2022 Audi Q5 Sportback Review

Name: 2022 Audi Q5 Sportback Review
Brand: Audi
Price: 34111 USD

Audi Q5 Sportback Prestige S line 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

Audi Q5 Sportback Prestige S line 4dr SUV Exterior

+197

The Q5 Sportback may have the appearance of a sportier SUV, but it isn't any more dynamic than the standard Q5. And when you couple that with the fact that there's less rear headroom and a slightly smaller cargo area due to the sloping rear roof, it becomes even less appealing. The cabin features lots of high-quality materials, but it comes up a bit short in overall comfort and ease of use too. With so many choices in the small luxury SUV class, the Q5 Sportback feels just adequate.

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2022 Audi Q5 Sportback Review

byDan Frio^{Reviews Editor
Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to Edmunds, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.},

rating written byKurt Niebuhr^{Senior Vehicle Test Editor
Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of Edmunds' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.}

Pros

Quiet and spacious cabin
Top-notch interior craftsmanship
Lots of standard equipment, including all-wheel drive

Cons

Overly busy ride quality
Lackluster acceleration and handling
Mediocre storage space

What's new

S line exterior package standard on all models
Black Optic package available on Premium Plus and Prestige trims
Part of the first Q5 Sportback generation introduced for 2021

Overview

Among recent entries to a growing crop of coupe-style SUVs is the 2022 Audi Q5 Sportback. Introduced last year, the Q5 Sportback looks like its designers grabbed the regular Q5's roof from just behind the driver and front passenger, then pulled it down to the car's back edge. In contrast to the Sportback's other straight, sharp lines, it's a striking look, one that telegraphs a message of performance over utility. This is true in practice, too. While the Sportback is mechanically identical to the Q5, its tapering roof cuts into rear headroom and cargo space. It's not a deal-breaking amount surely, but space is already at somewhat of a premium given the Sportback's compact size.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 Audi Q5 Sportback Premium S line 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$220/mo

$201/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

You'll also pay more for the Sportback's sense of style. It starts about 15% higher than the Q5 counterpart (when new) and comes with the same basic features. That price aligns with competitors, however, including the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe and BMW X4 and even the new Volvo C40 Recharge, an all-electric twist on the coupe SUV priced competitively after its federal tax rebate. Read our Expert Rating below to learn our test team's detailed opinions about the Q5 Sportback.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Average

7.4

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.0/10

How does the Q5 Sportback drive? Our Q5 Sportback accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds at our test track. That's a respectably quick time for a small luxury SUV with a base engine. Out in real-world driving, however, the engine sometimes feels overworked and there's a noticeable delay when you press the gas pedal.

Braking is the opposite — it feels good on the street and makes it easy to bring the Audi to a smooth stop. But in our track performance braking testing, our Sportback needed 129 feet to stop from 60 mph, which is longer than average. The antilock braking system is pretty noisy too.

Other downsides include overly vague and imprecise steering (you don't get a good feel for the road) and an engine stop-start system that's overly jarring when it fires the engine back up. The Q5 Sportback does have good grip and poise when you push it hard around turns, but it's the singular bright spot for otherwise middling performance.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the Q5 Sportback? Our test Q5 Sportback came in the Prestige trim with the superbly comfortable front sport seats that have heating and ventilation. These front seats are the single most premium item in the cabin. Sitting in the driver's seat, you feel very well insulated from the outside world.

However, there are issues with ride comfort. The suspension sends vibration from the road to your seat, making it unavoidable that you will feel cracks and bumps in the pavement. It's not especially firm or sporty — it's just constantly busy. The lack of a refined ride quality is unusual in luxury SUVs of this caliber, and we expect more from the Q5 Sportback.

Interior

8.0/10

How’s the interior? With the Sportback design, it can be a bit more difficult to get in and out than the standard Q5 — especially for tall passengers. But once you're inside, the cabin is spacious whether you're sitting in the front or the back seat. We also like the commanding driving position that provides impressive outward visibility.

