2026 Audi Q5 Sportback Follows New Q5 Recipe
The third-generation Audi Q5, which made its global debut in early September, will launch in Canada sometime in the spring of 2025. Today, the German luxury brand introduced the coupe-like Q5 Sportback, and that one is expected to arrive a few months later as a 2026 model.
In exchange for a more athletic profile, this compact SUV continues to sacrifice a bit of cargo room. While the new Q5 is good for a total of 1,473 litres, the Q5 Sportback manages to fit 1,415 litres—or 1,388 litres in the case of the sportier SQ5 Sportback. With the rear seats up, the Q5 Sportback’s trunk accommodates 515 litres of cargo and the SQ5 Sportback is able to pack 470 litres only.
- Also: Third-Generation 2025 Audi Q5 Debuts With R8-Inspired Looks
- Also: 2025 Audi A5: A4 Replacement is Still a Treat to Drive
Other than that, the two body styles are largely identical. Each one rides on Audi’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) that’s also used by the new 2025 A5 replacing the A4 sedan. The lines, grille and lighting signatures obviously have a more modern appearance than those of the outgoing Q5 Sportback. Optional roof rails add utility value to the dynamic lines of the roof.
Inside, the design is a carbon copy of the A5 and Q5, with a slightly taller dashboard that allowed Audi to move some of the controls from the centre console to the centre stack. The so-called Digital Stage interface combines an 11.9-inch digital instrument panel with a 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen.
A third screen (10.9 inches) facing the front passenger is optional, making it possible to watch videos without distracting the driver. The operating system is based on the Android Automotive platform enabling over-the-air updates. Through the centre display, users have access to popular apps such as YouTube and more. Elsewhere, new materials made from recycled fibres, called Kaskade and Dinamica, add another layer of refinement to the Q5 and SQ5.
When it comes to driving dynamics, you should know that firmer steering and suspension adjustments make for improved handling. A sport suspension is optional on the Q5 and standard on the SQ5. Also available is an adaptive air suspension.
Under the hood, look for the same turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in the Q5 Sportback and the same turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 in the SQ5 Sportback, although output ratings for North America have yet to be confirmed. A fully electric alternative can be found in the all-new 2025 Q6 Sportback e-tron and SQ6 Sportback e-tron, which should land in Canadian showrooms by mid-2025.
It’s way too early to talk about pricing, of course, but as a reminder, the current Q5 Sportback and SQ5 Sportback models start at an all-inclusive $67,000 and $79,300, respectively.
