2021 Audi Q5 And SQ5 Sportback Are The Latest SUV Coupes To Go On Sale In Europe

Audi is launching the new 2021 Q5 Sportback in Europe, aiming to bring the fight directly on rivals like the BMW X4 and the GLC Coupe.

The biggest difference between the Sportback and the regular bodystyle of the 2021 Audi Q5 is of course the sloping roofline, which robs 16 mm off the headroom for the rear passengers and features a smaller by 40 liters boot, at 510 liters of capacity.

On the other hand, the new Q5 Sportback offers a slightly better drag coefficient of 0.30 thanks to its different body shape and can be optioned with a rear bench seat that can be shifted laterally and features adjustable seatbacks.

European customers will be offered three engine options at launch for the 2021 Audi Q5 Sportback. These include a 2.0-liter TDI with 201 HP (204 PS) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque paired to a 12-volt mild-hybrid system, a 3.0-liter TDI with 282 HP (286 PS) and 457 lb-ft (620 Nm) of torque paired to a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and a 2.0-liter TFSI petrol with 261 HP (265 PS) and 272 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque paired to a 12-volt mild hybrid system.

The more powerful 3.0-liter TDI model comes fitted with an eight-speed automatic transmission instead of a seven-speed dual-clutch unit found in the other two models and a permanent Quattro all-wheel-drive system with a mechanical center differential. Audi will offer a second variant of the 2.0-liter TDI engine to the range in the next few months.

Optional adaptive air suspension

Audi will also offer the option of an adaptive air suspension to customers as an alternative to the standard setup with adaptive dampers. The air suspension in the Q5 Sportback can adjust the ride height by 60 mm (2.4 in), increasing the ground clearance by as much as 45 mm (1.8 in). In addition, the optional air suspension can lower the body by 15 mm (0.6 in) at higher speeds, and by 55 mm (2.2 in) when the vehicle is parked.

The interior is pretty much standard Q5 business, meaning Audi’s third-gen MIB infotainment system that uses a 10.1-inch touchscreen display at its top trim, combined with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The system can be operated by using its natural-language voice control.

The new Audi SQ5 Sportback

At the top of the range sits the new SQ5 Sportback, which uses the same 3.0-liter TDI engine as the standard Euro-spec SQ5. The range-topping variant offers 336 HP (341 PS) and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque, the latter available between 1,750 rpm and 3,250 rpm. 0-62 mph (100 km/h) is a matter of 5.1 seconds while top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph (250 km/h).

First examples to be delivered in the first half of 2021

Audi is now accepting orders for the new 2021 Q5 Sportback and SQ5 Sportback models, with the first examples expected to be delivered in the first half of 2021.