The standard 10.1-inch touchscreen looks great, but it's mounted to the top of the dashboard like a tacked-on tablet. That looks a little awkward, and it's even stranger to use. There is no dial or touchpad controller, so you need to poke and swipe to operate the infotainment system. This feels like it could be made easier.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? Audi's navigation maps are clear and easy to read, with accurate turn-by-turn directions. Our test vehicle came with a rich and voluminous Bang & Olufsen stereo system that certainly scores some luxury points. The advanced driver aids also performed well. Adaptive cruise control is helpful to use on the freeway, and you can't possibly miss the flashing blind-spot warning lights — we actually wish they weren't as bright.

There were a few hiccups. Though Wireless Apple CarPlay smartphone integration comes standard, connection issues forced us to plug in via a USB port. Bluetooth compatibility worked well, and our vehicle included a wireless charging station. Don't expect much from the voice activation system, which requires you to adhere to strict prompts.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? At 24.7 cubic feet, the Q5 Sportback's trunk is average for the class and only slightly smaller than the standard Q5's below the window beltline. Stack items higher and you'll notice a bigger difference. There are a few tie-down points inside but no underfloor storage. Small-item storage inside the cabin is a bit below average. There's an average-size center console and two small trays that could hold some business cards but not much else.

When so equipped, the Q5 boasts a maximum towing capacity up to 4,400 pounds, which is strong for the class. Only a few competitors can match it. For parents, the easily accessible car seat points and roomy back seat should make it easy to install even the bulkiest of rear-facing infant seats.

Fuel Economy

8.0/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Q5 Sportback gets an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in combined driving (23 city/28 highway). That's the same as a BMW X3 xDrive30i and higher than the estimates for a Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic and Volvo XC60 AWD. Our test vehicle returned 26.8 mpg on our evaluation loop in real-world driving, which indicates this estimate should be accurate.

Value

7.5/10

Is the Q5 Sportback a good value? Build quality is a hallmark of Audi vehicles, and the Q5 Sportback is true to the brand. The interior panels exhibit a tight fit throughout the cabin, and there's an interesting mixture of authentic metals, leathers and woods inside. Some competitors do a better job of wowing you with crystals or flashy styling, but the Q5 Sportback brings a lot to the table.

The Sportback's base price is appealing for a luxury SUV considering you get standard all-wheel drive. But by the time you get up to the Prestige trim, pretty much every rival offers the same impressive set of features. There isn't a whole lot that separates the Audi from the pack at this price. Audi offers only four years/50,000 miles of coverage for the basic and powertrain warranties, which is merely average for the class.

Wildcard

6.5/10

While the Q5 Sportback might be more visually appealing to some than the standard model, it's relatively uninspiring to drive. There's nothing dynamically impressive to spark driver interest or set it apart from the current crop of luxury SUVs. If you're looking for driving fun, an upgrade to the sportier SQ5 model might be your best bet.

Which Q5 Sportback does Edmunds recommend?

The Premium base trim offers a lot for the money, but it's worth stepping up to the Premium Plus. It adds the base trim's optional Convenience package features — narrowing the price gap between the two trims — and includes useful functions like adaptive cruise control, a smartphone charging pad, a surround-view camera and Audi's attractive Virtual Cockpit Plus digital gauge cluster. The Premium Plus also opens the door to more options, such as navigation and ventilated front seats.

2022 Audi Q5 Sportback models

The Q5 Sportback comes in Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige trims. All are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (261 horsepower, 273 lb-ft of torque) designated as the 45 TSFI. A seven-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard. A high-performance version, the SQ5 Sportback, is reviewed separately on Edmunds.

