I’m living with the Audi S5 Avant for six months to see if it’s better than a BMW
Car changing is a big deal
Head of video Jack Scotton has been handed the keys to the new Audi S5 Avant for six months, and he’ll be putting this fast estate car through its paces both as a practical daily driver and as a weekend toy.
Audi is renowned for its fast estate cars, but over the past few years I’ve found myself drawn more towards BMW’s wagons. I’ve run an M340i and an M3 Touring as daily drivers, but now I think it’s time to sample the four rings.
So this is my new car for the next six months: an Audi S5 Avant. I’m going to run you through the spec on my new car, as well as give you some first impressions after a few weeks behind the wheel.
An introduction to my Audi S5 Avant
Let’s start with the important stuff: what’s powering my Audi S5 Avant?
Under the bonnet is a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine with 367hp and 550Nm of torque. This is sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and 0-60mph takes 4.5 seconds. That’s exactly the same pace as a BMW M340i Touring, despite being over 20hp down on that car.
My car is the Edition 1, a special trim level which was only available for a brief time when the car was first launched. It has a Bang and Olufsen sound system, surround-view cameras, adaptive cruise control and 20-inch alloy wheels.
I’ve also gone for this dark blue paint job, a £750 option, as well as the red leather interior. The carbon mirror caps cost an additional £560, and my car also has a deployable tow bar for an extra £1,160.
That tow bar is important to me, not because I tow anything but because I use it to mount our camera gear for tracking shots. This S5 will be working hard on video shoots hauling kit between locations, but I also want to see if it can be just as fun as my beloved BMWs on a weekend B-road blast.
All in, this car will set you back £75,120. I specced my ideal BMW M340i with some nice wheels, special paint and a couple of option packs, and it came to just over £70,000. The Audi is going to need to be really good to win me over.
First impressions of my Audi S5 Avant
After a couple of weeks with my S5 Avant, I’m impressed with how comfortable it is for cruising. Compared to the old Audi S4 Avant, it feels like a slightly bigger and more luxurious car.
I also like the engine. It sounds nice when you rev it out, although there is a soft limiter when you’re stationary. I’m averaging 30mpg so far as well, which is only around 5mpg less than Audi claims. That’s not bad seeing as I enjoy a country road blast, and this car has also featured in a drag race video.
However, the driver assistance systems are already proving to be pretty annoying. I seem to get constant beeps and bongs warning me that some sensor is blocked, and the lane-keeping assist tried to steer me towards a motorhome on a single-track road when I was trying to get out of its way.
Despite this, I’m liking life with the S5 so far. I’ll report back soon with an update on what it’s like to live with after I’ve got a few more miles under my belt.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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