2025 Audi S5 and A5 first drive: Five-door is the new four-door

The S5 is eager and more engaging to drive than the A5.

Jonathan Gitlin

The S5 is eager and more engaging to drive than the A5.

Jonathan Gitlin

Yes, it’s the most expensive variant, but the inflation calculator tells me that it’s actually quite a lot cheaper than the one that was launched in 2018.

Jonathan Gitlin

Yes, it’s the most expensive variant, but the inflation calculator tells me that it’s actually quite a lot cheaper than the one that was launched in 2018.

Jonathan Gitlin

Audi was keen to point out that the exhaust tips you see here are real and not facades.

Jonathan Gitlin

Audi was keen to point out that the exhaust tips you see here are real and not facades.

Jonathan Gitlin

Yes, it’s the most expensive variant, but the inflation calculator tells me that it’s actually quite a lot cheaper than the one that was launched in 2018.

Jonathan Gitlin

Audi was keen to point out that the exhaust tips you see here are real and not facades.

Jonathan Gitlin

Like the Q5 last week, the A5 and S5 use a new electronic architecture called E3 1.2. This is a clean-sheet approach to the various electronic subsystems in the car, replacing decades of legacy cruft and more than a hundred individual electronic control units with five powerful high-performance computers, each with responsibility for a different domain: ride and handling, infotainment, driver assists, and convenience functions, all overseen by a master computer.

On the road

Sadly, those looking for driver engagement will not find much in the A5. Despite the improvements to the front suspension, there’s still very little in the way of feedback, and in comfort mode, the steering was too light, at least for me. In Dynamic mode, on the other hand, the car felt extremely sure-footed in bad weather. The A5 makes do with conventional springs, so the ride doesn’t change between drive modes, but Audi has tuned it well, and the car is not too firm. I noted a fair amount of wind noise, despite the acoustic front glass that comes with the ($6,450) Prestige package.

The S5 will appeal much more to driving enthusiasts. The steering provides a better picture of what the front tires are doing, and the suspension gives the car a supple ride, albeit one that gets firmer in Balanced rather than Dynamic modes. Like some other recent fast Audis, the car is deceptively quick, and because it’s quite quiet and smooth, you can find yourself going a good deal faster than you thought. The S5’s exhaust note also sounds rather pleasant and not obnoxious.

The A5 cabin has a similar layout as the Q5 and Q6 e-tron SUVs.

Audi

The A5 cabin has a similar layout as the Q5 and Q6 e-tron SUVs.

Audi

The capacitive panels on the multifunction steering wheel may annoy the heck out of you with unwanted button presses.

Audi

The capacitive panels on the multifunction steering wheel may annoy the heck out of you with unwanted button presses.

Audi

Rear legroom is 36.1 inches (917 mm).

Audi

Rear legroom is 36.1 inches (917 mm).

Audi

The capacitive panels on the multifunction steering wheel may annoy the heck out of you with unwanted button presses.

Audi

Rear legroom is 36.1 inches (917 mm).

Audi

The S5 seats get bigger side bolsters.

Audi

Not much to look at under the hood of the A5.

Audi

The rear seats split 40:20:40. With the seats in use, there’s 22.6 cubic feet (640 L of cargo volume, or up to 36.6 cubic feet (1,038 L) with the seats folded flat. And the opening is very large, so fitting a bike in here should be doable.

Audi

More capacitive controls.

Audi

Carbon-fiber trim, and it’s the woven stuff not the cheaper, uglier forged carbon.

Audi

I adore the Alcantara on the dash; it’s wonderful to touch.

Audi

The A5 starts at $49,700, but the $3,600 Premium Plus package is likely a must-have, as this adds adaptive cruise control, a heads-up display, top-down parking cameras, and some other features (including USB-C ports). If you want to get really fancy, the Prestige pack adds speakers in the front headrests, OLED taillights, the aforementioned acoustic glass, plus a second infotainment screen for the front passenger.

Meanwhile, the S5 starts at $62,700; the Premium Plus package (which adds mostly the same stuff) will set you back $3,800. For the S5, the $7,550 Prestige pack includes front sports seats, Nappa leather, rear window sunshades, the passenger display, and the adaptive sports suspension. Those are all some hefty numbers, but the A5 and S5 are actually both cheaper in real terms than the models launched in 2018, once you take seven years’ worth of inflation into account.