Premium
The Premium comes with most of the standard features you'd expect in a luxury car. Highlights include:

19-inch wheels
LED headlights
Panoramic sunroof
Power liftgate
Heated exterior mirrors
Push-button start
Three-zone automatic climate control
Power-adjustable, heated front sport seats
Leather upholstery
10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Rear-seat USB charge ports
10-speaker sound system
Frontal collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Automatic high beams
Front and rear parking sensors

The optional Convenience package adds useful features such as:

Hands-free keyless entry
Driver's seat memory settings
Power-folding exterior mirrors
Heated steering wheel

Premium Plus
The Premium Plus includes Convenience package features and additional comfort features and driver aids:

Simulated leather on door armrests and center console
Audi Virtual Cockpit digital instrumentation display
Power-adjustable steering wheel
Wireless smartphone charging
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Audi and the car in front)
Traffic Jam Assist (adaptive cruise control and lane keeping system for low-speed driving in traffic)
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Q5 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

The Premium Plus also offers a range of options, including:

Navigation system
Ventilated front seats
19-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system

Black Optic package

20-inch black wheels
Black exterior trim

Black Optic Sport package

21-inch black wheels with performance tires
Sport suspension
Black exterior trim

Prestige
The Q5 Sportback Prestige comes with the full complement of features, including:

Upgraded LED headlights
Interior ambient lighting
Sound-insulating front side windows
Ventilated front seats
Heated rear seats
Navigation system
Bang & Olufsen premium sound system
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)

The Black Optic and Black Optic Sport packages are also available for the Prestige.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2022 Audi Q5 Sportback.

5 (80%)

4 (0%)

3 (0%)

2 (20%)

1 (0%)

4.4

5 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Fun to drive, with all the bells and whistles

Troy Smith, 05/18/2022

2022 Audi Q5 Sportback Prestige S line 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM)

Traded in my leased 2020 Q5 Premium Plus for this Q5 Sportback. I really like the sleeker styling and there is very little cargo capacity lost from the more coupe like roof line. This Prestige trim has all the tech that you could ask for, the only minor issue is that, due to chip shortages, there is no wireless phone charger, which my previous Q5 had. I believe that the Q5 is a better …

Audi Q5 Sportbak

Paul, 07/04/2022

2022 Audi Q5 Sportback Premium Plus S line 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM)

I’ve owned Audi’s since 2002 and just find these are the cars for me. I’ve tried driving other cars in its class, but always come back to the drive and feel of Audi’s. I’ve had two A4s, two Q5s and now the Q5 Sportback. The Sportback is just an unbelievably nice all around car. I’ve read the reviews as compared to other like class cars which claim a lack of performance but frankly this …

Does Audi pay for good reviews?

Notanaudi, 02/03/2022

2021 Audi Q5 Sportback Premium Plus 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM)

I’m confused on so many levels. First, I paid $58k for my sport back and got $1500 off so the pricing is off. Pro: I love the way it drives but this is the only pro. Cons: I had this car for less than 1 year and it had 2 extremely unsafe recalls. The first one I would be driving, get ready to turn and my car would slam on its breaks and strangle me with the seatbelt. I had my …

Sexy

Nebmeb, 02/23/2022

2022 Audi Q5 Sportback Prestige S line 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM)

I really like to look of the Q5 Sportback. I've had the vehicle for a month. It rides very smoothly. I like all of the extras that came on it - Prestige package. It drives well in the snow since it is a quattro. The fuel efficiency is right at what is is rated for given that it is still under 1,500 miles. I love the green exterior with brown interior. The trunk space is good, but …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2022 Audi Q5 Sportback, so we've included reviews for other years of the Q5 Sportback since its last redesign.

See all 5 reviews of the Audi Q5 Sportback

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2022 Q5 Sportback Highlights

Trim:

Premium S line

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$50,100
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$220/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	24.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Q5 Sportback models:

Audi Pre Sense Front: Warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios.
Audi Side Assist: Alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot.
Traffic Jam Assist: Combines adaptive cruise control and a lane keeping system to ease travel in heavy traffic.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover16.4%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2022 Audi Q5 Sportback Review

2022 Audi Q5 Sportback Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Q5 Sportback does Edmunds recommend?

2022 Audi Q5 Sportback models

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2022 Audi Q5 Sportback.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Fun to drive, with all the bells and whistles

Audi Q5 Sportbak

Does Audi pay for good reviews?

Sexy

2022 Q5 Sportback Highlights

Safety

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