2025 Audi Q5 Sportback

We all know the Audi Q5, right? It’s the company’s best-selling vehicle. We probably all know someone who has one. The Q5 Sportback is different. Well, not that different. It’s still a high-quality SUV with a raised driving position, all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard, and the same engine as the regular Q5. Equipment levels are virtually identical, as is the smooth ride quality. Take a look at that fastback roof, though, and therein lies the difference.

Some companies, Audi being one of them, like to offer a variant of SUVs. It was a trend, and now it’s a thing. This first generation of Q5 Sportback came along for the 2021 model year after the Q5 SUV on which it’s based had already been around for three years. That makes both models ripe for replacement, which is just about to happen. See our What’s New section below.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of compact luxury SUVs, including the Audi Q5 Sportback.

It’s a year of transition for the Audi Q5 Sportback. An all-new (third) generation will arrive in early 2025, while this outgoing generation remains on sale as a 2025 model.

Regarding this generation, the HomeLink remote garage door button is now integrated into the rearview mirror, while the Audi Advance Key and remote engine start become standard throughout. A Convenience package for the Premium trim brings driver’s-seat memory settings, satellite radio, self-dimming/power-folding side mirrors, Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus, and a panoramic sunroof. Premium Plus trims gain navigation and the LED Interior Lighting Plus package as standard. The free Audi Connect Nav trial subscription increases from six months to three years. And there are some new wheel designs.

Premium Plus is by far the most popular trim, and that’s the one we recommend for its sensible balance of features and price.

The main rivals are the BMW X4, which starts above the Audi, and the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe, which starts above the BMW. If this is all a bit too pricey, the Infiniti QX55 is the least expensive of this vehicle style.

Before buying a new Q5 Sportback luxury SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are only a fraction below the class average. Interestingly, Sportback models fare better than their more conventional kin. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

We’ve found the Q5 Sportback to be pretty lively, with its 261 horsepower and ability to accelerate from a standstill to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. That makes it quicker than the BMW X4 xDrive30i and the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic Coupe, each with slightly fewer horses than this Audi. The Q5 Sportback’s ride quality and general composure strike a pleasant balance with smoothness and fluidity, retaining enough precision through corners. We can imagine this all working perfectly fine for commuting, errand-running, and road-tripping.

Fuel Economy

All three German contenders achieve similar fuel economy figures. The 2025 Q5 Sportback is rated at 25 mpg in combined city/highway driving. To compare, the BMW X4 xDrive30i manages 24 mpg combined, and the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic Coupe gets 26 mpg combined.

Even with a sloping roof, the Q5 Sportback doesn’t lose out too much to its regular SUV stablemate. Rear legroom is 38 inches in both models. There’s a difference of almost two inches in rear headroom — but if Sportback owners rarely have adult passengers in the back seats, that’s unlikely to be an issue. The Sportback has 24.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind those rear seats, opening out to 51.9 when they’re folded down. Compare that with the SUV’s 25.9/54 cubic feet. Naturally, the SUV’s shape is going to accommodate a greater variety of luggage shapes and be more practical in general. But practicality isn’t a major draw with the Q5 Sportback anyway. It’s more about style.

Up front, there’s the typical Audi interior, where neatness is virtually a way of life for the company’s designers. We always enjoy being in the Q5 Sportback’s cabin and appreciate the quality of materials and how they’ve been put together.

And so we get to the main reason for the Q5 Sportback’s existence. This is an alternative look to all the other normal SUVs out there, with its less-than-common sloping roof. We understand it won’t work for everyone, but we like having the choice. Because it’s a compact SUV, the Q5 Sportback strikes that fine balance between being roomy enough without becoming a liability in situations like tight parking garages.

The regular Q5 SUV is reviewed separately.

All-wheel drive
The reassurance of all-wheel drive is a standard feature in every Q5 Sportback.

Virtual Cockpit Plus
Audi was one of the first marques to replace the usual driver instrument cluster with a user-friendly configurable digital display, showing things like navigation, as well as typical functions like temperature and fuel tank readouts. This is standard from the Premium Plus level.

Powered tailgate
It’s not exactly a feature with the wow factor, but we love the convenience of it all the same, and we’re glad to see it as standard in the Q5 Sportback.

Wireless Apple CarPlay
This tech is yet another standard feature in the Q5 Sportback. Android Auto is also available, but requires a cable.

Bang & Olufsen audio
We’re big fans of B&O’s stuff, and the setup offered in the Q5 Sportback is loud and clear, with 755 watts going through 19 speakers. It’s standard in the Premium Plus and Prestige trims.

Park Assist
Even though the Q5 Sportback is classified as a compact SUV, we still think it’s good to have help when parking. This feature is part of the Prestige trim and can maneuver the vehicle into parallel or perpendicular parking spaces. The driver just has to concentrate on shifting gears and applying the throttle or brake pedal.

The Q5 Sportback employs a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making a respectable 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. This goes to all four wheels through a 7-speed automatic transmission. The more muscular Audi SQ5 Sportback has its own review.


4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Audi’s new-car warranty lasts four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. That’s par for the course among luxury marques, especially European manufacturers. Audi also includes four years of roadside assistance.

Safety Ratings

This outgoing generation of Audi Q5 has been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), its second-highest accolade. It also took a maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety equipment includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring.