Audi A5 review – the A4 is gone, replaced by a sleek new BMW 3 Series rival

Verdict – is the Audi A5 a good car?

It’s all change at Audi, with the new A5 you see here replacing the A4 as the German brand’s key BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class rival. It’s a result of the splitting up of the range into electric and combustion-powered cars, and the next-generation A5 has more style and an even nicer interior than before. It feels very modern, then, but its petrol engines are somewhat rudimentary 2.0-litre turbos with so-so power and efficiency. The diesel gets upgraded mild-hybrid tech at least, but it’s the plug-in hybrids that are likely to be the pick of the bunch as soon as they arrive.

Audi A5 models, specs and alternatives

While some cars need no introduction, that’s not quite the case here. Audi is introducing a new naming structure, whereby all even-numbered vehicles are powered by electricity only, and odd-numbered cars will still get a petrol or diesel engine. So while the car you are looking at here is the replacement for the Audi A4, it’s actually badged as the Audi A5.

To make matters even more complex, the A4 saloon has now morphed into an A5 with a hatchback or Avant estate bodystyle. In the future, a new electric A4 executive car will also arrive, but it’s still a few years away.

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Now that’s out of the way, let’s concentrate on the new Audi A5, which is up against rivals like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. Prices have increased sharply, with the 201bhp petrol in S Line trim now costing from around £46,000 – that’s roughly £4k more than previously, while a BMW 320i M Sport starts from just over £41k.

Sitting beneath the A5’s aforementioned 2.0-litre petrol engine, there’s also a lower-powered 148bhp version of the same engine, or buyers can pick a 201bhp diesel engine. The latter is the only regular version offered with either front-wheel drive or quattro four-wheel drive for extra traction in slippery conditions. A high-performance S5 with 362bhp is also available to order, although it’s not especially engaging, despite the impressive grip and straight-line speed. Hopefully the even more potent RS5 plug-in hybrid will solve that when it’s added to the range later on.

Choose a 2.0-litre petrol and you can expect fuel economy of just over 40mpg, while the diesel can manage up to 58.9mpg but commands a £4,000 price premium. For this reason, the diesel is likely to remain a fairly niche choice for those with a higher-than-average annual mileage. You could also wait for the brace of plug-in hybrids that’s set to arrive in 2025, with an electric-only range of more than 60 miles.

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Trim levels are Sport, S line and Edition 1, with a price increase of just over £2,000 to upgrade to S line and a bigger £5,000 step to get to Edition 1. Enhancements for the S line include bigger 19-inch alloy wheels and a sporty makeover inside and out. The flagship Edition 1 brings an additional 10.9-inch screen positioned ahead of the front passenger, so they can stream content on the move.

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While it won’t be as cheap to run as Audi’s electric models, the A5 should prove pretty efficient for a combustion-engined car, and plug-in hybrid versions are also on the way with the promise of impressive engine-off driving capabilities.

If you’re a private buyer, you’ll probably be most interested in the 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engines, which are the most affordable to buy or lease. Despite a fairly big difference in power, both serve up similar efficiency of just under 43mpg with CO2 emissions close to 150g/km – figures which rise slightly if bigger wheels are fitted. Those figures are okay, but not quite earth-shattering or ahead of rivals from the likes of BMW.

The diesel is quite a bit more efficient, boasting over 57mpg and 125g/km, aided by new ‘MHEV+’ mild hybrid technology from Audi. This recuperates energy as the car slows down, and then gives the combustion engine a helping hand under acceleration, and can drive the car with the 24bhp electric motor alone for short distances at low speeds. This can be quite hard to judge, though, and it’s a shame there’s no indicator of how much power you can use before the engine kicks back in. We also think that because it costs around £4k more than the petrol, the diesel is still only likely to make sense for long-distance drivers hacking up and down the nation’s motorway network.

It’s no surprise that the performance-focused Audi S5 achieves the worst economy of the bunch. Its big 3.0-litre V6 engine only returns around 38mpg, but that’s actually an improvement over the old diesel S4, partly due to its new mild hybrid tech. 

How much will the Audi A5 cost in tax?

Not a single version of the A5 comes in below £40,000, so all owners will be liable for the luxury car VED surcharge in years two to six of renewal on top of the standard annual amount. This will add up to an annual tax bill of around £600 during this period.

Company car choosers will probably want to wait for the plug-in hybrid versions to arrive, which will sit in a significantly lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) band thanks to their lower CO2 emissions.

