As new faces emerge in the market, and as brand loyalties threaten to be eroded, one truth arguably still remains: There's nothing quite like walking back to a car with an established premium badge in your carpark.
It helps when that car looks as smart, and has the sort of heavy-hitting recognition as the all-new Audi Q5 Sportback too.
Again - no, this is neither a sports car despite its name, nor a hatchback a la the under-appreciated Audi A3 Sportback, but Audi's coupe-SUV-ified take on one of its all-time bestsellers: The returning, third-gen Q5.
There was a time when coupe-SUVs were regarded with wonder, with derision, or with an odd mix of both. But they've since become surprisingly immovable objects against the unstoppable tides of change in the auto world - so much so that it would have felt odd if Audi hadn't released the Q5 Sportback to accompany the conventional SUV-bodied Q5.
And it's probably a good thing that the folks at Ingolstadt went for it, because in this stratosphere of car-buying (we're talking price tags that can rival some HDB flats), it's not hard to imagine each variant having its own differentiated appeal for different crowds. The Q5 Sportback, as the sultrier twin of course, would be targeted at more 'extroverted' types.
As a sign of the still-changing times back then, it's worth remembering that the Sportback bodystyle only joined the Q5 family in its second generation. With the passage of time, it now feels like the product of a more focused design vision.
Whereas the rear end of the preceding Q5 Sportback felt rather lumpy from certain angles, this new car has gotten a healthy dose of athleticism. Credit for the car's lighter look is due to its cleaner body lines; Audi also states that it's moved all of the car's "defining design elements" (including its shoulder line, head lights and taillights) one level higher than on the outgoing Q5/Q5 Sportback.
These have the effect of making the car look smaller than before - a neat trick considering that it's actually longer and wider now tip to tip. Sadly, however, the quirky little ducktail spoiler of old has disappeared.
Quick aside: Interestingly, Audi Singapore's positioning of the Q5 Sportback as the more enviable fraternal twin to the Q5 is evident in the way it's arranged the model lineups for both cars.
Whereas your entry point to overall Q5 ownership takes shape in the front-wheel drive Q5 Advanced, the Q5 Sportback is offered only with quattro all-wheel drive, and comes as standard in the S line trim.
Materially, what this means is that you're definitely guaranteed the sort of sporty styling that might lend some credence to the car's 'Sportback', courtesy of a more menacing front grille and rear bumper as well as large side intakes, all in a matte gunmetal finish.
A subtle rear diffuser is nicely blended into the standard twin exhausts, and 20-inch wheels (one size larger than the standard 19-inchers) are thrown in for good measure too.
Delightfully, though, the Q5 Sportback doesn't trade practicality away for all that style.
At a still-generous 515 litres in capacity, its boot is a mere five litres down from what you'll find in the 'normal' Q5's derriere, with a nice, wide opening and handy nets and hooks. The fact that the second row has a 40:20:40 split means you can play around with the space quite flexibly as well.
Also largely unscathed is the headroom that all three passengers get on the second row - a pleasant surprise considering the Q5 Sportback has effectively had part of its roof lopped off. The comfort of your folks in the rear is also reinforced by the fact that they get to enjoy their own climate zone and in-built window shades.
Still, we have a sneaking suspicion that those here will be scrambling for the two window seats. That central transmission tunnel is both uncomfortably tall and wide, meaning whoever's relegated to the middle seat will have to travel with their knees splayed.
Otherwise, the PPC-based Q5 Sportback deals in the same tech on board that has come to define Audi's latest generation of cars - and to largely positive effect. That means a single-piece curved 'panoramic display' housing your 11.2-inch Virtual Cockpit and a (fittingly-large) 14.5-inch central infotainment screen, which jointly run the brand's all-new MMI infotainment system.
Brands seem increasingly bent on challenging anyone who's not a computer whizz to navigate their systems. Audi's latest models like the Q5 Sportback, however, excel with in-car menus that are both breezy and pleasurable to navigate with their dummy-friendly pathways and sharp graphics. In the era of the Hyperscreen (or Superscreen), these may not be as dazzling upfront, but their intuitiveness will likely be a winsome quality over the longer run.
