With the Audi A4 in its death throes (the name set to be reserved for a new pair of electric saloon and estate models), there’s quite a bit of weight on the new Audi A5’s shoulders. This isn’t quite a direct replacement for the old A5, thanks mainly to the need to cover the needs of owners looking for the now-defunct A4’s attributes, but the nameplate remains.
So, this new ‘Saloon’ model is actually a five-door hatchback, just like the old A5 Sportback, and that isn’t all that’s new. The look has been developed, the interior has evolved and there are some mechanical upgrades under the skin. So, will the upgrades make the new A5 an even more credible rival for the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, or will it be left in their dust?
To find out, we’ve taken a spin in the entry level 2.0-litre petrol A5 ‘Saloon’ at the car’s international media launch. This represents the cheapest model in the line-up - at least for the time being.
What does the new Audi A5 look like?
Despite its official name, the new A5 Saloon has a fastback design that essentially mirrors the old A5 Sportback’s. However, the look has been evolved with a new nose and a new ‘singleframe’ grille that’s wider and flatter than before. It’s a risky piece of design - it could have gone the way of the new Nissan Qashqai’s ugly grille - but it’s broken up by the badge and number plate, and it’s flanked by two big air vents. That makes it look sporty, rather than sub-optimal, and the cleaned-up bonnet helps on that front, too.
Audi is also very proud of the new head- and taillights, which use OLED technology to be customisable. You can choose between different light signatures for a more personal touch, and the lights also provide sharper definition and a matrix system to blot out the main beam in a specific direction to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic.
A look inside the Audi A5
At first glance, it appears Audi has shunned the minimalist interior design language favoured by so many car manufacturers these days, but the story of the A5’s cabin isn’t quite that simple. Although there are lots of angles and numerous materials on display, it’s actually largely free from buttons, aside from the vast number found on the steering wheel.
Instead, the dashboard is almost entirely covered in screens, particularly in our test car with its optional passenger display. That sits in front of the front-seat passenger, alongside the wide, curved housing that plays host to the digital instrument cluster and the central touchscreen, while customers can add to that further with an optional head-up display.
Unusually for Audi, the decision to dodge buttons and depend largely on screens has resulted in a few ergonomic headaches, including issues with adjusting the temperature and accessing some of the car’s other functions. And the steering wheel buttons don’t help much, because they’re fiddly and tightly packed, which isn’t ideal if your fingers don’t resemble toothpicks.
More expectedly from Audi, though, the build quality is excellent. Like every other manufacturer these days, Audi has to keep an eye on costs, and a handful of plastics in the A5’s cabin betrays that, but they’re relatively few and far between, and they’re stitched together very well. For the most part, it feels very robust and decidedly premium, which makes it a pleasant place to spend time.
The Audi A5’s on-board technology
There’s a lot of technology on the new A5, and though the new car has much to commend it, some of the tech isn’t quite as impressive as we were hoping it would be. The Virtual Cockpit (digital instrumentation), for example, used to be one of the best reasons for buying the old A5, and while the new system is clearly modernised, it has also been neutered slightly, with less customisation available.
The Virtual Cockpit sits alongside the digital instrument display, which is much bigger than before, but then it has much more to take care of. Audi has ensured the heater controls are always there and available for drivers to access, but the fact remains that using the screen is more distracting than using a button. And the screen is generally more distracting than that of the old A5, because the menus are less logical and some of the software feels less intuitive.
Oddly enough, the optional passenger display would be one of the best bits of technology in the A5’s cabin (largely because it uses a cleaner, less fiddly version of the central screen’s system) were it not for the head-up display. Most of the data drivers will need can be accessed there, and though the display isn’t perfect, it gives you most of the information you’re likely to want, as well as access to plenty of functions. It’s just a shame it’s largely controlled through the aforementioned steering wheel buttons.
And though you’d be forgiven for thinking the screens make up all the tech in the A5, there are some other aspects of note. The first is the clever headlight system, with its customisation and adaptive beam technology, but the ambient lighting is clever, too. A thin light strip across the top of the dash, for example, will flash green at the ends when you use the indicator, although how many owners will notice that little Easter egg remains to be seen.
How efficient is the Audi A5?
With no plug-in hybrid options as yet, the A5 range is propped up by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, which produces a modest 150hp, then feeds it to the front wheels via a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic gearbox.
