Overview
The four-seat Audi A5 stays one of the vital nice and sensible two-doors out there, even after 17 years and 4 generations in the marketplace. Out there as a hardtop coupe or droptop convertible, the A5’s design invitations your eyes and its dealing with invitations your enthusiasm. Whereas we evaluation the four-door A5 Sportback individually, all A5 fashions—no matter door depend—characteristic customary all-wheel-drive and share a 261-hp turbocharged four-cylinder that mates to a seven-speed automated transmission. Eager stability all through delivers an entertaining driving expertise with out the harsher experience of pricier, extra highly effective A5-based fashions just like the 349-hp S5 and the 444-hp RS5. Lovely all over the place, there are just a few luxurious shortcuts within the cabin resembling inadequately padded armrests. Nonetheless, the A5’s ease-of-use and beneficiant cargo house makes it a surprisingly sensible and well-rounded selection.
What’s New for 2024?
New customary options be part of the lineup. All fashions now include a heated steering wheel with hands-on detection, adaptive cruise management, energetic lane help, and parking help, which might park the automotive for you. Audi additionally enabled distant beginning via the MyAudi app. The outside colour palette provides Progressive Crimson Metallic rather than Tango Crimson, and Arkona White rather than Ibis White. Automobiles geared up with Navigation Package deal—non-obligatory on Premium Plus, customary above that—acquire visitors signal recognition and predictive adaptive cruise management. Navigation unlocks a six-month subscription to the extra full-featured Audi Join Plus and Audi app retailer, an Audi-specific software program interface for every part from climate and information to gaming and parking.
Pricing and Which One to Purchase
We advocate the mid-range Premium Plus trim stage as the very best stability of options and value, and we might add the Navigation Package deal for much more relaxed driving. This trim comes with fascinating touches like Audi’s digital gauge show, surround-view digital camera, wi-fi charging pad, 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio, and the brand new tech options. We additionally choose the coupe; the $7,000 premium for a Premium Cabriolet may purchase a Status coupe with all of the trimmings. However, if you happen to should go topless, the A5 Cabriolet prices many hundreds lower than the BMW 4 Sequence Convertible.
Engine, Transmission, and Efficiency
We’re nonetheless ready to get the newest A5 with its 261-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine within the C/D storage. Our final outing was with the sooner 252-hp engine. Gaining 9 horses doesn’t change the basic character of the A5, although—a mixture of hardy acceleration and a passion for curves. The A5 sprinted to 60 mph in simply 5.0 seconds, two blinks faster than the 255-hp BMW 430i xDrive. Correct and properly weighted steering, an agile suspension, communicative chassis, and assured braking make the A5 simple to hustle down again roads. The Audi prefers lengthy sweepers to tight spaghetti corners, however in both case, the Quattro all-wheel-drive system helps put energy down when exiting tight bends.
Gasoline Financial system and Actual-World MPG
The A5 coupe is estimated to return 24 mpg within the metropolis and 32 mpg on the freeway, however the freeway score drops to 31 mpg for the droptop variant. As soon as we run the A5 fashions on our 75-mph freeway fuel-economy route, which is a part of our intensive testing routine, we are able to consider their real-world mpg. For extra details about the A5’s gasoline financial system, go to the EPA’s web site.
Inside, Consolation, and Cargo
Audi has lengthy set the usual for cabins as subtly stunning as they’re solidly constructed. The A5 does the household proud with high quality all over the place you look, the coupe as trendy and fashionable right now because it was in 2007. Notion runs barely forward of the person expertise, nonetheless. The leather-wrapped steering wheel lacks power-adjustment, slim seat bottoms are made snug by manually extending the leg bolsters, and skinny padding within the armrests reminds consumers that extra luxurious Audis are additional up the meals and monetary chains. The standard caveat about coupes and tight again seats applies right here—rear seats, adults, and lengthy journeys don’t go nicely collectively. Lose the additional adults and lengthy journeys are a deal with, the A5 hiding a roomy trunk behind its fold-flat rear seats.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Audi hundreds the A5 with digital options, particularly on the higher trims. The ten.1-inch touchscreen atop the dashboard covers all of the fundamentals resembling Bluetooth connections, USB connectivity, and Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Navigation Package deal provides a trial interval of latest options like Amazon Alexa integration, visitors knowledge, connection to the Audi app retailer, and a wi-fi hotspot.
Security and Driver-Help Options
Automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise management are customary, however the A5’s extra fascinating driver-assistance options stay choices. For extra details about the A5’s crash-test outcomes, go to the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) web sites. Key security options embody:
- Normal ahead collision warning with automated emergency braking
- Normal lane-departure warning
- Normal adaptive cruise management
Guarantee and Upkeep Protection
Audi’s guarantee is common for the section, matching lots of its rivals in protection however exceeding none.
- Restricted guarantee covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain guarantee covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled upkeep