Audi Q5 Sportback 2025 Review

The compact luxury SUV market in Malaysia has always been highly competitive. Consumers want the practicality of an SUV but don’t want to compromise on the stereotypical appearance of traditional models — the 2025 Audi Q5 Sportback public is designed precisely to cater to this demand. As a coupe derivative of the Audi Q5 family, its core selling point lies in the "combination of sporty design and family practicality." In this test drive, we focused on verifying its actual performance in daily commutes and weekend family outings to see if the coupe design sacrifices space, and whether the luxury features align with its positioning.

From a distance, the Q5 Sportback public continues Audi's sharp design language, but the coupe-style sloping roofline gives it a sportier vibe compared to the standard Q5. The front features a large hexagonal grille with black honeycomb trim, paired with sharp matrix LED headlights on both sides (supporting adaptive high and low beams), making it highly recognizable. On the side of the car, the roofline begins to gradually slope downwards from the B-pillar, extending to the rear and complementing the upward-sloping waistline. The 19-inch multi-spoke aluminum alloy wheels further enhance its sporty atmosphere. The rear design is equally refined, with a through-type LED taillight that stands out when illuminated at night, while the dual chrome-plated exhaust layout below (actual exhaust is hidden underneath) aligns with its coupe characteristics. The overall exterior retains the prestige of a luxury brand while differentiating itself from ordinary SUVs with the sloping design, making it suitable for users seeking individuality without being overly ostentatious.

Sitting inside, the familiar Audi virtual cockpit (12.3-inch full LCD instrument panel) and 10.1-inch central control touchscreen immediately catch the eye. The center console adopts a layered design; the upper layer consists of soft plastic materials with stitching craftsmanship, while the lower layer features metal trims. The touchpoints are mostly made of soft-touch materials, giving a strong sense of luxury. The central control screen supports wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, with smooth operation and responsive interaction, although there are few physical buttons left, with most functions being controlled via touchscreen or steering wheel buttons, which may take some time to get used to. The seats are wrapped in genuine leather, with the front seats offering electric adjustment (including lumbar support). The side bolsters provide moderate wrapping, ensuring comfort during long seating periods. The rear seats come with independent air-conditioning vents, two USB-C charging ports, and a foldable center armrest with cup holders, demonstrating thoughtful attention to details.

In terms of space, the Q5 Sportback public measures 4693mm×1893mm×1659mm with a wheelbase of 2819mm, identical to the standard Q5. After adjusting the front row to a proper seating position, a 175cm passenger has one fist and two fingers of headroom — a standard performance. For a rear-row passenger of the same height, the headroom is slightly compromised due to the sloping roofline but still leaves one fist of space. The legroom reaches two fists, ensuring long journeys are not cramped. The trunk offers a standard capacity of 510L, slightly less than the 550L of the standard Q5, but folding down the rear seats expands it to 1510L, easily accommodating large items like strollers or suitcases. The impact of the coupe design on practicality is much less than expected. Storage space in the front row, such as the center armrest box and door panel compartments, is quite ample, and a wireless charging pad for phones is also included, making daily use very convenient.

This test drive of the Q5 Sportback public featured a 2.0T turbocharged engine combined with a 7-speed wet dual-clutch gearbox, producing a maximum power of 190 horsepower and a maximum torque of 320 Nm, with a front-engine front-wheel-drive setup. During start-up, the throttle response is fairly linear without the common lag of turbocharged engines; applying light throttle delivers decent power output, making it suitable for urban traffic conditions. When switched to sport mode, the transmission’s shifting logic becomes more aggressive, downshifts are quicker, and power delivery is more direct when pressing the gas pedal hard, offering great confidence when overtaking. However, at high speeds above 120 km/h, the acceleration capability weakens slightly, adequate but not exceptionally strong.

In terms of handling, the steering of the Q5 Sportback public is precise, with minimal dead zones. The steering feels light at low speeds and becomes steadier at high speeds, offering a very comfortable feel. The suspension system adopts a front MacPherson and rear multi-link independent setup, tuned overall for comfort. It absorbs most of the bumps when going over speed humps or uneven roads, with no significant jolts transmitted into the cabin. When cornering, the body roll is well-controlled, and the chassis feels solid, instilling a high level of confidence during the drive. However, due to the coupe-style design, its center of gravity is slightly higher than the standard Q5, though it doesn’t noticeably affect daily driving.

Regarding fuel consumption, we conducted tests in urban traffic conditions (approximately 30%), highway stretches (approximately 50%), and suburban roads (approximately 20%), with the air conditioning on throughout. The final displayed fuel consumption was 7.8 L/100 km, which is not significantly different from the official figure of 7.2 L/100 km. This shows good fuel efficiency, making it suitable for long-term family use. In terms of noise control, at speeds below 80 km/h, wind noise and tire noise inside the cabin are almost unnoticeable. When the speed exceeds 100 km/h, wind noise increases slightly but remains within an acceptable range. Overall, the cabin’s quietness meets the expectations of a luxury brand.

In summary, the core strength of the 2025 Audi Q5 Sportback public lies in its “balance”—its coupe styling brings a distinctive appearance without overly compromising family space; with adequate power and economical fuel consumption, it is suitable for daily commuting; its luxurious features and refined interior align with its brand positioning. Compared with the BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe in the same class, its price (expected to be RM10,000-20,000 higher than the standard Q5) offers better value for money, and its space utilization is more practical. If you’re a family user aged 30-40, looking to enjoy the quality of a luxury brand without driving a “run-of-the-mill” SUV while needing to accommodate family travel, the Q5 Sportback public can be a great choice. It’s not the sportiest coupe SUV, nor is it the most spacious family SUV, but it strikes an excellent balance between the two, making it ideal for users seeking “all-around” capabilities.