetag is easing way up towards six-figure land with a few extra bits to make life nicer, including an S-Line body kit and MMI navigation and a six-disc CD changer. And I cannot help thinking about the Volkswagen Passat CC, another of the new-age coupes, as I walk towards the Sportback.The newest Audi - for this week, anyway, as there always seems to be a new body or a new engine landing in Australia - is a great looker and the emphasis is on style with that flexibility in the back end. There are two Sportback models, the 2-litre petrol and 3-litre turbodiesel, both with quattro drive and a starting price of $78,400. There is a huge range of standard equipment - from eight airbags and alloy wheels, to a 'concert' sound system and rear parking camera - but the big thing is the frameless doors and a boot that starts at 480 litres and can carry a wagon-style load up to 980 litres with the seats folded flat.Audi Australia says the Sportback will be the biggest seller in the A5 range and will make a worthwhile contribution as it drives for yet another record sales year in 2010. And there is more to come, with an S5 Sportback on the way later this year.DRIVING Paul GoverThe Sportback is one of my Audi favourites. It looks good, drives well and has the sort of flexibility people want these days.It can be a bit cramped in the cabin, and the ride is a bit crash-bang harsh on poor surfaces, but there is a lot to like. Best of all, this A5 looks good and still works well. The V6 turbodiesel is incredibly quiet, smooth and responsive. It is a terrific engine and suits the character of the car, providing great range for family touring and enough punch when you want to have fun with a good looking coupe.I didn't really know what to expect from the Sportback, even though my experience of premium coupes goes way, way back to Saabs in the 1980s. They were brilliantly flexible and upscale, but you would never call them good looking. The new Audi looks good and the cabin has the premium-ness which has become a brand signature, and the target for every other carmaker on the planet. There are gadgets and buttons for playtime, but the basics are all right and the leather-wrapped seats are comfy and supportive.I think headroom is short, although no worse than the A5 coupe, but the back seat feels too narrow for three adults - or even big kids - and knee space is restricted. The payoff is in the tail, which easily handles a wide range of jobs, from shopping and Bunnings to a couple of prams-and-kids trips, and even a bicycle run. It is a great design and one which should be on the shopping list of more SUV buyers.The Sportback also drives well, with Audi-style sharp steering responsive, good grip in turns, and an excellent automatic gearbox which picks up the torque of the diesel at all times. It's not a cheap car, and some of the usual Audi foibles take a little of the gloss away, but it is a very good car and a definite contender for family duties.SHE SAYS Alison WardI get worried about re-works of things I like. Why fix a wheel that works, whether its the local shopping centres, your favourite bar, or something else on the list. Often I feel a bit duped by the change. So I was just a bit hesitant about this re-work of the Audi A4. Oh, sorry, this one is called the A5 Sportback, isn't it?Thankfully, much of my hesitation stopped at the drivers' door. This is way more than just a lick of paint and a new look for an A4 sedan. For sure, it handles better and with more gusto and who would have thought the V6 engine is a turbodiesel? It's quiet and punchy and I had to check the tacho, with the giveaway low redline, to know for sure it's a diesel.The interior features are the same I have found in other Audi models, but can forgive this carryover since it's a cog which is always working fine. The sloping boot is the greatest asset on the Sportback.  It is great for carrying everything for baby, shopping or - not for me, yet - golfing. However the compromise (and here comes that duping feeling again) is less legroom for all, especially in the back. And the shape means it does feel a bit cramped inside, particularly with a friend onboard and two baby seats in the back.Still, the Sportback is a good car and a nice drive for me. The only lingering worry is the $90,000-ish pricetag, which makes it a makeover you really need to like.SCORE: 78/100THE BOTTOM LINE: A smooth and effective family sedan, provided it's a new-age family.Audi A5 Sportback 3.0 TDIPRICE $89,100ENGINE 3.0-litre common rail turbocharged V6 dieselPOWER 176kW at 4000 revsTORQUE 500Nm from 1500-3000 revsTRANSMISSION Seven-speed dual clutch auto, quattro all-wheel driveBODY Four-door hatchSEATS FiveDIMENSIONS Length 4711mm, width 1854mm, height 1391mm, wheelbase 2810mm, tracks front/rear 1590mm/1575mmWEIGHT 1720kgSTEERING Hydraulic power-assisted rack and pinion power steeringSUSPENSION Five-link, upper and lower wishbone front; trapezoidal independent rear mounted to subframeBRAKES Anti-skid all-round discsFUEL TANK 64 litresFUEL TYPE DieselFUEL CONSUMPTION 6.6/100km combinedWHEELS 18-inch alloysTYRES 245/40 R18SPARE TYRE Space-saver spareSAFETY Front/side/curtain airbags, electronic stability control, traction control, anti-skid brakes, brake assist, foglights, Xenon-plus headlightsCO2 EMISSIONS 174g/km RIVALSMercedes-Benz CLS350 78/100 (from $152,000)BMW 530d GT 80/100 (from $143,400)Volkswagen Passat CC 3.6 FSI 82/100 (from $65,990)

