Audi A5 Sportback reviews show suspension problem

I guess that it isn't so bad that it won't be available in North America.

I'd still like to see it here if they work out the problems. I love the styling of the A5, but can't pull the trigger on a two-door. I think these problems may be the consequence of Audi's overly aggressive attempt to increase market share through niche-filling product diversity (even as un-diverse as it may seem in terms of styling and platform sharing). The A5 itself has not gone without problems and was listed in one UK survey as the most unreliable new model for 2009.

Even Toyota, who already knew how to build reliable cars, is beginning to see the folly of trying to dominate the global market. I hope Audi reigns it in a little because they can ill-afford another public-relations disaster like the "sudden acceleration" chapter of their life.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/bargains-and-rip-offs/motoring/article.html?in_article_id=488819&in_page_id=53949&ito=1723

Your dilemma is simple, buy an a4 or an a6... they look the same.

God is in the details, Joe--you devil worshipper. In the Sportback, at least one of the details has some functionality; the hatch. A couple of months ago I had to unbox an office chair in the Office Depot parking lot just to get it to fit into my A4. A hatch presents a pretty good proposition for occasional hauling.

Anyway, I'm not sure I understand the problem some have with Audis family resemblance or strictly evolutionary styling. This is how you build identity and this is how you get the "halo effect" to actually work. Few people bitch about Porsche's uniformity of style and when you look at the companies that have had a wild array of offerings and frequent, revolutionary restyling (GM, for example) you realize that all they've done is watered down their image and that of their successful models with embarrassing miscalculations like the Aztec. Then, when their customers are abandoning them and they can't figure out why, they revert to the old retro-inspired hail-Mary pass. But what do I know, Joe, maybe the Thunderbird brought you back to Ford.

Weird as this hasn't been the problem with the A5.

Hmmmm...........no mention of who the 3 publications are that made the neg reviews.......hmmmmm.

Well thats dissapointing,but not as dissapointing as Audi still using FWD in their cars.

seriously... shut up about lexus. they are anything BUT sleek and sexy. they look the same as all the generic toyotas. why would i pay $15k more for an es when i could just buy a camry? that's stupid. and on a side note, why does the "luxury" lexus es still have a cassette player?

Interesting article given that the Sportback shares the same platform with the A5 and A4 which have not been criticized in the same way. The article should have referenced the publications that did these tests.

Fortunately, Audi's A5 Sportback will be a low-volume car. Currently Audi will not sell the A5 Sportback in the United States.

I expect Audi to do a MUCH better job with their 2010 A8 and A1 next year.

The A5 has never been about performance first and design second. The A5 has always been first about its design and then its performance is an added bonus.

Insideline loved the Audi A5 Sportback though...so this article is not fully accurate.

StarSearch. It might be that the reviews are not head over heals for the A5 or S5, but to have an article state that the Sportback has a "suspension problem" is misleading. Either way, the A5/S5 is a GT car so reviewers that throw it around a track and expect it to handle like an all out sports car are going to be disappointed.