Audi A5 Mk2 Review (2016-2024)

What is the Audi A5?

This is the second generation of the Audi A5 – a swoopier, sleeker version of the venerable Audi A4 saloon. The original Audi A5 coupe launched in 2007 and was a smash hit, so predictably, the mk2 that followed in 2016 has kept much the same template.

That means it keeps the A4’s outstanding interior and touring manners, but delivers them with sharper looks and with marginally sportier handling.

Audi changed its naming strategy in 2024, and the A5 became what was the A4 – a saloon (it's actually a five-door hatchback but looks like a sleek saloon) and estate. Yes, it's confusing, but it's part of the company's method to give electric vehicles names with even numbers and internal combustion models names with odd numbers. The coupe that we used to know as the A5 – and the subject of this review – is no longer available as a new car.

How practical is it?

The line-up offers two-door coupe or cabriolet bodies (the latter coming with a fabric soft-top), while the popular five-door Audi A5 Sportback brings better practicality thanks to a useful 480-litre hatchback boot (although the coupe's boot isn't bad at 465 litres) as well as those rear doors.

A couple of average-sized adults will be comfortable enough in the back of the Coupé for short journeys, although the more restrictive rear passenger space in the Audi A5 Cabriolet will challenge your passengers' tolerance quite a bit more. Without wishing to state the obvious, if you routinely carry people in the back seats then you’d be well-advised to consider the much more practical A5 Sportback.

What's it like to drive?

A facelift in early 2020 saw the A5 range and options list slimmed down from the extensive variety on offer for the first few years of the A5’s life. Even so, core engine options still include two 2.0-litre diesels and two 2.0-litre turbo petrols, all with a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic gearbox – known as S tronic – as standard. Lower-powered engines get front-wheel drive while higher-powered variants get Audi’s trademark quattro four-wheel-drive system.

From launch there were a couple of petrol and diesel V6 engines on offer, but as of 2020 you have to go for the 3.0-litre V6 diesel S5 to get anything other than one of the four-cylinder engines. For full-fat performance fun, look to the Audi RS5 – although we’d recommend the BMW M5 or Mercedes E63 over the Audi if you want proper driving thrills in a posh coupe or saloon.

Don’t expect the A5 to be a precision instrument on your favourite road, no matter what spec or engine you go for. Think of this as the consummate luxury tourer with enough gumption to satisfy on a decent road with its neutral, unflappable handling style. There were plenty of options to alter driving dynamics in the pre-facelift cars, including adaptive dampers and variable steering, so be careful to check the factory options fitted to the car you’re considering if you’re buying used. You could also get manual gearboxes on earlier A5, while they are all automatic as of 2020.

Technology, equipment & infotainment

Trim levels also changed with the facelift, but we’d recommend you stick with lower-spec cars regardless of which evolution of the second generation A5 you're considering. They all come with a good level of standard tech, safety and comfort, yet the A5 can get teeth-suckingly expensive in higher trims, or if the options list has been heavily plundered.

Speccing a new Audi A5 is simpler now thanks to the slimmed-down range and options, so all facelifted A5s get variable drive modes, Audi’s spectacular ‘virtual’ cockpit, heated leather seats and more as standard – albeit at a price.

In fact, it's the lustre and perceived quality of the interior that will sway many buyers in favour of the big Audi over its rivals. The seats are comfortable and have loads of adjustment, and everything you look at or touch feels classy, well-placed and precisely finished.

More than that, it’s complete with a large infotainment screen perched on top of the dash, and a huge, digital display in front of the driver offering various screen configurations. It is worth noting that pre-facelift cars had a rotary controlled central screen that was arguably easier to use than the touchscreen system that replaced it in 2020 but both systems have crisp, clear graphics and menus that are easy to navigate - it's just that it can be harder to prod the touchscreen accurately while on the move. Post-facelift there's also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

Audi A5 running costs

The Audi A5 promises to be very competitive on running costs compared to rivals like the Mercedes C-Class Coupe and BMW 4 Series. Official economy figures and CO2 are good, so company car buyers can rest assured that they’re not overpaying on Benefit in Kind tax – especially when it comes to the well-equipped entry-level A5 models. All new A5s are subject to a first year ‘showroom tax’ of between £215 and £870 depending on which engine you go for. The base 40 TFSI petrol is the cheapest option, while the first year tax for the diesels start from £540.

On top of that, any car costing over £40,000 is subject to a £325 per year ‘premium road tax’ for five years from the second year of ownership, on top of standard Vehicle Excise Duty. That means that if you go for one of the sub-£40k A5 Coupe or Sportback models – either the 35 TDI or 40 TFSI - you’re looking at £150 per year from the second year on. Anything over that price barrier (including all the Cabriolet models) and tax costs for years two-to-six jump to £475. Be careful to check what the new price of a used car was if you’re looking to avoid this; you’ll still have to pay the premium tax even if your £40k-plus car is less than six years old and was bought second-hand.

Still, that’s much the same case for the A5’s rivals, and otherwise the Audi promises to be affordable. Expect both the 2.0-litre diesels to do around 40-45mpg in varied use, or you could see 50mpg from easy motorway driving. The 2.0-litre petrol will be more like 35-40mpg, and the more powerful quattro 45 TFSI will be more like 30-35mpg. You don’t buy the S5 for the sake of economy, but given its diesel V6 you will still see around 30-33mpg in moderate use.

Many modern cars, including every Audi, will ping a warning message on to the car’s screen when a service is needed, and that will vary depending on how the car is used. So don’t worry that you’re going to miss a planned service. Even so, Audi offers two types of service schedule; the fixed plan is recommended for people who drive in town a lot, and requires a service every 12 months or 9,300 mile, while the flexible plan is more for people who do a lot of motorway miles, and requires a service every 24 months or 18,600 miles. The cost can be spread over monthly payments and will likely cost between £470 and £600. Transmission oil will need to be changed at 38,000 miles. It is a shame that Audi only offers a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty while both Mercedes and BMW offer three-year, unlimited-mileage cover.

Depreciation on the A5 should be relatively minimal; this is such a popular model that a well-kept example should be easy to sell privately, and will command a decent price if you choose to part-exchange in a few years.

Audi A5 reliability

Audi as a brand doesn’t have a brilliant reputation for reliability, and was ranked near the bottom of JD Power’s 2019 Vehicle Dependability Study. But it was at least ahead of BMW.

We’d hope that the Audi A5 should be a relatively reliable choice, and if it does go wrong then its parts are used widely throughout the Volkswagen Group. Having said that, the A5 came a middling 11th out of 22 executive cars tested in the What Car? 2019 Reliability Survey, and it fared even worse in the Auto Express Driver Power survey where it came 70th out of 100 cars. Certainly the Lexus RC (which is only offered as a three-door coupe with a hybrid powertrain) promises to be more reliable given Lexus’ routine domination of reliability and ownership satisfaction surveys.