The 2023 Audi S5 Sportback is the very image of fun and functionality combined. It features the potent turbocharged S5 powertrain but in the Sportback body style, meaning it has four doors and a helpful rear hatch that gives way to 35 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. With the rear seats in use, the A5 Sportback still offers a functional 21.8 cubic feet of cargo space.

The A5 was completely redesigned back in 2018, at which point the Sportback variant was introduced, playing smaller sibling to the sharp A7 Sportback. The A5 Sportback quickly spawned a hotter S5 variant with a more powerful engine and sharper dynamics. It was restyled in 2020, and it carries over into 2023 with minimal changes.

Trims for the S5 Sportback are Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. Standard features on the Premium trim include 19-inch alloy wheels, Matrix-design LED headlights, and upholstery of leather with Dinamica (an ecological suede) and diamond stitching. The Premium trim also comes equipped with a 10.1-inch touch screen infotainment system that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto.

Moving up to the Premium Plus adds wireless device charging, a 360-degree parking camera system, and a fully digital instrument panel, which Audi calls its Virtual Cockpit. The range-topping Prestige trim comes equipped with a Bang & Olufsen premium stereo, a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and unique animations within the LED head- and taillights.

The S5 Sportback is also available with a number of styling packages. The Convenience package adds a heated steering wheel, a car alarm, driver’s-seat memory settings, and auto-dimming side mirrors. For 2023, this package now also includes adaptive cruise control. There’s also a new-for-2023 Audi Sport interior package, which adds RS carbon interior panels and red stitching. Finally, Audi has added a Black Optics package that includes dark exhaust tips, a black spoiler, and other blacked-out exterior elements.

The Audi S5 Sportback is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine which makes 349 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive. This setup is good for a zero-to-sixty time of 4.5 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 155 mph. EPA estimates for fuel economy are 21 mpg city, 30 highway, and 24 combined. The S5 Sportback requires premium fuel.

In addition to its potent powertrain, the S5 Sportback features front and rear ventilated disc brakes and five-link S-tuned suspension at all four corners. The tires limit the S5 to 155 mph, but they can be swapped out for higher-performance tires that bring the top speed to 190 mph.

Standard driver-assistance features on the A5 include automatic emergency braking, forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and lane-departure warning. Available safety tech includes blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic-sign recognition, and a head-up display.

Base MSRP for the 2023 Audi S5 Sportback is $55,300 for the Premium trim. The Premium Plus trim starts at $59,800, and the range-topping Prestige starts at $64,200. The S5 Sportback comes with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty.