the Bucket: Bucket Seat: Audi A5 TFSI 146kW Black Edition

I'm a die-hard sedan fanboy, ever since I was a kid, our family owned a range of sedans, so the appeal of a hatch or SUV never swayed me. Even now with the range of SUV's and SAV's taking the market by storm, I still maintain the best car is a sedan but that all changed with the introduction of the Sportback/ Gran Coupe which fused the sleekness of a coupe but with the practicality of a sedan. Audi and BMW have been the two leaders in this segment over the years and with the introduction of the latest Audi A5, Audi have announced that they have decided to axe the A4 from their line up and the A5 Sportback will be the only 4-door offering in this segment. A decision which I'm sure was not easy as the A4 was a much loved model by many but seeing that the A5 Sportback and the A4 were practically the same car, it makes better business sense to have only one. I got to spend some time with the new A5 Sportback TFSI 146kW Black Edition not too long ago and here are my thoughts on it.

DESIGN

The Sportback’s silhouette remains the selling point, with its long bonnet, swept roof and a hatch like back that gives the car a low, swooping profile while keeping uniformity. On this newest A5 the front end has been sharpened with a wider, hexagonal singleframe grille, narrower LED headlamps and more pronounced sculpting in the bumper and flanks. The overall effect is sportier and a touch more aggressive than the previous generation, but still classically Audi. There are some elements of the etron range that come through in certain angles but the car remains a masterpiece in any way you look at it. If one had to describe the Audi A5 in a few words, it would be restrained, premium and undeniably modern. This continues in the cabin where we get a look at the latest in Audi's design language for their interiors which match the exterior in terms of the modern yet minimalist look.

PERFORMANCE

While we're used to previous branding from Audi that had the "35" and the "40" badges to differentiate the engine sizes, Audi has now opted to just put "TFSI" on the back and I'm guessing the diesels would just have "TDI", the A5 comes in two engine variants, both of which are 2.0L Turbo Petrol engines that have mild hybrid technology, the one is tuned to 146kW and the other is jacked up to 200kW. I had the 146kW engine spec in the Black Edition package. I was fortunate to have a lot of driving lined up for the A5 during my week with it, which included a long distance trip in excess of 700km, so it was the perfect opportunity to test the fuel efficiency on the car. The engine produces 146kW as state and 340Nm of torque, this high torque factor is assisted by the electric motor which often powers up when the car is switched on making you think you're driving an electric car. Urban driving with the A5 saw me have a higher fuel consumption around 9L per 100km which isn't bad when you think about it compared to other cars with similar engine sizes.

The long distance journeys was where this car shone, with me having traveled around 720km, the car, it averaged around 7.6L per 100km with a range of 20km left from the 56L tank. The drive on the car is simply sublime, I could not fault one aspect of the on the road feel, it felt solid and commanding of the road.Audi has dialled suspension and steering for a balanced compromise that is composed enough for confident higher-speed cruising, supple enough to absorb poor urban surfaces if you choose standard suspension. Optional adaptive dampers sharpen handling without compromising daily comfort. Sound insulation and seat comfort are very competitive for the class; long trips are easy. If your roads are very rough, opt for the adaptive setup or softer suspension tune, because low-profile wheels with sports suspension can transmit more impact. Even in adverse conditions, the A5 handled like a charm. There is one gripe I had with the engine, which it is a down-tuned engine, it did feel like it was being held back at times, almost made me think I was driving a 1.4L but other than that, it certainly has risen to the top of my charts from the German contenders in terms of offerings and performance.

COMFORT

The cabin of the A5 is spacious, modern and futuristic, with it featuring its all new layout, that has a curved split screen dash, new steering wheel and the plush and high quality materials that we have become so accustomed with the brand. The lines of the dash is what will catch you soon as you sit inside, the great merger of technology and luxury are brought to life in the cabin, with high-quality leather electric seats that slide back for you to get in easily, the instrument cluster has been re-designed to give you a more pilot like feel with the radar guidance being the main focus of the center dial, info either side of this can be configured to the individual. The 14.5" touchscreen infotainment unit controls just about everything, it has built-in wireless mobile applications, the new MMI UI is easy to use and can be configured to your liking with the options of having a favourites menu for your driver aids, I like this because you don't have to go into multiple menus to find things.

The car came with the "Tech Pro" package which is listed at R100,000, I'm not exactly sure what is included in it but there was a shit load of tech. From surround view cameras, a digital sunroof, yes, the full glass panoramic roof can go opaque or swap in patterns of your choice. It's a pretty good party trick but also functional too. I like how Audi have moved all the driver controls to the driver side door in one neat cluster. So you can control everything from your memory seats, the side mirrors and even the lights from there. It just makes the dash a whole lot neater. This particular model also came with the infortainment package pro which adds an additional smaller screen for the front passenger. This gives them full access to the complete MMI menu and more with an app store to download games and video applications. The rear space is decent in the A5 with the passengers getting their own aircon controls and USB C ports for charging their devices. The Sportback hatch brings much more usable loadspace than a traditional saloon ideal for weekend gear or a pram. Rear headroom is slightly compromised compared with a taller sedan, but remains acceptable for adults on shorter journeys.

VERDICT

The Audi A5 146kW TFSI really has surprised me, being a lover of the sportback styling it already had me won over on the looks department but the actual performance and the driving feel of the car is what blew me away. The quality of the materials used on the inside and the amount of technology you are getting in this package is truly outstanding and really is setting the benchmark for this segment. It should have their competition going back to the drawing boards to see how they can compete with this. While the competitors might have the edge in certain aspects, the A5 ticks all the boxes to be one of the best complete packages on the market. While the engine did feel under-powered at times, I'd like to have a go in the 200kW variant to see how that fairs. But to end, this car for me reminded me why I like sedans or sedan/ coupe should I say. It's not about having a lower center of gravity, there is just something charming about driving a long saloon.