Furthermore, the fundamentals are executed to perfection. Worth commending is the fact the Q5 Sportback boasted one of the quickest and most seamless hook-ups to Apple CarPlay that we've experienced in a while - a feat it was repeatedly capable of during our three days with it. Its Virtual Cockpit (read: digital driver's display) also feels fittingly contemporary without stuffing in too much information.
Not all of the updates work as well, though.
Notably, the pursuit of neatness has done a disfavour to the Q5 Sportback's steering wheel, since its physical buttons now have capacitive touch functionality. (Inevitably, the accidental brush that activates a function can be grating on occasion.)
It's also easy to miss the chunky, leather-wrapped gear lever of old, despite the sleek look of this new flattened one. And unsurprisingly, the Q5 Sportback shares the same hollow-sounding centre console as its SUV sibling.
These quibbles notwithstanding, the cabin's general build quality is of an expectedly high standard. Panels feel tightly screwed together. The seats are both well-bolstered and upholstered in supple, thick leather. Even the doors swing open with good heft, and slam shut with a nice, full-bodied thunk.
Perhaps most stunning is the car's standard 'ambient lighting plus' pack, which envelopes the front quarters and cupholders in a powerful glow that comes with customisable combinations. You'll find yourself constantly looking forward to the next tunnel to pull into view when on the road, or for night to fall entirely.
More of a refined than sporty Sportback
That understated but highly sophisticated atmosphere created by the cabin holds the perfect mirror up to how the Q5 Sportback moves on the road.
Despite tending towards the firmer end of things, its suspension feels very well sorted both when creeping along and cruising at higher speeds. The cabin is well shielded from external noise (for that you also have an acoustic glazed windscreen to thank). And you're perched high enough to get a commanding view out onto the road, but not to the extent of feeling disconnected from the car entirely. Even the hexagon-shaped steering wheel feels nice and grippy in your hands.
Accompanying all its progress, of course, is the Q5 Sportback's squarely competent 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, with 48V mild hybrid assistance. Putting aside the fact the EVs have distorted perceptions of power, its 201bhp is more than sufficient for Q5 Sportback's remit as a luxury barge (otherwise, there's always the spicy V6 in the SQ5/SQ5 Sportback if your pockets are deep enough).
Its peak torque of 340Nm also arrives between 2,000rpm and 4,000rpm, landing sufficient punch without requiring too much effort on the pedal to help power through overtakes and highway merges. As we mentioned previously in our time with the Q5, however, keep your foot pinned, and its strained vocals will make themselves evident. Slightly marring the serenity of the experience as well is the fact that the brakes also feel slightly grabby.
But the Germans haven't made a name for themselves purely based on refinement; you expect a large SUV from Audi to have it in itself to entertain the driver too. And entertained (in decent measure), you will be.
The new Q5 generation has been gifted with enhanced progressive steering as standard, and on the Q5 Sportback, you'll find a lower steering ratio than you'd expect from a car of its size. Involuntarily, then, you'll be lured into being a bit more brazen at right turns or with the occasional bend - following which the Q5 Sportback will reveal itself to have fine (if unexciting) handling chops. The fact that power is sent to all four wheels certainly helps on this front too.
What you shouldn't expect, however, is stellar fuel efficiency.
Despite the integrated starter-generator helping with take-offs and light electrical boost when cruising, the Q5 Sportback is ultimately still a large and heavy SUV (with all-wheel drive too); we achieved only an okay-ish 10.5km/L with the car over 200km of driving.
It's admittedly also not the flashiest, most feature-packed, or keenly-priced mid-sized SUV on the market. At around $380,000 (accurate at time of publishing), in fact, it's a good $11,000 more than the equivalent Q5 quattro S line - and $30,000 dearer than the front-wheel drive Q5 Advanced.
But then to fixate on both fuel efficiency and pricing in isolation would be to miss the point of the Q5 Sportback.
Folks who are drawn to cars of its ilk likely value brand prestige, understated build quality mixed with a dose of extra style, and arguably, the unparalleled finesse with which the Germans craft their combustion engines, as well as their ability to infuse both refinement and driving involvement within a luxury car.
For that sort of crowd, then, the Q5 Sportback stands as a tantalising and still-practical option whose badge you won't have to explain to your family and neighbours - and with just that bit more appeal over its SUV twin.
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