Audi Australia has confirmed that the all-new Q5 Sportback and the newly unveiled SQ5 Sportback will make their way to Australian shores in the second half of next year.

The marriage of the Audi Q5’s award-winning qualities with Audi’s distinctive Sportback style is one of the great automotive pairings, and the announcement that the SQ5 Sportback TDI will also join the fold is an added bonus for performance enthusiasts.

Although exact details of the Australian model range, pricing and specification won’t be announced until closer the launch date in the second half of next year, both the Q5 Sportback and its ’S’ sibling promise to impress across the board.

The stunning design speaks for itself, the Sportback architecture fitting perfectly with the Q5’s size and presence, adding a completely new dimension to the brand’s tremendously successful mid-sized luxury SUV.

In addition to the striking profile, the front end in particular features a distinctive new design while the sculpted rear treatment will also feature the new digital OLED technology. At At 4.69 metres, the Q5 Sportback is seven millimetres longer than its sister model, the Q5, while the height and width remain the same at 1.66 metres and 1.89 metres respectively. The long wheelbase of 2.82 metres makes for generous interior accommodation on-board which includes 510 litres of luggage storage with five occupants inside, or 1480 litres with the rear seats folded flat. These seats can also be ordered as the rear seat bench plus, which can be shifted laterally and has adjustable seat back angles.

For those needing to carry more, the Q5 Sportback with its 150kW 2.0 TDI engine, can also tow trailers with a total weight of up to 2.4 tonnes (braked, 12 percent gradient) and roof rails are available as an option.

In terms of engines, Audi Q5 Sportback will be launched in Europe with three engine versions – two TDI engines and one TFSI ranging in power from 150kW to 210kW.  The Q5 Sportback 40 TDI quattro sports the aforementioned 2.0 TDI engine with 150kW and 400Nm of torque, giving it a 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.6 seconds, while a 12 V mild hybrid system (MHEV) increases the efficiency. This is mated to a seven-speed S tronic and the quattro drive with ultra technology.

The Audi Q5 Sportback 50 TDI quattro delivers 210kW and 620Nm of torque, for a standard sprint in 5.7 seconds. It uses an MHEV system with 48V as well as an eight-speed tiptronic and quattro permanent all-wheel drive with a mechanical centre differential.

The Audi Q5 Sportback 45 TFSI quattro uses a 2.0 TFSI, four-cylinder petrol engine, which sprints from 0 to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds. The petrol engine produces 195kW and 370Nm of torque and like the two-litre TDI, it uses a 12 V mild hybrid system, seven-speed S tronic transmission, and the quattro drive with ultra technology. 

In addition to the standard suspension, Audi also offers an alternative suspension with controlled dampers or adaptive air suspension which adjusts the ride height over a wide range of 60mm. The ground clearance can be increased by as much as 45mm when driving on unsealed roads, while the body is lowered by 15mm when driving fast, reducing drag while increasing efficiency at the same time. 

The vehicle’s stability also benefits from its low centre of gravity and for convenient loading, the rear body can be lowered 55mm when the vehicle is stationary. The optional dynamic steering varies the steering ratio and power assist as a function of the driving speed.

The Q5 Sportback features the third-generation modular infotainment system or MIB 3, which when fully equipped, features the Audi virtual cockpit plus with 12.3-inch display and a head-up display.

The MMI navigation plus infotainment system is paired with a 10.1-inch touch display featuring natural language voice control, while optional equipment includes items such as the Audi phone box and the Bang & Olufsen 3D Premium Sound System. Of course the new Q5 Sportback also boasts the highest standards of safety and driver assistance systems.

Sitting atop the range, the new SQ5 Sportback TDI is powered by a three-litre diesel engine which produces 251kW and a massive 700Nm of torque available from 1750rpm to 3250rpm. This combination delivers a 5.1 second sprint to 100km/h, yet the SQ5 Sportback also delivers extraordinary efficiency. Thanks to its 48 Volt mild hybrid system (MHEV), it recovers up to 8kW of power when decelerating. With the electricity from the lithium-ion battery, the CUV can coast for up to 40 seconds with the engine off, after which the belt-driven starter-alternator seamlessly restarts the engine. 

The SQ5 Sportback uses an eight-speed tiptronic  transmission and of course power is transferred to the road surface through all four wheels. The quattro permanent all-wheel drive can also be ordered with the sport differential which actively adjusts the distribution of torque between the rear wheels when driving hard, sending more torque to the outside wheel that has better grip.

The five-link suspension likewise adds to the surefooted feel of the SQ5 Sportback which rides on 20-inch alloys wheels as standard with 21-inch available as an option, both providing ample room to house the 375mm discs up front with six-piston callipers.

While the SQ5 TDI has always enjoyed a strong, loyal following, the new SQ5 Sportback promises to win even more enthusiasts when it arrives in Australia and adds its striking design to an already compelling package.