Earlier this year, Audi had unveiled the third-generation Q5, their player in the midsize luxury SUV category. As is custom, the Sportback variant was to follow and here it is. The Sportback line, being coupe-SUVs, isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, having traded some headroom and luggage space for aesthetics and presence. Yet, they cater to a particular audience that appreciate what they have to offer, and the 2025 Q5 Sportback has a lot in that respect.

The Q5 Sportback isn’t coming alone either – its sporty sibling, the SQ5 Sportback is out as well, offering sportier design cues, stiffer ride, and most importantly, more power befitting the ‘S’ badge.

What’s new for 2025?

One of the biggest differences under the hood for the 3rd gen Q5 Sportback is the inclusion of a mild-hybrid EV (MHEV) system on all three engine options at launch. For Europe, these are the 2.0L TFSI (201 hp, 340 Nm), 2.0L TDI (201 hp, 400 Nm) four-cylinders, and the 3.0L V6 TFSI (362 hp, 550 Nm), the latter only in the SQ5 Sportback. The MHEV system contributes around 23 hp and 180 Nm by itself.

Another major shift is the platform architecture on which the Q5 Sportback twins sit – the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) is what enable introduction of MHEV to the already familiar engines.

New Visuals and New Cabin

Compared to the previous gen Sportbacks, the new design is sleeker overall. The headlamps appear leaner, while the rear gets a full length light-strip. The roofline slopes down in a much sportier fashion than it used to, enhancing the purpose of the Sportback line – to provide the presence of an SUV with the poise of a coupe.

For the SQ5 Sportback, there’s a tad more visual drama to the exterior. The grille and front air intakes get silver and gray accents in the form of inlays, so do the rocker panels and the rear bumper that houses the diffuser. The SQ5 also gets distinctive 18″ alloys all around.

Open the doors and you’re greeted with Audi’s signature tech-focused yet elegant cabin. Screens have effectively replaced the major use of buttons as part of the infotainment system, and Audi has gone full-send in this respect. The instrument cluster is a screen, that flows into the centre-screen that houses features accessible to both driver and passenger, and that is augmented by a third screen exclusively for the passenger to use. While the functionalities available to each screen will certainly vary, their availability sends out a positive message.

Typical of Audi, there’s no surface that isn’t made with high-quality materials to the touch. Premium interiors have always been one of Ingolstadt’s fortes, and the new interior them that revolves around tech and elegance is a much need upgrade from the current gen Sportbacks.

There’s more…?

Surprise, surprise – for the 2025 model year, Audi will be offering both the current gen Q5 Sportback and the new one, the same being applicable for the regular Q5s. While the differences between the old and new are like night and day, in favor of the new one, Audi perhaps believes that there exists a niche that only the old model caters to. It may also be that newer customers that want a premium experience might just be able to afford the older Sportback now. Giving the masses the opportunity to get the full Audi experience – a bold move indeed from the folks at Ingolstadt.