Audi A5 (2016-present)
Luxury, style, comfort and a little sportiness: that's the recipe for the Audi A5 coupe
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
Weaknesses
Style over substance: that's the formula for a successful coupe, such as the Audi A5, which sacrifices - a little - practicality for good looks, and will cost you considerably more for its charm.
Underneath its curved bodywork are the same mechanical parts as the Audi A4 saloon, but the A5 Coupe has two fewer doors that make getting into the back more difficult, a curved roof that brushes the top of your head when you sit there, and a smaller boot that reduces luggage capacity. All for around £3,000 more than the equivalent A4.
You'll look considerably more stylish than you would in an A4, though. That swept-back roof, long bonnet and short, squat bootlid come from the book of classic sports car design - the payoff for all the car's compromises. That's not to say that everyone will love the styling - the wobbly lines that run down either side of the car won't be to all tastes.
As well as style, coupes are supposed to provide driving excitement. And the A5 will, with the option of the more powerful engine options combined with plenty of grip and relatively responsive steering, so the car flicks from one corner to another. It might not match the BMW 4-Series for driving agility, but it’s still satisfying to drive.
The A5 also copes well with bumpy British roads. It’s not up to the smoothness of a Mercedes C-Class Coupe, but soaks up enough of each impact to make occupants comfortable.
The engine range isn’t huge but has enough options for most buyers, from an economical 2.0-litre diesel to the 3.0-litre V6 under the hood of the S5 and more recently, the even more powerful 2.9-litre RS5.
As is usual with Audi, you can spend a fortune adding kit from the options list, by selecting a variety of high-tech equipment, from a more expensive sound system to a head-up display.
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Key facts
Warranty: 3 years / 60,000 miles | Boot size: 465 litres |
Width: 1846mm | Length: 4673mm |
Height: 1371mm | Tax (min to max): From B (£20) to H (£300 in first year and £210 thereafter) |
Best Audi A5 for...
Understanding Audi A5 car names
- A5
- Trim level
- SE
- Engine
- 2.0 TDI 190PS
- Gearbox
- S Tronic
- Trim level
- There are three trim levels – SE, Sport and S line – each being more expensive than the previous one, thanks to the extra equipment fitted as standard as the price rises. There’s also a higher-performance, and more expensive, S5 Coupe variant plus an even more rapid RS5 Coupe.
- Engine
- The size of the engine is given in litres, but bigger doesn't always mean faster, so you'll often see the engine's power shown in horsepower, which can also be written as PS. Diesel engines are badged TDI, while petrol models are known as 'TFSI'.
- Gearbox
- Audi calls its rapid-shifting 'dual-clutch' automatic gearbox S Tronic and its more conventional standard automatic model - fitted to models with more powerful engines - Tiptronic.
Audi A5 Engines
Petrol: 2.0 TFSI, 2.9 TFSI, 3.0 TFSI Diesel: 2.0 TDI ultra, 2.0 TDI, 3.0 TDI
The A5 Coupe has an engine range of six powerplants, including a unit exclusively available in the S5 Coupe and another more powerful, though smaller version in the RS5.
There are two diesel engines, which are both 2.0 litres in size and generate 190hp. The main difference between the two is economy. The 2.0 TDI ultra has an official fuel economy figure of up to 70.6mpg (depending on the size of the wheels fitted), while the regular 2.0 TDI has a lower rating of 67.3 mpg.
Both are relatively quiet diesels (thanks, in part, to extensive soundproofing around the engines), with plenty of power on tap, making them suitable for all types of road.
However, if a more powerful diesel is required, the six-cylinder 3.0 TDI bumps the output up to 218hp. The extra urge is noticeable but fuel economy drops to an official 58.9 and 61.4mpg, depending on the size of the wheels. This bigger engine is also a little smoother and sounds sportier than the smaller diesels.
Maximum power comes when opting for one of the petrol-engined A5s The 2.0 TFSI produces 252hp. Official fuel economy is less than 50mpg - but we'd expect under 40mpg in real-world driving and much less if you're driving it hard.
There's even more on offer in the S5 Coupe, which will accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.7sec, accompanied by a grin-inducing burble from the exhaust. However, that grin might slip when you find yourself making regular fuel stops, especially as the official 28.5mpg is unlikely to be matched in real-word driving conditions.
The range-topping RS5, meanwhile, features a 2.9-litre V6, which kicks out a hefty 450hp. This launches it from a standstill to 62mph in just 3.9 seconds. With such power on tap, though, expect worse fuel economy than the S5.
Audi A5 Trims
SE, Sport, S line
The new A5 Coupé is available in three different trim levels: SE, Sport and the range-topping S line, which offer different levels of standard equipment. In addition, the S5 Coupé is a separate performance model with its own specification, as is the RS5 Coupe.
The cheapest SE includes 17-inch alloy wheels, bright xenon headlights and a seven-inch media system. There's three-zone climate control, allowing passengers to set a temperature for their section of the car, as well as front and rear parking sensors and an automatic emergency braking system that can slam on the brakes to avoid some crashes.
Sport models add sat-nav, electrically adjustable and leather-upholstered sports seats with lumbar support and LED interior lighting.
S line cars gain 18-inch alloy wheels, leather and alcantara sports seats, even brighter LED headlights and sport suspension that makes the car lower, and a little more responsove when you turn the steering wheel. The downside is that it's less effective at absorbing the shock when you go over bumps.
The S5 Coupe has sportier exterior styling features such as a unique grille and bumpers, sports seats trimmed in Nappa leather, a fully digital instrument display behind the steering wheel, which can be set to display a giant sat-nav map, as well as aluminium finishes inside, a larger-screened media system with more advanced sat-nav, and four-wheel drive, which Audi calls quattro.
Audi A5 Reliability and warranty
The A5 Coupe is backed by Audi’s standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty, which is similar to that offered by premium German rivals BMW and Mercedes.
As a brand, Audi is rated highly for reliability by owners - who are likely to have high expectations of its premium cars. In 2019's Auto Express Driver Power satisfaction survey, the firm was ranked 16th out of 30 carmakers for reliability.
Used Audi A5
It may never have beenthe biggest selling car, but there are plenty of used examples of the A5 Coupe on sale. Due to its desirability and upmarket Audi badge, values for the A5 remain strong on the used market. As a result, you're unlikely to find many bargains, but you also should get much of your money back when you come to sell or trade it in.
Other Editions
- Audi A5 Coupe (2007-2016)The Audi A5 Coupe is stylish and desirable - but neither the most high-tech or exciting car
- Audi A5 Sportback (2017-present) Offering space and style, the Audi A5 Sportback is a coupe for families