Search
Close this search box.
Sign up for our weekly Newsletter

Audi A5 Sportback – the Product Manager’s view: Audi A5 Sportback long term review 3

We’ve been driving the Audi A5 Sportback as one of our business cars on long term review. What does Audi A5 Sportback Product Manager Marios Alexandrou think are the key features of the Sportback?
Marios Alexandrou Audi A5 Product Manager portrait

Share

13 August 2018

RAZOR sharp lines, coupe-like styling, and the Audi badge at the front – there’s every reason to want an Audi A5 Sportback for your business motoring.

The model I’ve been driving is the 2.0 TDI ultra S line S tronic 190PS model.

It’s got oodles of oomph, thanks to that 190PS engine with 400Nm of torque on offer, which gives you effortless acceleration. The auto is super smooth, too.

And S line spec gives you that sporty look, but thanks to Audi’s latest chassis and suspension set up, a fabulous ride and pin-sharp handling too.

I had the chance to meet up with Audi’s Product Manager for the Audi A5 so I thought it would be instructive to ask him for what he thought were the keypoints about the A5 Sportback.

We met before the range had been recalibrated under the latest WLTP fuel tests – which has seen most CO2 emissions increase. My A5 has risen from 112g/km to 121g/km, for example, for all new A5 models ordered.

Marios Alexandrou is responsible for both A5 and A4 ranges at Audi.

Marios came to Audi in August 2016 following 18 months at Mercedes, and five years at Nissan where he entered the industry on a grad scheme.

Audi A5 Sportback front view
Audi A5 Sportback: coupe styling, razor sharp lines, totally alluring

I asked him which was the A5 model he thought best for business motoring.

“For the SME sector, the model to go for is the 190 TDI S tronic with low CO2s and Sport in terms of the trim. This covers most of the business or fleet drivers needs, thanks to its business focused specification.”

And what sort of customer does the A5 appeal to?

“It’s a more design conscious customer, particularly with the Sportback. You still get the space but you get the looks. I’d also say that the road noise is so quiet it makes a massive difference to the premium feel of the car.

“The other thing that business motorists should consider as an option is the Tech pack. This is a key option because it brings in the virtual cockpit. People see it and want it. So for both business and private buyers, I suggest they seriously consider it.

“Another pack to consider is the driving assistance tour pack – it gives you adaptive cruise, traffic assist, read traffic signs, all things that make driving easier for the long distance driver.”

While the latest Audi A5 is not dramatically changed from the car it replaced, Alexandrou says every area of car has changed a lot.

“It’s more efficient, quieter, sharper – builds upon the reason why everyone liked the old car,” he explained.

From my experience of the Audi A5 Sportback, I’d say that was a fairly accurate summation. I can’t wait for more!

What do you get in the Audi A5 Technology pack?

The Technology Pack is worth adding to the Audi A5 Sportback. Here’s what you get

MMI Navigation Plus with MMI Touch
In addition to standard MMI Radio Plus, includes the following:

  • 8.3” high-resolution, colour MMI display with aluminium frame
  • Touch-sensitive control panel for fast, intuitive operation, handwriting recognition, and ability to move and zoom freely on the map
  • Integrated navigation with 3D map display of places of interest
  • Online map updates (includes five free updates) and myAudi special destinations which allows you to download special destinations such as your favourite restaurants into your navigation system via your own myAudi account
  • Detailed route information: map preview, choice of alternative routes, POIs, lane recommendations, motorway exits, detailed junction maps and more
  • Dynamic route guidance traffic updates with TMCpro (in conjunction with Audi Connect: traffic information online)
  • MMI search: free text search with intelligent suggestions provided during entry
  • Natural voice recognition
  • Jukebox hard drive memory formusic (10 GB)
  • DVD drive for music CDs and video DVDs
  • 2x SDXC memory card readers
Audi A5 Sportback virtual cockpit
Audi A5 Sportback virtual cockpit – make sure your Audi comes with this option

Audi Virtual Cockpit

The Audi Virtual Cockpit – even if you don’t go as far as adding the Technology Pack in which it is included – is a brilliant option and costs £250. Don’t order an Audi without the Audi Virtual Cockpit for your business motoring.

For this you get a 12.3” full colour digital instrument cluster for the flexible display of information tailored to what you want to see (navigation info, radio info, and so on).

The Audi Virtual Cockpit displays the following information:

  • Vehicle/engine speed
  • 3D navigation map
  • Audi Connect services
  • Radio/media information
  • Driver assistance systems

All MMI functionalities (e.g. telephone,car settings etc). The ‘view’ button on the multi-function steering wheel allows you to change between two differently sized representations of the instrument dials.The display with small instruments allows the onboard computer and MMI contents to be shown across the full display area

Audi Connect Infotainment Services (36-month subscription)

Audi Connect Infotainment Services is the link between your Audi and the internet, giving you access to entertainment, information and search functions operated via the MMI control panel, the multi-functional steering wheel or the voice control system.

With high-speed internet access in your car via an embedded SIM within your vehicle, you can call up information such as flight times, fuel prices, weather and other online services provided by third parties (e.g. Twitter), as well as Points of Interest
and high-resolution aerial and satellite pictures from Google Earth.

Audi Phone Box with wireless charging

This offers wireless charging for compatible phones and creates an additional Bluetooth interface for a second device, meaning 2 mobile phones can be connected to the vehicle simultaneously.

Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TDI ultra S line S tronic 190PS

  • Power – 190PS
  • Torque – 400Nm
  • Transmission – seven speed dual clutch auto
  • Top speed – 146mph
  • 0-62mph – 7.9 seconds
  • CO2 emissions – 112g/lm
  • Company car tax band 2017/18 – 24%
  • Fuel consumption (official) – 65.7mpg
  • Fuel consumption (actual) – 48.3mpg

Read the previous long term review of the Audi A5 Sportback

Click here for It might look like a coupe, but Audi A5 Sportback can shift the loads too

Share this article

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Reddit
Email

Want more motoring news?

Sign up here for our free weekly serving of motoring.

Sign up here for our free weekly serving of motoring.

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton is an award-winning journalist and the founder of Business Car Manager (now renamed Business Motoring). Ralph writes extensively about the car and van leasing industry as well as wider fleet and company car issues. A former editor of What Car?, Ralph is a vastly experienced writer and editor and has been writing about the automotive sector for over 35 years.

Latest news

Top