What will the Audi A5 cost to insure?

While insurance groups for the new A5 are still to be announced, the outgoing Audi A4 sat in groups in the 20s out of 50, while its BMW 3 Series rival sits in groups spanning from 28 to just over 40. It’s fair to say the A5 will sit in a similar ballpark, so it could prove pricey to insure for some drivers.

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For a long time, it’s been the case that in the battle of the German compact executive cars, the Mercedes C-Class has been the most comfortable, the BMW 3 Series the most fun to drive and the Audi A4 has sat right in the middle.

We suspect this is still the case for the Audi A5, although our test drive so far in a mountainous region of France will need to be backed up by plenty of driving on British tarmac. Certainly, with 19 and 20-inch wheels fitted, along with sports suspension, the A5 didn’t feel as cosseting over bumpy sections as we’d hoped. The Sport version with modest 18-inch alloys is likely to be the most comfortable.

Audi has worked to make the A5’s steering sharper than that of the old A4, and while it does feel good in sweeping bends, it still doesn’t serve up a hugely sporting personality on a twisty road.

It’s a similar story for the Audi S5. It’s undoubtedly rapid and offers unshakeable grip through the corners, but it lacks the engagement and excitement to make it a true sports car. It’s best thought of as a very quick A5, while the forthcoming RS 5 is set to deliver a full-fat performance car experience.

Petrol models

The A5 is a pretty big car, so while the 201bhp petrol engine serves up adequate performance, we’d stop short of calling it especially quick. It is admirably refined, though, and its turbocharger means you don’t have to hold on to gears or rev the engine too hard to make progress.

Step into the S5, however, and ‘quick’ feels far more appropriate. Thanks to a 362bhp V6 engine, it’s considerably faster than the regular A5, hitting 62mph in 4.5 seconds – just a tenth behind its key rival, the BMW M340i. Audi’s Quattro four-wheel drive system ensures masses of grip no matter the conditions, but we found the steering too light to inspire the confidence needed to drive quickly along a twisty road. 

The new V6 engine is certainly effective, offering an understated growl that matches the S5’s character, and the automatic gearbox is snappy. In all, it's impressive but not especially engaging, and the S5 falls short of feeling like a true sports car. Instead, it will appeal to those wanting an A5 with an extra turn of speed, while the upcoming RS 5 should be a more serious performance car.

Diesel models

The diesel engine might have the same power figure as the equivalent petrol, but more torque means it’s actually nearly a second faster from 0-62mph. This translates to a more urgent feel in traffic, but it’s a shame the brakes aren’t as smooth in the car with the ‘MHEV+’ setup, because they can feel a bit grabby as you drive in traffic.

Plug-in hybrid models

We haven’t driven or got all the details for the plug-in hybrid versions yet, so we’ll keep you posted. It’s likely they will come with 295bhp or 362bhp, standard quattro four-wheel drive and an electric-only driving range of up to 60 miles, so they’ll be the pick of the range for some buyers.

Electric models 

There definitely won’t be an electric A5 as that wouldn’t fit with Audi’s new naming policy. Instead, loyal Audi fans who don’t want an SUV will need to wait for the electric A4 to arrive, or upgrade to the Audi A6 e-tron. 

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Ask anyone what Audi is best known for, and there’s a good chance they’ll say it’s the modern and hi-tech interiors. The brand certainly hasn’t taken a step backwards, with quality and gadgets both making an impressive statement. The standard sports seats also look appealing and provide good comfort for longer stints behind the wheel, even if they could do with a bit more support in corners. Edition 1 cars also get a smaller steering wheel with a squared-off shape that we found nicer to use than the large round wheel in the Sport trim.

Is the Audi A5 infotainment and sat-nav system easy to use?

Hop inside, and the curving 14.5-inch infotainment and 11.9-inch driver display dominate the dashboard. There’s even a third 10.9-inch screen ahead of the front passenger in Edition 1 trim, which looks a bit odd at first. It can show the navigation and things like the trip computer, which will be a bit superfluous most of the time, but it can also stream content that could keep your passenger occupied on longer drives. 

We’re glad Audi has chosen to keep a physical volume knob, but it is a reminder that having to press on the screen three or more times to change the driving mode is pretty frustrating. At least it does have a pleasant haptic response, so there’s a reassuring click sensation when you press buttons on the screen.

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In terms of practicality the Audi A5 does a pretty good job, even if we suspect it won’t necessarily tempt SUV converts back to a low-slung bodystyle. Front occupants get a pair of cup-holders, okay-sized door bins with a rubberised lining and a wireless charging pad and small cubby area. 

An increase in the car’s wheelbase (the gap between the front and rear axles), means legroom for back seat passengers is better than in the A4, and there’s also a bit of space for feet beneath the front seats. However, the sloping roofline does mean headroom is a bit more compromised for tall passengers, and it’s also rather gloomy in the back. While there are doorbins, these also get a cheaper plastic lining.

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Does the Audi A5 have a big boot?

While Audi refers to the A5 as a sedan, it actually has a hatchback design that makes it quite a bit easier to get large items into than the old A4 saloon. It’s a long and flat boot with almost no loading lip, but this also means it’s fairly shallow. So, while it’s a useful shape, the A5’s boot is actually 15 litres smaller in volume than the old A4, and the BMW 3 Series also offers more space. The A5’s boot also shrinks (to just 417 litres) in the four-wheel drive diesel version.

Practical features include hooks in the boot, a luggage net to stop items rolling around and a 12-volt power socket, but there isn’t any underfloor storage. Folding down the rear seats liberates 1,300 litres of space.

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While the A5 is a new model, there are quite a lot of carryover parts, including engines and gearboxes that have been tried and tested over the years. The old Audi A5 and closely-related A4 came 38th and 44th respectively in our 2024 Driver Power survey, which isn’t a bad showing. 

The Audi brand has some work to do, though, coming just 27th out of 32 manufacturers, with 21.3% of owners reporting a fault within the first year. It came middle of the pack in areas like rear legroom and styling, but quality was just 20th and a ranking of 29th for value is disappointing.

How safe is the Audi A5?

The Audi A5 certainly isn’t short of driver-assistance features, with up to 18 fitted depending on the trim level. Features like adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera view come as standard, and there’s also tech for pulling out of junctions and changing lanes safely. Stepping up to the Edition 1 trim adds extra safety systems like proactive passenger protection and a top-view camera.

Should you buy an Audi A5?

The Audi A5 feels like a response to the falling interest in traditional saloons, instead turning the old A4 into a sleek, desirable new model more akin to the outgoing A5 Sportback. If you want to stick with a combustion engine, and don’t fancy the slightly less responsive handling of an SUV, there’s plenty about the A5 to like.

It certainly delivers on Audi’s goal to give it an attractive, expensive-feeling interior to go with its stylish looks. There’s the initial wow factor of its large dashboard displays of course, but look more closely and you’ll also find plenty of nice materials, comfortable and luxurious seats and lots of legroom.

While its petrol and diesel engine choices are solid picks, they arguably aren’t the standout feature of the A5, serving up decent economy and performance figures without breaking the mould. The same can be said about the driving experience, which is most notable for refinement and comfort rather than a sporty feel. For these reasons, we’d argue the plug-in hybrids are likely to be the pick of the bunch when they arrive, and that A5 owners will probably enjoy driving in engine-off mode (and the savings that brings) quite a bit.

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What is the best Audi A5 for low running costs?

While the diesel offers the lowest running costs right now, we’d seriously consider holding off until the PHEVs arrive if you’re looking for cheaper fuel and tax bills. It will certainly make the most sense for company car choosers thanks to its lower CO2 figure for cheaper Benefit-in-Kind payments.

What is the best Audi A5 for keen drivers?

That’ll be the Audi S5, which is by far the quickest version so far, thanks to its V6 petrol engine with 362bhp and quattro four-wheel drive.

What is the Carbuyer pick of the Audi A5 range?

For the majority of buyers, the petrol 201bhp Audi A5 in S line trim is likely to be the sweet spot of the range. It’s quick enough for most driving situations and S line offers a nice upgrade in kit and styling treatment for a relatively small outlay. Going on past Audi models, S line trim tends to boost residual values too.

Audi A5 alternatives

As the direct replacement for the Audi A4, the new A5 pitches straight into the battle of the compact executive cars; a shrinking but still important corner of the market.

Compact executive cars

• BMW 3 Series
• Mercedes C-Class
• Genesis G80

Compact executive EVs

• BMW i4
• Hyundai Ioniq 6
• Polestar 2
• Tesla Model 3

How we tested the Audi A5

We tested the Audi A5 at its international launch even in France during October 2024