Audi has been accused of having too many variants before, and it wouldn't be the first time that an importer was accused of having too many models in what really is a small market.  But the number of models Audi has on offer now could have some people again wondering how it supports such a broad range on low volumes. But if the buyers are there and the four-ringed brand is making money, who are we to argue?The A5 range has comprised a two-door coupe and droptop adjunct to the A4 sedan and wagon range. But now we have the A5 Sportback - a four-door four-seat coupe version of the A4, but sleeker and even more elegant than the handsome sedan.  It weighs less than the long-running A4 sedan, but is longer, wider and lower and just 2mm longer in the wheelbase.Drivetrain and priceWe're in the all-wheel drive three-litre turbodiesel V6, certainly the pick of Audi's mainstream engine range - although the 4.2-litre V8 in the old RS4 and the R8 remains a firm personal favourite - but the diesel has some irresistible numbers.The particle-filtered V6 has common-rail direct-injection and a variable-geometry turbo that produces 176kW and 500Nm, the latter on tap from 1500rpm through to 3000rpm.  The as-tested cost of the test car is $103,070, quite a jump from the list starting price of $89,100 and similar money to roomier and perhaps more versatile machines.Fit-out and equipmentThe cabin is very Teutonic - laid out and finished superbly, with plenty of safety and other equipment, much of it even as standard - eight airbags surround the occupants, who describe the vehicle around them as feeling solid and strong.  The centre screen displays all the infotainment functions including the optional $4550 multi-media satnav system and six-CD changer (for $970), which includes a hard drive for the good-quality sound system.The front ($850 optional) sport seating is firm but not uncomfortable, with the new Audi centre armrest set-up now not intruding on the elbow room, restricting centre console storage flexibility or impeding the handbrake (which is now a little electronic lever anyway), it's a nice place to be.Rear room for the two occupants is not cavernous - the elegant roofline restricts headroom a little (a problem felt by several four-door ‘coupes’), and the leg room is limited.  Bootspace area is reasonable but it's not an overly deep or wide load space, so even a folded stroller can take a big chunk of the room.DrivingThe powerplant performs admirably in other Audi product and its track record is certainly not tarnished here - very quiet, smooth, frugal and deceptively rapid, there's precious little wrong with the engine.  It gets the Sportback up and running just a touch quicker than the other A5 and A4 variants with the same powerplant, but all reach 100km/h in around six seconds, which is good going regardless of the fuel being used.The seven-speed double-clutch auto works well with the torquey powerplant most of the time, with slick and well-timed upshifts in all three drive modes (an option), although some downshifts (even in comfort mode) are a little jerky.The three-mode system tightens up suspension, steering and alters throttle response and it is noticeable the change in character.  For a family all-rounder there probably needs to be a more cosseting base-line for the comfort mode, as the ride - while more compliant than Dynamic mode - still doesn't fit the definition of ‘comfort’.But the Sportback has ample in common with the coupe and A4 sedan. It's not anywhere near as nose-heavy as earlier examples of the breed, pointing into corners with plenty of enthusiasm, with heaps of grip and no excuses for the stability control to interfere.It has the sort of back-road talent that could shame many sportscars, but much of that comes down to the three-mode drive system Audi calls drive select - comprising adaptive dampers, dynamic steering and a sport electronic locking differential. It's a $7600 option, so it would want to be an effective system.In isolation, the A5 Sportback is a good machine, but the question remains as to whether it’s sure what it wants to be – a practical family car or a peppery sportscar.Audi A5 Sportback 3.0 TDI quattro Engine: three-litre common-rail direct injection 24-valve DOHC intercooled turbocharged V6 diesel engine.Power: 176kW between 4000 & 4400rpm.Torque: 500Nm between 1500 & 3000rpm.Transmission: seven-speed double-clutch automatic, permanent all-wheel drive with self-locking centre differential.Performance: Top speed 250km/h, 0-100km/h 6.1 seconds.Fuel consumption: combined 6.6 l/100km, on test 11 litres per 100km, tank 64 litres.Emissions: 174 g/km.