Other options include the top-of-the-range, V6-powered S5 models, complete with 367hp and all-wheel drive, and a more powerful 2.0-litre petrol with 204hp. There are 2.0-litre diesel options, too. But if truth be told, while you might want one of the more performance-orientated variants, the 2.0-litre petrol is more than adequate.
Performance isn’t especially brisk, but it’s quick enough to get by, and the petrol engine is largely quiet unless you really put your foot down. And economy is acceptable, burning through about seven litres of unleaded every 100km. It isn’t especially impressive, but it isn’t bad for a luxurious fastback - and particularly the cheapest version.
However, the more powerful engines might make more sense, particularly the diesel, which will offer vastly improved economy and greater performance, even if it isn’t always the most refined engine in the range. It is offered with mild-hybrid tech, though, which gives it a bit more efficiency and, at low speeds, better refinement.
For many, though, the best bet will be to hold on for the plug-in hybrid options, which will offer better official economy and lower tax rates, whether you’re a private buyer or a company car driver.
Driving the Audi A5
Audi has been keen to highlight its efforts to make the A5 better to drive, and with good reason. Although the front-wheel-drive layout naturally fails to offer the engagement of the rear-drive C-Class and 3 Series, Audi has worked hard on the A5’s suspension, attempting to improve handling and bring the car closer to its rivals when it comes to driving pleasure and driver involvement.
And it has worked, albeit not perfectly. The A5 still doesn’t have the agility, the poise or the precision of the 3 Series, but it’s much closer to the BMW than it was before, and that’s a win in itself. Yes, the steering is still a bit lifeless, but it’s more precise than that of the old A5, and the car’s nose feels a bit keener to respond. Body control is good, too, keeping lean in corners to a minimum.
Yet the A5 still rides well. It isn’t as soft as a previous-generation C-Class, but it can match almost any of its modern rivals on that front, even with larger wheels fitted. The 19-inch rims of our high-specification test car felt ambitious, but even with such small sidewalls, the A5 generally soaked up the worst of the bumps around town, and only got better as the speed increased.
How safe is the Audi A5?
The new Audi A5 still hasn’t been assessed by Euro NCAP, the European independent safety organisation, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be as safe as houses. The old A4 and A5 models were built on the same architecture, and they shared a five-star safety rating when they were tested in 2015, and there’s no reason to think the new A5 won’t follow suit.
.
Certainly, it comes with plenty of safety kit as standard. The usual suspects, such as autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and parking sensors, are all included as standard, along with all the stuff we take for granted these days, including traction control and anti-lock brakes. There’s a fleet of airbags, too, and there are ISOFIX child seat mounting points.
We’re less enamoured with the speed limit warning technology, which has been useless in every car we’ve ever seen it fitted to, but at least Audi has left a customisable asterisk button on the steering wheel, which can be programmed to turn the system off quickly and easily.
How many child seats can you fit in an Audi A5?
As well as offering two ISOFIX child seat mounting points on the rear bench, the Audi A5 also has a third ISOFIX point on the front passenger seat, offering owners a bit more flexibility when it comes to carrying children. And because the cabin is quite wide, you should be able to fit two bulky child seats across the rear without too much trouble - particularly in the Avant estate models, which have a slightly higher roofline.
How much does the Audi A5 cost in Ireland?
The new A5 range starts at €55,700 in basic SE form, with the more upmarket S line model coming in at €63,780. That makes the Audi fractionally cheaper than the equivalent BMW 3 Series, and significantly less expensive than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Yet even basic A5s come with 17-inch alloy wheels, touchscreen infotainment and the Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display, as well as two-zone climate control, cruise control and parking sensors. Moving up to the S line gets you some sporty styling and 19-inch alloy wheels, as well as sports seats covered in artificial leather and sports suspension, alongside some other tech upgrades.
The reasons you’d buy an Audi A5
Back in 2015, the Audi A4 was the car that bridged the gap between the comfort of the C-Class and the handling of the 3 Series, but now the chassis improvements have made the new A5 a proper contender in its own right. With a high-quality cabin, modern looks and a pleasant driving experience, it’s a great executive saloon. And when the plug-in hybrid versions arrive, it’s set to get even more competitive.
Ask us anything about the Audi A5
Should you want to know more about the new Audi A5, why not take advantage of our Ask Us Anything service. Simply head to the Ask Us Anything page, post your question and get an answer from our hive mind of automotive experts. Best of all, it’s completely free.
