It’s 30 years since the Audi A4 first launched but for the latest, all-new generation, it won’t even be called A4 - instead, it becomes the Audi A5, following on from the German company’s decision that all its odd-numbered product lines will be internal-combustion powered, while all its even-numbered ranges will be the electric vehicles (EVs). Available as a saloon-mimicking fastback and Avant estate, we’ve already had a close look at and walk round the new Audi A5.
So is Audi calling the fastback a saloon?
In its own-speak, yes, as it refers to it as the Audi A5 Sedan. But, trust us, the whole bootlid opens with a hinge at the roofline of the vehicle, leading to a large-aperture cargo area. However, before we go into that in greater detail, let’s talk about the specifics. Audi is making the A5 models longer and wider than the A4s they replace, as well as fitting them with much more standard equipment and technology to push them into the ‘upper mid-size segment’.
Although it is a smoother shape than the old car, the new A5 is still recognisably an Audi, with signatures including the ‘Singleframe’ front radiator grille, a coupe-like window- and roofline when viewed in profile (for the saloon/fastback), a full-width light strip at the rear and then blistered, wider arches to subliminally remind you of Audi’s quattro heritage. The Avant is much the same, albeit with a longer, higher roofline and a sloped tailgate, while the big techology talking point from Audi’s perspective are the LED front, OLED rear lights. These have no fewer than eight different signatures for owners to choose from, including one unusual selection which sees the individual triangular graphics in the rear clusters pulse at different rates, giving the effect the back lights are ‘shimmering’.
That’s all very impressive. How about the interior?
High-tech, would be the watchword here. Specify it right and the Audi A5 will have four different screens arrayed ahead of the driver and the front-seat passenger in what the company is calling the ‘Digital Stage’. This is centred around an 11.9-inch Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster, a 14.5-inch MMI touchscreen infotainment set-up, and then a configurable head-up display too. Optionally, and taking its lead from related company Porsche, there’s a 10.9-inch Front Passenger Display available as well - and this sits alongside the huge one-piece construct which contains the Virtual Cockpit and main MMI screen.
Get used to this interface, because it’s going to appear in plenty more Audis to come, like the impending A6 e-tron and the third-generation Q5 SUV. And if you’re a fan of physical controls for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning, bad luck - the A5’s layout means there are no separate climate controls any longer, as they’re all clustered in a strip along the bottom of the main MMI screen. This heavily digitised interface has led to other unusual touches, such as a large pad of buttons on the driver’s door card controlling multiple different features of the Audi including the mirrors, the door and child locks, the seat memory functions and also some of the exterior lighting.
There are also the oft-maligned haptic touchpads on the A5’s steering wheel, so it’s an interior that might not appear to be, on the face of it, Audi’s greatest-ever ergonomic creation. However, we’ve sat in the car and used most of the main controls, and it seems to all work pretty well; admittedly, though, that was in the controlled environment of a photo studio, rather than in the cut-and-thrust of daily traffic flow. We’ll reserve full judgement until we’ve driven the car for real.
OK, but what about space inside?
As the A5 is 16mm taller, 13mm wider and fully 67mm longer, with 80mm of that stretch accommodated between the front wheels and the back (in what is termed in the automotive industry as the ‘wheelbase’), it’s good. Legroom in the rear of the A5 ‘saloon’ is excellent and more capacious than in the car it replaces, although as some A5s will be quattros there’s still a large transmission tunnel running longitudinally through the cabin which means the centre-rear seat will be an occasional-use-only item for adults.
Material quality is generally high in the car too, as you’d expect of an Audi, and then you’ve got 445 litres of boot space in the saloon, rising to 1,299 litres with its rear seats folded, or 476 litres in the Avant with up to 1,424 litres available with just the front two seats in use. Those, though, are less than the old A4s’ numbers of 480 litres (saloon) and 505 litres (Avant), which is surprising.
What have we got under the bonnet?
A series of engines with 48-volt mild-hybrid (MHEV) technology, a system which can add up to 24hp to proceedings when helping out with acceleration, and that can also harvest a maximum of 25kW of otherwise-wasted kinetic energy when decelerating to save fuel. At launch, there are 150- and 204hp iterations of a 2.0-litre TFSI petrol drivetrain, with front-wheel drive for the 150hp model and a choice of front-wheel drive or ‘quattro ultra’ all-wheel drive in the 204hp variant. Both use a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission, with CO2 from 150-179g/km depending on the model.
Diesels will be offered again, including the 2.0 TDI A5 with 204hp and 400Nm. It uses 48-volt mild-hybrid tech with either front- or all-wheel drive and a DSG auto with CO2 standing at 124-147g/km.
Tell us more about the new Audi S5
It’ll launch alongside the regular TFSI and TDI models, and it too uses mild-hybrid tech. You’ll spot the S5 cars, available in both body formats, by their bigger alloys, more aggressive exterior styling and quad exhaust pipes, all of which signify a petrol-fuelled 3.0-litre V6 under the bonnet that delivers up to 367hp.
Audi also says it has improved the A5’s chassis, with stiffer front suspension mounts, what it calls ‘more rigidly connected steering’ and various tweaks to the damping. The aim is to make all models, from a basic A5 up to the S5, feel more engaging for their driver, without sacrificing any comfort or refinement. We’ll have to wait to see on this score.
Final word, then, goes to increased hybrid options. After the launch range of mild-hybrid drivetrains, Audi will unveil two different plug-in hybrids producing either 299- or 367hp, with both purportedly capable of more than 100km of electric-only driving.
No Irish pricing has been confirmed for the new A5, and it’s expected to arrive in the “251” registration period in early 2025.