The sleeker version of the next-gen Audi Q5 was spotted in PHEV guise
- The 2025 Audi Q5 will be joined by a sleeker Q5 Sportback.
- The coupe-SUV features sports a different roofline and a redesigned tail.
- The powertrain lineup is expected to include mild-hybrid and PHEV options.
Following numerous spy shots of the new Audi Q5, our photographers have now captured the prototype of the upcoming Q5 Sportback. This coupe-SUV variant of the popular model will remain in Audi’s ICE lineup, featuring the latest advancements in design, technology, and electrification.
The camouflaged prototype of the Q5 Sportback appears to share the front-end design with earlier Q5 prototypes, including the aggressive LED headlights, the honeycomb grille, and the sporty-looking bumper intakes. However, the differences are apparent in the profile, thanks to the sloping roofline and the redesigned rear section. The small alloy wheels and the bland taillight graphics suggest this is a lower-spec trim.
More: 2026 Audi Q3 Ditches Camo, Looks Like A Big Improvement
Just like its predecessor, the tail of the new Q5 Sportback sports a heavily inclined rear glass covered by a roof spoiler. The new taillights are mounted higher than before and appear to be connected above the license plate. The tailpipes will help prospective buyers distinguish the ICE-powered Q5 Sportback from the fully electric Q6 e-tron Sportback that is also expected to debut soon.
The interior will also be shared between the Q5 and the Q5 Sportback. The dashboard could gain Audi’s new digital cockpit which combines an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.5-inch infotainment display, and an optional 10.9-inch passenger screen. Rear headroom will likely be slightly more limited in the Q5 Sportback compared to the taller Q5, as a sacrifice for the slightly more aerodynamic shape.
The Audi Q5 Sportback (above) compared to the regular Q5 (below)
Both the Audi Q5 and Q5 Sportback will ride on the new PPC (Premium Platform Combustion) architecture, which is not a clean-sheet design but rather an updated version of the MLB Evo (Modular Longitudinal Matrix). The same platform underpins the new Audi A5 Sedan and Avant, giving us an idea about the potential powertrain lineup of the Q5.
Judging from the charging port, the pictured prototype has a plug-in hybrid setup. This will likely be joined by mildly electrified versions of the 2.0 TSI and 2.0 TDI units, featuring Audi’s latest 48V MHEV Plus system. As for the performance-oriented SQ5, this could share the mild-hybrid 3.0-liter V6 TFSI powertrain with the low-slung S5, together with a sportier body kit and a sharper chassis setup.
Audi has officially confirmed that the new generation of the Q5 will arrive this fall. The production-ready appearance of the Q5 Sportback prototype is leading us to believe that the sleeker variant could also be unveiled at the same time, or follow just a few months later. Hopefully, the automaker will reveal its plans in the near future.
