New Audi A5 revealed: better than a BMW 3 Series?
July 16, 2024 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
This is the new Audi A5, and it might not be quite what you’re expecting. It’s not a two-door coupe, but it actually replaces the A4 as Audi’s new compact executive saloon.
- New Audi A5 revealed
- New name for the A4’s replacement
- More modern exterior design
- S5 uses a V6 petrol engine
- Similar interior to the Q6 e-tron
- On sale later this year
The all-new Audi A5 is here, and it replaces today’s A4 as the brand’s BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class alternative. You can choose between saloon and estate flavours, and the high-performance S5 has also been revealed.
The entire A5 range is powered by internal combustion in keeping with Audi’s new naming structure; even numbers are now reserved for electric cars. This means an A4 e-tron will come along at a later date to provide a BMW i4 alternative.
New Audi A5 design
You may know the Audi A5 as a sporty coupe or as a posh cabriolet, but it’s now the brand’s compact executive saloon. An Avant estate version is also available.
You’ll notice up front that it’s a case of evolution rather than revolution, although this new A5 does look more modern than the A4 it replaces. It has a more steeply curved bonnet than before, more modern-looking headlights and a much wider grille to make it look more imposing.
Moving down the side you get 17-inch alloy wheels as standard, rising to 19-inches if you go for the S-Line or the S5. There are also 20-inch alloys on the options list. The flush-fitting door handles help the new A5 look more sleek and aerodynamic.
There’s a resemblance to the Audi Q6 e-tron SUV at the rear, mostly thanks to the snazzy-looking full-width light bar. The exhaust tips appear to be real as well which is a nice change compared to the cheap-looking fake trims you got on the outgoing A4.
If you go for the warmed-up Audi S5 then there are some sporty styling changes to help it stand out. The front bumper is deeper and more aggressive-looking with larger air intakes, there are some unique alloy wheel designs and you get quad tailpipes at the rear.
New Audi A5 engines and performance
The new Audi A5 is available with a few different petrol and diesel engines, all of which come paired with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox. There’s no all-electric version though, you’ll have to wait for the Audi A4 e-tron if you fancy a taste of EV in your Audi saloon.
Entry-level cars have a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 150hp and front-wheel drive, or you can have the same unit with 204hp and all-wheel drive. For the motorway mile munchers there’s a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel on offer, and it also has 204hp.
The exciting option here though comes in the new Audi S5, because that car gets a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6. Unlike the old S4, this S5 is powered by petrol rather than diesel, and it has 367hp. That’s 7hp less than the BMW M340i gets, however Audi hasn’t quoted a 0-60mph time for the S5 yet so you’ll have to wait and see what sort of performance this all-wheel drive saloon can offer.
The flagship Audi RS4 will follow on further down the line, and you can check out our story on that car here.
New Audi A5 interior and infotainment
You’ll notice a lot of similarities between the new Audi A5’s cabin and the Q6 e-tron’s, and that’s because they share the same “Digital Stage” infotainment system.
This comprises a large, curved panel on the dashboard housing an 11.9-inch digital driver’s display and a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system. A 10.9-inch passenger screen is also available as an option, and it allows the front passenger to stream videos on the move.
The overall design is a big improvement over the outgoing Audi A4. That car had a very well-made cabin, but it was starting to look its age. The A5 has a much more modern interior design thanks to the sweeping dash and ambient lighting, and the S5 gets some sporty seats and an S-specific steering wheel.
New Audi A5: when can I buy one?
The Audi A5 will be available to order in Germany this month, with UK order books opening within the next few weeks as well.
Pricing hasn’t been specified for UK customers yet, however the A5 costs the equivalent of £38,000 in Germany, which is around the same as the current A4.
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