X

2018 Audi S5 Sportback is a versatile and capacious all-weather athlete

Sleek five-door hatchback speedily and luxuriously blurs the lines between coupe, hatchback and sedan.

Chris Paukert
Following stints in TV news production and as a record company publicist, Chris spent most of his career in automotive publishing. Mentored by Automobile Magazine founder David E. Davis Jr., Paukert succeeded Davis as editor-in-chief of Winding Road, a pioneering e-mag, before serving as Autoblog's executive editor from 2008 to 2015. Chris is a Webby and Telly award-winning video producer and has served on the jury of the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. He joined the CNET team in 2015, bringing a small cache of odd, underappreciated cars with him.
Chris Paukert
2018 Audi S5 in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
1 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

The S5 Sportback is priced like an S5 Coupe, but offers far more utility without sacrificing style.

2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
2 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

You can tell an S5 up front by its standard LED headlights, special single-frame grille finish, aggressive lower fascia and mirrors jacketed in silver.

2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
3 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

The S5 Sportback rides on a slightly longer wheelbase, adding better proportions and improving rear-seat packaging.

2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
4 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Note the low-slung wing-shaped dashboard, optional carbon fiber trim and quilted leather seats.

2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
5 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Audi's Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster is the bee's knees and really drives home the company's high-tech ethos.

2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
6 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Audi's marketing department calls this a four-door coupe. It's actually a five-door hatchback, but when the result is this elegant, who are we to quibble?

2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
7 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Quad exhaust tips display the S5's sporting intent, and active solenoids can vary the amount of sound they produce based on how sporty you're feeling.

2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
8 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

With a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds, this is the view that class rivals will be staring at.

2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
9 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Optional 19-inch Cado-pattern wheels are clad in Continental summer rubber.

2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
10 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Quilted leather seats come standard, and can be had in a leather/Alcantara faux suede finish, or in full leather. If you want ventilation, however, say goodbye to the quilting.

2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
11 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Cargo space is a generous 21.8 cubic-feet with the rear seats up (around twice the space of the A5 Coupe), extending to 35 cubic feet with them folded. That's enough room for seven full-size suitcases. 

2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
12 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

The S5 Sportback's 3.0-liter single-turbo V6 is rated at 354 horsepower and 369 pound feet of torque.

2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
13 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Keep clicking or swiping through for dozens more images of the 2018 Audi S5 Sportback.

2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
14 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
15 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
16 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
17 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
18 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
19 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
20 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
21 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
22 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
23 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
24 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
25 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
26 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
27 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
28 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
29 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
30 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
31 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
32 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
33 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
34 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
35 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
36 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
37 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
38 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
39 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
40 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
41 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
42 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
43 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
44 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
45 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
46 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
47 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
48 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
49 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
50 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
51 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
52 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
53 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
54 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
55 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
56 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
57 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

54-2018-audi-s5-sportback-re

2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
58 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
59 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
60 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow
2018 Audi S5 Sportback in Tango Red over Rotor Gray
61 of 61 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos