Audi A5 review

Interior

Dashboard & tech

The A5’s interior is a masterclass in quality and design. It feels incredibly well-built, with premium materials everywhere you look and touch. The layout is clean and user-friendly, and it’s packed with great technology. All models since a 2020 update come with Audi’s brilliant Virtual Cockpit – a 12.3-inch digital screen behind the steering wheel that replaces traditional dials.

You also get a large 10.1-inch central touchscreen for the infotainment system, which includes satellite navigation, DAB radio, and smartphone connectivity through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s a slick system that’s easy to use, making the cabin feel modern and up-to-date.

Comfort

The A5 is built for comfort. It’s a fantastic car for long distances, making motorway journeys feel effortless. The seats are supportive and come with heating as standard, which is a lovely touch on a chilly day. There's plenty of adjustment for the driver’s seat and steering wheel, so finding your perfect driving position is a doddle.

The ride is smooth and composed, soaking up most bumps in the road with ease. While it feels solid and connected to the road, it prioritises refinement over a sporty, firm feel. This makes it a wonderfully relaxing car to drive every day.

Quality

Audi is known for its high-quality interiors, and the A5 is one of its best efforts. Everything you see and touch, from the soft leather on the steering wheel to the switches on the dashboard, feels solid and expensive. The attention to detail is impressive, and it gives the whole car a premium atmosphere that’s hard to beat.

Compared to its main rivals, the A5’s cabin feels exceptionally well-appointed and thoughtfully designed. It’s a space that feels special every time you get into it.

Practicality & boot space

Interior space

As a two-door coupe, the A5 isn't the most practical car in Audi’s lineup. However, for a car of this type, it’s not bad at all. There’s plenty of room up front for the driver and a passenger to get comfortable, even if they're tall.

Getting into the back seats requires a bit of clambering, as you’d expect. Once you’re in, space is reasonable for shorter journeys, but adults might find it a bit tight on a long trip. If you need to carry rear passengers more regularly, the five-door A5 Sportback is a much better option, offering easier access and more legroom.

Boot space

The A5 Coupe has a surprisingly generous boot for a stylish two-door car. At 450 litres, it’s a very useful size – larger than what you’ll find in some family hatchbacks. It’s more than big enough for a couple of suitcases or a big weekly shop.

The boot opening is more like a saloon’s than a hatchback’s, so it can be a bit narrow for loading very bulky items. However, it’s a practical shape and makes the A5 a more usable car than you might think.

Versatility

For extra flexibility, the rear seats fold down in a 40/20/40 split. This is a really handy feature, as it means you can carry a long item, like skis or flat-pack furniture, while still having space for one or two rear passengers. It adds a welcome dose of practicality to an otherwise style-focused car.

Driving

Driving experience

Despite its sporty looks, the Audi A5 is more of a comfortable cruiser than an out-and-out sports car. It’s at its best on long, flowing roads and motorways, where its refinement and stability really shine. The steering is light and precise, making the car easy to place on the road and straightforward to park.

While it handles corners neatly and with plenty of grip, especially with quattro all-wheel drive, it doesn’t feel as agile or engaging as a BMW 4 Series. Instead, it offers a reassuring and relaxed driving experience that many people will prefer for everyday use.

Performance

There’s a good range of petrol and diesel engines, so you can find an A5 to suit your needs. The petrol engines (badged TFSI) are smooth and responsive. The entry-level 35 TFSI is fine for general driving, but the 40 TFSI offers a much better balance of performance and efficiency. For serious pace, the 45 TFSI with quattro all-wheel drive is impressively quick.

The diesel engines (badged TDI) are great choices for high-mileage drivers. The 35 TDI offers excellent fuel economy, while the 40 TDI provides more power for effortless overtaking. Most models come with a smooth and quick-shifting S tronic automatic gearbox.

Running costs

Fuel economy & CO2 emissions

If you’re looking to keep running costs low, the diesel engines are the ones to go for. The 35 TDI is particularly impressive, capable of returning nearly 60mpg in official tests. The petrol engines are a bit thirstier, especially the powerful 45 TFSI model.

Since 2020, many of the engines feature mild-hybrid technology. This doesn't allow you to drive on electric power alone, but it helps to improve fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions by allowing the engine to switch off when you're coasting to a stop.

Value for money

The Audi A5 is a premium car, and new prices reflect that. However, it comes with a huge amount of standard equipment, including the Virtual Cockpit, a large touchscreen, heated leather seats, and LED headlights, so it feels like you're getting a lot for your money.

On the used market, the A5 can be a fantastic buy. It depreciates quite heavily in its first year, meaning you can save thousands on a nearly-new example. After that initial drop, values tend to hold up reasonably well.

Reliability & Warranty

The A5 shares many of its parts with other popular Audi models, and the brand has a decent reputation for reliability. The car feels robust and built to last. When new, Audi provides a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, which is typical for premium brands.

Safety

Safety features

The Audi A5 is a very safe car. While the Coupe version hasn't been tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP, the closely related A4 Saloon and A5 Sportback both received the maximum five-star rating.

All models come with a good amount of safety kit as standard, including front and rear parking sensors and cruise control. You can also find models with more advanced driver assistance features, such as adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, and systems that help you stay in your lane.

Trims & Engines

Trim levels

The A5 is available in a few different trim levels, all of which are generously equipped. The range starts with Sport, which includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, part-leather heated front seats, three-zone climate control, and the full tech package with the Virtual Cockpit and 10.1-inch touchscreen.

The S line trim gives the car a sportier look, with larger 19-inch wheels, lowered sports suspension, a more aggressive body kit, and Matrix LED headlights. For an even more menacing look, Edition 1 adds gloss black exterior detailing and Nappa leather upholstery. The top-spec Vorsprung model comes with almost every option imaginable, including adaptive suspension, a panoramic sunroof, and a premium Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Engines

You can choose from a range of petrol (TFSI) and diesel (TDI) engines. All are 2.0-litre units with mild-hybrid technology. The petrol range starts with the 148bhp 35 TFSI, followed by the 201bhp 40 TFSI and the powerful 262bhp 45 TFSI, which comes with quattro all-wheel drive.

For diesel, you have the choice of the 161bhp 35 TDI or the 201bhp 40 TDI, which also features quattro all-wheel drive. All engines are paired with a smooth seven-speed S tronic automatic gearbox.

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