2022 Audi Q5 Sportback Review: Silky Smooth City Slicker
Audi has long ago mastered the science of building premium luxury SUVs and the 2022 Audi Q5 Sportback is its latest entrant. The regular Audi Q5 has become the bread and butter product offering from the lineup; it's the top-selling Audi vehicle in the US, closely followed by the other Q variants, so it would only make sense to expand its range with a 'coupe' body style. The four-door crossover coupe SUV, or whatever you want to call it, is a new breed of city-dwelling car that has spawned creations such as the BMW X4 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe, both competitors of the 2022 Audi Q5 Sportback. This slick new offering is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-pot gas engine and is helped along by a hybrid-electric system. The total power output is 261 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, which is more than enough for this platform. As always, Audi nails the interior, and the drive and handling are impressive too. The Q5 Sportback undercuts its German competition on price and is a clever choice in this niche section of the market.
2022 Q5 Sportback Exterior
Dimensions
| Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Front Width | Rear Width | Curb Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 184.6 in | 111.0 in | 65.4 in | 74.5 in | 63.6 in | 63.3 in | 4,178.0 lbs |
2022 Q5 Sportback Performance
Handling and Driving Impressions
The Q5 Sportback straddles a thin line between being a road car and a crossover SUV, and in this class, one would expect handling more akin to a sedan than a lumbering off-road SUV. That's exactly what Audi has gone for. The Q5 Sportback's suspension setup feels firm, which is appreciated on smooth city roads, where this crossover feels planted and ready to grip in every corner. Steering is light, which is perfect for heavy city traffic, but manages to feel crisp, responsive, and direct, once again filling the driver with confidence through faster bends. Even with the optional 20-inch wheels, the Q5 Sportback never feels jarring, even at lower speeds. On the highway, our test drive revealed that this is one seriously comfortable cruiser. The Q5 Sportback will naturally lean toward understeer when pushed to the limit, but it offers impressive corner exit grip.
2022 Q5 Sportback Interior
2022 Q5 Sportback Trunk and Cargo Space
Warranty
| Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Hybrid/Electric Components | Roadside Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 12 Years / Unlimited Miles | 8 Years / 100,000 Miles | 4 Years / Unlimited Miles |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
| Overall Rating | Frontal Barrier Crash Rating | Side Crash Rating | Rollover Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Verdict: Is the 2022 Audi Q5 Sportback A Good SUV?
The SUV coupe body style is still a relatively new invention, but for some reason, people are attracted to these oddly shaped machines, and Audi can ill-afford to miss out on sales when its arch-rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW count their dollars. The good news is that the Q5 Sportback translates well as a coupe crossover and feels every bit as capable and comfortable as the regular Q5. The slinky exterior styling might be divisive, but this car is undeniably brilliant.
The combination of the 2.0-liter TFSI engine and quattro AWD delivers enough punch and, despite riding slightly stiffer than the regular Q5, the Sportback is still a comfortable machine to drive around town and on the highway. Rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class coupe and BMW X4 are superior cars in their own way; the BMW being better to drive, and the Mercedes-Benz being a more comfortable and technically advanced machine. That leaves the Audi comfortably in the middle, and there's nothing wrong with that.
2022 Audi Q5 Sportback Comparisons
2022 Audi Q5 Sportback vs Audi Q5
The Q5 is one of Audi's most popular models and competes with vehicles such as the BMW X3. The Q5 and Q5 Sportback share most of their features, but there are some notable differences, especially to the exterior. The Sportback showcases a sleeker side profile, a redesigned bumper, and a slightly longer overall length. On the inside, the Q5, with its higher roofline, offers more cargo space, although the difference here isn't massive. Under the hood, both share the same base 2.0-liter TFSI engine, but the Q5 is also offered as a plug-in hybrid with 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque; these superior powertrain specs make the PHEV significantly quicker than the Sportback. The Q5 is offered in the same three trim levels as the Sportback, namely Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige, and shares a similar list of standard and optional features. At the end of the day, the standard Q5 offers more space and is cheaper. For us, the choice is obvious.
2022 Audi Q5 Sportback vs Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe is another German coupe-like SUV that fills a gap in the market that no one knew existed. As with the Q5 Sportback, the GLC is based on an actual SUV but has had its roofline chopped, making it less practical and more expensive. The Merc starts at $51,650, making it over $3,000 more expensive than the Audi in base spec. Under the hood, you get a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing a less powerful 255 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission. On the road, the Mercedes doesn't feel much slower, and is arguably more entertaining to drive while returning similar fuel economy figures. On the inside, the GLC-Class Coupe is one of the only cars in this class that matches the Audi for interior quality and style, and the features list is impressive. It might be more expensive and slightly down on power, but the GLC-Class Coupe exudes class and would be our choice.