Visually, the S5 Sportback is stunningly attractive. Although I didn’t care much for the vivid yellow of the test car, I still couldn’t keep my eyes off it. That low-slung wide stance, that sloping coupé-like roof-line that is the signature of sportback styling…the S5 is absolutely gorgeous. I especially liked the brushed aluminium covers for the auto folding wing mirrors. As expected from any Audi, the quality levels inside the cabin are absolutely top-notch. While the overall interior will be familiar to all Audi users, the addition of the flat bottomed steering wheel and the carbon-fibre accents on the transmission tunnel along with the aluminium pedals add a dash of sportiness that is both distinctive and befitting.
The optional S sports seats the test car came with provide excellent support and prevent you from sliding around on the fine Nappa leather. At the same time, they’re not so body-hugging that you won’t be able to shift around on those long drives. Again the best compromise at work with Audi toeing the fine line between support and space. Speaking of which, for a car its size the cabin of the S5 doesn’t feel immense. It’s spacious enough and that’s where it ends. Perhaps, it is the result of the high transmission tunnel combined with the black of the upholstery and the low seating. And the seats are really low, which I absolutely love. For a car that is meant to be a sporty version of the more sedate A5 Sportback, the low seating is perfectly in line with the car’s character.
