Audi is currently launching cars that look so similar to their predecessors, it's tough to tell that the new products are in fact, you know, new. The latest examples are the A5 and S5 Sportbacks. Good luck telling them apart from the previous model generation, which was launched in 2009. But this minor issue is far less important for the U.S. market, for we will be getting the sleek five-door hatchbacks here for the first time.

For even deeper coverage of the Audi A5 Sportback, view our buyer's guide in-depth review.



Think of the pair as attractively restyled and slightly more upscale versions of the A4 and S4, the Audi equivalent of the relationship between the BMW 4-series Gran Coupe and the 3-series. In the U.S., the A5 Sportback will be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque; the S5 model packs a 3.0-liter turbo V-6 that produces 354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. While the lesser version routes power through an excellent seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, the more powerful S5 gets an eight-speed torque-converter automatic. No manual transmission will be offered here in either car; in this way, the S5 Sportback follows the example of the latest version of the new S4. Quattro all-wheel drive will be standard on all U.S. A5 and S5 Sportbacks.

As you might expect, the A5 Sportback mirrors the brand-new A5 coupe in terms of technology and style. Built on Audi's fresh MLB Evo architecture, it is said to be considerably lighter than its predecessor. It also comes with an impressive list of standard and optional telematics systems, including semi-autonomous driving functions. But what we care most about are old-fashioned driving dynamics, and this is an area where the MLB Evo models, with their precise steering and superb chassis, really shine. We have driven virtually all other models on this platform, and we expect that the A5 Sportback will be among the best-handling and sportiest models in its class.

Inside, virtually everything carries over from the A5 coupe, and that's a good thing. The slim, futuristic dashboard is as pleasing to the eye as it is intuitive to use. Rear-seat room is adequate for a mid-size sedan, and the trunk can carry as much stuff as an A4’s with the bonus of being easily accessible through a large liftgate.

There are really two reasons to choose an A5 Sportback over an A4 (or another competitor): style and utility. This fastback has dramatic—if understated—looks in comparison to most other sedans, with a window line that sweeps upward in a graceful arc and a shoulder line that flows above both the front and the rear wheels, as on the A5 coupe. Regarding utility, station-wagon enthusiasts might find the A5 Sportback to be a legitimate alternative to the A4 Avant of old, especially those who find the A4-based Allroad’s cladding a bit of overkill.

The Sportbacks will appear on U.S. shores in the first quarter of 2017, with prices expected to come in at around $45,000 for the A5 and $55,000 for the S5.

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