Tag Archives: Sportback
Pitting the Kia Stinger GT vs Audi A5 Sportback
Comparing the Kia Stinger GT and Audi A5 Sportback is monumental because up until Kia threw its own in the ring, there are only a few competitors in the four-door fastback category.
Kia Stinger
Although it was a latecomer, Kia was bold in its move, designing the four-door Stinger fastback with hood vents, tiger-nose grille, unique LED headlamps, and a throng of other athletic elements.
The Stinger also has a “jazzed up” wheels, a beautifully sloping roof, and a silver trim that runs along the windows to the rear of the vehicle. Turning to the rear, you’ll find that Kia fitted the Stinger with dual exhaust tailpipes, thin taillights, and angular vents.
Inside, you can expect a more premium feel for the Stinger GT. There’s Nappa leather seat covers, large touchscreen on top of the dash, and circular air vents reminiscent of a Mercedes.
Audi A5 Sportback
The Audi A5 Sportback, on the other hand, boasts of its spacious cargo area, which owners can access through a liftgate at the rear of the car. The rear seats can be folded down to further expand the already spacious cargo area.
On the outside, the Stinger GT trumps out the A5 Sportback’s reservations to be bold and more alluring that the A4. It shares the Stinger GT’s side vent near the front door, and the Sportback’s character lines aren’t as tamed as the ones on the Kia.
The interior is where the actual competition happens. Audi carved out more space for the cabin. It has better cargo space, leg room, and even shoulder room. The only element where Kia won over is the ample headroom, which is lacking in the A5 Sportback.
The dashboard is based on the MLB Evo platform. It includes the sat-nav as standard, though you can opt for the Virtual Cockpit. If only based on the dashboard, we have to choose the Sportback over the Stinger. There is no competition when it comes to Audi’s cockpit. It’s still the best in the market today.
2017 Audi S3 Sportback Gets Updated Drivetrain, Technology
Audi already unwrapped its new A3 family, which included a hatchback, sedan and cabriolet—all of which have quite powerful performances on the road. The hatchback version, however, deserves special attention, especially as it comes both in three- and five-door body styles.
Similar to the rest of the A3 family, the Audi S3 Sportback has a redesigned front fascia, updated rear end, enhanced technology, and a slightly more powerful drivetrain. It’s a good facelift and has a pretty improved engine, but it’s clear why Audi came up with it—to satisfy clients while waiting for the next generation model.
The S3 is inspired heavily by the new generation A4, and used many of the sedan’s sharper features and more aggressive body lines. The engine hood and the bumper have a more muscular appearance. It also has larger air vents and a U-shaped gap under the grille.
Looking closely at the style, you’ll find new taillights with horizontal LED strips, a reshaped bumper, and a new diffuser with larger fins. There are six color palettes available—Ara Blue, Cosmic Blue, Nano Grey, Tango Red, and Vegas Yellow.
Inside, Audi didn’t change much in the S3 Sportback. There are a few changes, of course, such as the mildly redesigned three-spoke steering wheel, an optional heating function, and leather-wrapped driver seat with massage function.
The important changes are all in the tech department. There’s Audi’s virtual cockpit, a 12.3-inch TFT screen with multiple display modes, navigation, audio system and phone info. It also offers LTE connectivity that provides WiFi hotspot for mobile devices, Google Earth, Google Street View, parking and traffic info, and weather.
The S3 comes with the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with an output of 310 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Transmission options include a seven-speed S Tronic automatic and a six-speed manual.
That power can hit 60 mph in 4.7 seconds with the manual gearbox and 4.9 seconds with the automatic. Top speed is put at 155 mph.
Audi is not selling the S3 in the US, or any of the models in the A3 family. Prices, if you’re interested to know, will be around €42,600 in Germany.
Audi A5 Sportback To Arrive In US
Good news for Audi lovers in the United States of America! The Audi A5 Sportback will likely come to the US when the A5 lineup is redesigned next year. According to Car and Driver, the info was shared by Audi CEO Scott Keough, who said that the next-generation Audi A5 would offer a third body style in the States once it launches in 2017.
The five-door Sportback, which is only a Europe-only four-door hatchback in the shadow of the larger Audi A7, will be the one to arrive in the States since the A5 coupe and convertible versions (the two other body styles) are already being delivered in the US.
The arrival of the A5 Sportback would make a competition out of the BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe. In Europe, Audi sells the Sportback with a number of powertrains, including gas, diesel and S performance varieties.
In the US, that means buyers can choose whether they want a front- or all-wheel drive machines.
However, even when there’s good news from Audi, there’s a downside too. The new 2017 Audi A4 won’t offer a TDI diesel option as previously reported. This went against Audi’s plan to market it in the US. Keough said the decision was based on current market trends rather than the company’s diesel emission scandal.
That a little hard to believe since the A4 market is gearing towards the diesel option. Furthermore, the BMW 3-series is offering a diesel-powered 328d variant while the Mercedes Benz C-class diesel will arrive this Spring.
This means the US-bound A4 will only have one engine—a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder. The high-performance A4, on the other hand, will have the same turbocharged V-6, much like the Euro-spec S4.
Announcement for the A5 Sportback will probably come before the second quarter of 2017, when it is also expected to go on sale.