Audi A5 Review (2024-present)

What is the Audi A5?

The latest Audi A5 might not be what you think it is. For while in years gone by the A5 badge has been used for coupe, convertible and five-door Sportback models within Audi’s range, the latest A5 is not a replacement for those at all. Instead it takes over the role of what used to be the A4 and A4 Avant.

This change stems from what turned out to be a short-lived shift in how Audi named its models. The idea was that model names with even numbers (A4, A6, Q6 etc) would be reserved for electric cars, while odd numbers would be used for anything with an internal combustion engine. Hence why the new petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid A4 needed to become the A5.

However, no sooner had this new naming strategy been launched than Audi binned it in reaction to negative feedback from customers and dealers. So now, it has reverted to simply badging its electric vehicles as e-tron, petrol as TFSI, and diesel as TDI. And the A5 will forever be the awkward byproduct of renaming-gate.

To make matters yet more confusing, the A5 Saloon is not in fact a saloon at all, but a hatchback. The estate version meanwhile is called the A5 Avant, although in fairness that’s what Audi estates are always called.

All of which puts the A5 in an interesting spot in the market. As with the A4 that it replaces, it competes directly with traditional premium saloons like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class, only this time it offers a more practical hatchback configuration that also means the BMW 4 Series is an obvious rival too.

As stated above, the latest A5 is available with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains, the latter with an EV-only range of around 60 miles.

How practical is it?

The A5's practicality is a mixed bag, but generally positive. The (electrically opening) hatchback tailgate provides excellent access to the boot, with a wide opening that makes loading larger items easier than in traditional saloon rivals.

Boot space stands at 445 litres for front-wheel-drive models, though this drops to 417 litres if you opt for quattro all-wheel drive. While these figures fall short of the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class, they're still generous enough for most family needs and significantly larger than what you'd find in a typical family hatchback such as a Volkswagen Golf or Audi A3. The A5’s rear seats fold flat in a 40/20/40 configuration if you need to extend the load bay in favour of carrying passengers.

Rear passenger space is good, benefiting from increases in the car’s length and width compared to the outgoing A4. Despite the sloping roofline, headroom remains fine for anybody up to six-foot tall, and legroom is generous. The cabin feels appropriately premium, with high-quality materials and solid build quality throughout.

Front seat occupants are treated to an excellent driving position with good visibility. There’s a decent-sized glovebox, cupholders, and additional storage under the central armrest. Top specification models include a panoramic roof with switchable transparency, adding to the cabin's airy feel and general wow factor.

What's it like to drive?

So far we’ve only tried the A5 with Audi’s 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine, although a 2.0-litre petrol is also available (and will arguably be a better choice for most buyers). A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is also set to join the range. All A5s use an automatic gearbox, and buyers can select between front-wheel drive or quattro all-wheel drive.

The entry-level 2.0-litre petrol engine produces 148bhp and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds. Or buyers can upgrade to the more powerful 201bhp version of the 2.0 TFSI petrol to get a 0-62mph time of 7.8 seconds. The flagship S5 uses a turbocharged V6 petrol engine and is a proper hot rod (albeit a very refined one).

The diesel engine we tested produces 201bhp and comes paired with Audi's advanced MHEV Plus mild hybrid system. This powertrain proves impressive, offering the ability to drive on electric power alone at low speeds (up to around 15mph in our tests), which is a significant advancement over traditional mild hybrids. The biggest drawback is some detectable high-pitched whine from the hybrid system, which can become annoying once you’ve noticed it.

Performance is strong, with the front-wheel-drive TDI achieving 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds, dropping to 6.9 seconds with quattro four-wheel drive. The seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission generally works well, though occasionally holds gears longer than necessary. While there's some typical diesel clatter when cold, the engine is impressively refined once warmed up.

As for the rest of the driving experience, higher-spec models on sports suspension and 20-inch wheels have a firmer ride, albeit it is very well-controlled. In fact, the A5 strikes an impressive balance between comfort and control, avoiding both low-speed fidget and high-speed float. The A5's handling is neat and precise rather than exciting, but Audi’s exec car excels as a long-distance cruiser, with the diesel able to return close to 50mpg in real-world conditions.

Technology, equipment & infotainment

The A5's interior is typical modern Audi, which is to say the dashboard is dominated by screens: there’s an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.5-inch central touchscreen (standard on all models), and in top-spec models, an additional 10.9-inch display for the front passenger. It is very difficult not to conclude that this latter addition is overkill, particularly when the functionality of the passenger display is actually quite limited.

While the infotainment system's graphics and processing speed are excellent, and common functions are easily accessible, the reliance on touch controls – including on the steering wheel – can be distracting while driving. The absence of physical controls for some functions may frustrate drivers who prefer traditional buttons and dials (us included).

The digital dial display, while impressive in its graphics and configurability, lacks the elegance of Audi's previous Virtual Cockpit system. It’s all just a bit... much.

The trim line-up kicks off with Sport, which includes a powered tailgate, LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated sports seats, ambient lighting, a rear-view camera and three-zone climate control.

Upgrading to S Line trim adds 19-inch wheels, sportier styling, lowered sports suspension, and privacy glass, among other things.

The top-of-the-range Edition 1 features 20-inch wheels, the passenger display screen, lane change assist and a black styling package.

Audi A5 running costs

The diesel A5's efficiency impresses, with an official WLTP figure of 55mpg for the Edition 1 spec. Real-world fuel economy of close to 50mpg is achievable, and the 615-mile range from a full tank of diesel will appeal to high-mileage drivers (as well as anybody abandoning their EV over range anxiety). The MHEV Plus system helps reduce emissions and improve efficiency, particularly in urban driving.

Go for an entry-level 148bhp petrol model and you can expect around 40mpg in mixed driving, with the 201bhp version of that engine a little behind that.

Entry-level models start around £45,000 for the front-wheel-drive petrol version, but purchase prices rise quickly as you move up the line-up and/or add optional extras. While this positions the A5 at the premium end of the market, strong residual values and competitive running costs help offset the initial purchase price.

Note too that the purchase price of all A5s exceeds £40,000, meaning that owners will need to pay the expensive car supplement of VED (vehicle excise duty or ‘road tax’ as it‘s more commonly known) for years two to six of the car’s life, adding hundreds of pounds to its annual running costs.

Audi A5 reliability

The latest A5 is too new for there to be any meaningful reliability data available. However, the previous generation of A4 that it replaces finished 13th of the 20 cars featured in the Executive Car class of the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey. Audi as a brand meanwhile finished 24th of the 31 manufacturers featured. Neither represent a terribly inspiring performance.

Audi’s new car warranty is also decidedly average at three years and 60,000 miles. BMW has the same three-year limit but for an unlimited number of miles. Go for a Lexus meanwhile, and the warranty can run for up to 10 years and 100,000 miles provided you continue to have the car serviced within the main dealer network.