Audi's one-niche-at-a-time drive to market leadership continued apace for the new year with the arrival of the A5 Sportback.  The five-door, coupe-styled four-seater joins the Cabriolet and Coupe models in the A5 line-up to tick of yet another niche in a market that threatens as many gap-fillers as it promises core models."When I first drove this car I was very, very excited by what it promised," Audi Australia's outgoing managing director Joerg Hofmann said at this week's national launch of the new car. "Then when we began to look at volume expectations it became obvious that the A5 Sportback had the potential to be very significant for us."Sales and marketSo significant that Audi is predicting the Sportback will account for around 1000 sales a year, or almost half of all the A5 volume when it goes on sale on February 1. That will be a significant boost towards the company's stated goal of a record 12,000 sales in 2010."There is no real competitor for this car in the Australian market," Audi's general manager for marketing, Immo Buschmann, says. "This car has real substance and will appeal to sedan buyers who want a car with coupe-like styling yet are not willing to give up the space offered by a sedan."Buyers will, however have to give up a fifth seat as the Sportback — like the coupe from which it has been stretched by some 86mm — is a dedicated four-seater, albeit with a generous amount of shoulder space for the rear seat passengers.Drivetrains and pricesThe A5 Sportback will launch as two models In Australia, 2.0 TFSI and 3.0 TDI — both with quattro all-wheel-drive and 7-speed S-tronic dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The petrol TFSI carries a sticker price of $78,400 while the 3-litre diesel will hit showroom floors at $89,100.Adaptive damping is available on the TFSI for an additional $3500 while the TDI offers an optional full driver select package (sport differential, adaptive damping and dynamic steering) for $7600.EquipmentWhile both models come well specified with the full complement of electronic safety aids and eight airbags, leather trim and quality entertainment systems the very necessary reversing camera remains an option at $1165 while satellite navigation is an additional $4550.DrivingOn the road the A5 Sportback is ... well, it's an A5.  If you were led blindfolded to the car and set behind the wheel you would be hard pressed to distinguish the dynamics of the Sportback from its syblings, particularly the Coupe.The cabin, while snug an encompassing, is not claustrophic with ample head, shoulder and leg room for all four passengers. Luggage space is generous with 480 litres available in standard trim, increasing to 980 litres with the rear seats folded.  The A5 is a car you want to drive. It feels well-engineered and it is.An almost exclusive use of aluminium for the suspension components, in turn mounted to an aluminium sub-frame, reduce the unsprung weight giving a lower centre of gravity and noticeable poise. Combined with the body rigidity provided by five grades of steel through to ultra high strength the Sportback has a comforting feel of solidity and balance.The direct injection petrol TFSI is good for 155kW of power and a very handy 350Nm of torque across a vast rev range from 1500rpm through to 4200rpm. That wide band of maximum urge allows the TFSI to stay within its optimum performance range without undue hunting for ratios and almost demands the car be driven enthusiastically.Throttle response is good and there is a real willingness of the front end to turn into corners, hunker down with prodigious grip and then launch out of the apex as the quattro drive balances up in readiness for the next change of direction.The 3-litre TDI offers pretty much the same capability — only moreso. The oil-burner's 176kW and 500Nm gives the Sportback a 0-100km/h sprint of 6.1 seconds — half a second quicker than the TFSI — while promising fuel efficiency of just 6.6L/100km. That makes the A5 Sportback TDI the 23rd Audi model to benefit from the government's lower luxury car tax incentives for vehicles using 7.0L or less per 100km.Part of the fuel efficiency — the TFSI claims 7.5L/100km — is due to the recuperative energy system fitted to the A5 Sportback whereby energy is recovered during braking and coasting to be stored temporarily in the battery. That stored energy is called on during acceleration to ease load on the engine resulting in a fuel saving of up to 3 per cent.The A5 line-up will be completed towards the middle of the year with the arrival of the S5 Sportback, unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year. The 3-litre TFSI powered S5 is expected to carry a sticker price of around $130,000.Audi A5 SportbackPrice: from $78,400 (2.0 TFSI) to $89,100 (3.0 TDI)Engine: 2L/4-cylinder 155kW/350Nm; 3L/V6 turbo diesel 175kW/500NmTransmission: 7-speed S-Tronic dual clutch automaticEconomy: 7.5L/100km (TFSI), 6.6L/100km (TDI)