Audi A5 Sportback (2009 – 2017) Review

Audi A5 Sportback (2009 – 2017) At A Glance

4/5

+Svelte coupe looks with large hatchback practicality. Plenty of space and headroom in the back. Low emissions from 2.0 TDI 170.

-Starting to feel dated. Firm ride on S line models. Oil consumption problem with 2.0 TSI.

Insurance Groups are between 22–40
On average it achieves 77% of the official MPG figure

Launched in 2009, the A5 Sportback established itself as the elder statesmen of the Audi range and has plenty of executive appeal for those who want an attractive and spacious 5-door coupe. Despite the name, the A5 Sportback is actually based on the same platform as the A4 and boasts similar dimensions, with a cabin that’s large enough for four adults and a 480 litre boot.

Like all Audi cars, the Sportback is supported by a strong range of engines, which includes two petrols and two diesels. The petrol range starts with a turbocharged 1.8-litre petrol, with 170PS, which returns a claimed 48.7mpg and 136g/km of CO2. The larger 2.0-litre unit is hooked up to quattro four-wheel drive and packs 225PS, which will propel the A5 Sportback from 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds. 

The diesel line up is varied, with choice of a 2.0-litre or 3.0-litre V6 units and both engines offer a good balance between power and efficiency, with the former being the most frugal. Indeed, the most efficient diesel in the range is the 2.0 TDI 136PS unit, which returns a claimed 63.2mpg and emits 117g/km of CO2. The 2.0-litre engine is also available with 155PS and 177PS, but if power is your thing, then the 3.0 quattro with 245PS will be for you, although economy and emissions drop to 49.6mpg and 149g/km of CO2.

On the road the A5 Sportback is calm and comfortable, but does show its age with vauge handling and a hard ride in S line trim. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard across the range, but again this gearbox is disappointing, with a clunky operation that requires constant work.

Audi offers five trim levels - standard, SE, SE Technik, S Line and Black Edition - and all get DAB radio, climate control and cruise control as standard. S line trim includes sport suspension and 18-inch wheels, while the range topping Black Edition gets 19-inch wheels, Bang & Olufsen sound system and black polished radiator and matt black fog light surrounds.

Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TDI 2009 Road Test and Video

Audi A5 2011 Facelift Road Test

Real MPG average for a Audi A5 Sportback (2009 – 2017)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

77%

Real MPG

18–57 mpg

MPGs submitted

349

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

How long before my Euro 5 compliant petrol car becomes an issue?

"I'm a satisfied owner of a 2010 Euro 5 compliant petrol Audi A5. It's been fully serviced from new, still runs completely fine and comfortably meets all my driving needs. I commute into the London ULEZ zone, but my car is compliant so that's fine. For my next car I want to go electric, as it seems daft to buy into another petrol or diesel car now, but prices are still very high and frankly none of them appeal to me as a suitable replacement for my A5 coupe for a price I could pay, so I'd rather wait a few years for prices to fall and some more interesting models to come along. However, I have a couple of more expensive maintenance jobs coming over the horrizon, e.g. the clutch probably needs doing soon. So my question is how long is my Euro 5 petrol engine likely to stay compliant with ULEZ and other similar legislation? In the past I would have assumed that any changes would be signalled years in advance, but the zone expansion happened very quickly so I'm not so sure now. Realistically, what's the quickest that things might change and make my current car financially unworkable? Just trying to work out how much time I'm buying if I spend on my current car now as I'd hate to drop a couple of grand on it, only to find out I have to replace it a few months later."
Unfortunately there are many other owners of Euro 5 compliant cars who are in a similar situation. Euro 5 compliance came into effect in January 2011, with Euro 6 taking over in September 2015, so Euro 5 cars are now up to 12 years old, so it is inevitable that at some point the ULEZ standard will be moved up to Euro 6. When this happens is largely guesswork - the original zone was introduced in 2019, with the inner expansion in 2021 and the outer expansion this year, so it has progressed relatively quickly. It is worth bearing in mind that Euro 7 is due to come into effect in July 2025, so it is possible that this will be used as a marker for a change in ULEZ compliance.
Answered by David Ross

The clutch is slipping on a used car we bought four months ago - should the warranty cover this?

"I purchased a second hand 2014 A5 Sportback in October 2017. We received a six month warranty with the car and now the clutch is slipping. The warranty company are stating that the clutch has to be completely broken to be repaired and that as slipping isn’t ‘broken’ then this isn’t covered. Is this true?"
Forget the warranty insurer. The dealer who sold you the car is liable for any major fault that could have been present or developing on date of sale for six months from the date of sale. He has to fix it. See: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/
Answered by Honest John

A dealer sold me a car that was damaged in an accident - is this legal?

"I purchased a used 2014 Audi A5 from a main Audi dealer eight months ago. The car has been leaking water into the boot where the electrics are, so I took the car back to the Audi dealer. They concluded that the bumper was out of line and the car had probably been involved in an accident in the past. The car still has four months Audi used approved warranty left on it, but they told me that it doesn't cover this. How can a main dealer sell me a car that may have been previously damaged and wash their hands of the problem it's causing? Can you please let me know where I stand?"
They cannot legally, knowingly do this. And if they repaired the car they do know about it so you can demand a full refund of the price you paid eight months ago. Here is the relevant law: The Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002, is derived from EU Directive 1999/44/EU which became Clauses 48A to 48F inclusive of the Sale of Goods act in April 2003. This reverses the burden of proof so that if goods go faulty within six months after purchase it is deemed they were faulty at the time of purchase and the trader has the onus of proving that the item is not defective due to a manufacturing defect. See: www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2002/20023045.htm/ This gives more teeth to the judgement in Bowes v J Richardson & Son The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations May 2008 (CPRs) incorporate The Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002 and contain a general prohibition against unfair commercial practices and, in particular prohibitions against misleading actions, misleading omissions and aggressive commercial practices. The Regulations are enforceable through the civil and criminal courts. See These create an offence of misleading omissions which would not previously have been an offence if the consumer had not asked the right questions. So if a salesman knows a car has, for example, been badly damaged and repaired and does not tell the customer, he could later be held liable if the customer subsequently discovered that the car had been damaged and repaired.
Answered by Honest John

My five year old Audi A5 needs £1300 of servicing - is this a fair price?

"My Audi A5 will be five years old in February. It's been fully serviced by Audi since new, and covered 38,000 miles. I'm told by the dealer that I now need a new cam belt, oil changed, and gearbox and brake fluid changed. On top of a full service, this will cost £1300. Is this advisable or should I look elsewhere?"
Very necessary. New timing belt, waterpump, timing belt tensioner, alternator belt, plus a change of fluid and filter for the s-tronic or it will all go horribly wrong. £1300 is a typical dealer price. An independent VWG specialist should be able to do it a bit more cheaply (or he wouldn't be in business).
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

What does a Audi A5 Sportback (2009 – 2017) cost?