Textual content by Tom Appel
2025 Audi S5 Status quattro
Specs
Class: Premium Compact Automobile
Nation of Manufacture: Germany
Coloration: Ascari Blue Metallic
Miles pushed: 237
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | B- |
| Energy and Efficiency | B+ |
| Match and End | A- |
| Gas Economic system | C |
| Worth | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different automobiles in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and should not mirror Shopper Information’s impressions of the complete mannequin lineup. | |
| Large & Tall Consolation | |
| Large Man | B- |
| Tall Man | B |
| Large & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Large” score primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 362-horsepower 3.0-liter |
| Engine Kind | Turbocharged V6 |
| Transmission | 7-speed computerized |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Noticed gasoline economic system: 18.9 mpg
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway
EPA-estimated gasoline economic system: 19/28/22 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)
Gas kind: Premium fuel
Base worth: $80,135 (not together with $1945 vacation spot cost)
Choices on check automobile: Head-up show ($600), Adaptive Variable Suspension ($1045), energy working boards ($1005), entrance skid plate ($385), sprint cam ($499), related providers (2 years) ($325), roof cross bars ($365)
Value as examined: $86,304
Audio-System Model
Bang & Olufsen
Audio-System High quality
Poor Truthful Good Very-Good Wonderful
Professionals and Cons
The good: Sporty, snug, luxurious
The nice: Hatchback comfort, first rate rear-seat legroom
The not so good: Somber cabin lacks pleasure
Evaluate
When you’ve got grown hooked up in any technique to Audi’s conventional A4/A6/A8 lineup of premium sedans, we have now very dangerous information for you. The German maker of sporty luxurious automobiles is juggling its lineup—and naming scheme—in such a means that even model loyalist will likely be left scratching their heads.
Rebranding
The top plan is that this: Audi gasoline-powered automobiles will likely be named utilizing odd numbers, whereas electric-vehicle monikers will make use of even numbers. The outcome? A transitional interval of confusion for certain, however in the end a line-wide branding scheme that may make discussing—and searching for—an Audi simpler for everybody. Finger’s crossed.
As for the normal A4/A6/A8 lineup–the upheaval has begun.
Changing the A4
Blame crossovers for this, however the A4 compact sedan has been a gradual vendor of late, and has thus been discontinued. As soon as a quantity participant within the Audi lineup, the good-looking little 4-door accounted for simply over 7000 U.S. gross sales in 2024, this together with the sporty S4 variant.
In the meantime, the rakish and pricier A5 lured nearly 25,000 prospects into the Audi fold in 2024, although that quantity consists of all A5/S5 fashions and variants.
Coupe and Convertible Dropped
For 2024, the A5 (and sportier S5) was provided as a coupe, convertible, and sedan (dubbed Sportback). Fully redesigned on Audi’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) structure for 2025, the A5/S5 combo return solely in 4-door sedan kind. Although, reasonably surprisingly, the brand new A5 retains the previous automotive’s hatchback design. (We think about this factor.)
Tariffs
Audi has urged that killing the A4 was additionally a matter of cash, as the entire German maker’s U.S. fashions are imported. Most of Audi’s lineup comes from Europe, although the favored Q5 compact crossover is imported from Mexico. As such, the entire marque’s fashions are uncovered to doubtlessly pricey tariffs. And, because the A5 has historically value greater than the A4, the transfer successfully shifts the model’s compact sedan consumers upmarket, doubtlessly bringing in income.
Costs
For 2025, the A4’s final 12 months, the small sedan began at $45,395. The redesigned A5, now solely provided as a 4-door hatchback, began at $47,595. Nevertheless, the A5 jumps to $52,290 for 2026, largely unchanged.
Confusion
However the true disgrace right here is that the launch of an all-new Audi has been buried in branding and repositioning intrigue, in addition to tariff-related insanity. A disgrace, as a result of the brand new A5—at the very least in S5 trim—is known as a good automotive.
Legacy Fashions
(Be aware that, as a result of Audi enjoys complicated prospects, the brand new A5/S5 is being offered alongside the previous A5 and S5 for 2025. The old-design automotive continues to be dubbed Sportback, whereas the brand new automotive is dubbed Sedan. Be aware, too, that the coupe and convertible variations of the “previous” A5 have been dropped after 2024.)
Costs and Trim Ranges
For 2025, the S5 Sedan (simply the redesigned model) is obtainable in three trim ranges:
- S5 Sedan Premium ($63,995)
- S5 Sedan Premium Plus ($67,795)
- S5 Sedan Status ($71,545)
Check Automobile
Shopper Information just lately spent per week behind the wheel of the 2025 Audi S5. Our Status check automotive got here in Ascari Blue Metallic and was geared up with the Version One bundle. All instructed, together with vacation spot cost, the automotive got here to $73,940.
A5 versus S5
Once more for 2025, the S5 represents a substantial bump-up in sportiness over the extra mainstream A5. Not solely does the improve embody distinctive S5 exterior and inside trim, however suspension and brake upgrades, and extra energy.
Engines
When it comes to energy, the 2025 S5 is powered by a 362-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. This instead of the A5’s 268-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4 which is augmented by a 48-volt “delicate hybrid” system. Each the A5 and S5 are fitted with a 7-speed dual-clutch-style computerized transmission and Audi’s quattro-brand AWD.
Design
We’re type of bummed that the A5/S5 has misplaced its particular place as a model design halo automotive of types. The A5 was as soon as meant to attracted consumers trying to stand out in site visitors and within the health-club car parking zone. And whereas nonetheless very engaging, it appears as Audi has to some extent “normalized” the A5/S5 design, this, we presume to succeed in a broader viewers.
Cabin Appointments
Entering into the S5 reminds us that Audi as soon as led the business when it comes to cabin design and basic—if restrained–opulence. That function appears to have been usurped by Genesis, although the S5 inside is definitely upscale. We discovered the black-on-black motif just a little somber, although on no account lower than luxurious. Supplies high quality is high notch, and meeting match and end in line with our expectation of a German luxurious sedan.
Three Screens
For those who like numbers, you’ll get pleasure from the next: There are three screens mounted on the S5 dashboard, an 11.9-inch drive show, a 14.5-inch heart console touchscreen, and a ten.9-inch passenger-side touchscreen.
Controls
The passenger display screen permits front-seat co-pilots to entry a variety of automobile capabilities, together with navigation and media. We discovered the entire screens vibrant and straightforward to learn below most circumstances, and fast to answer inputs. We typically choose that local weather management not be included within the touchscreen-operated suite of capabilities, however the S5 system is comprised of mounted controls which run alongside the underside of the display screen, and are straightforward sufficient to rapidly manipulate.
Room and Consolation
General, the S5 cabin is barely bigger than that of the outgoing A5/S5 Sportback, which implies this massive editor discovered loads of room as soon as seated, although coming into and exiting concerned some minor contortion work. Rear-space can also be improved, with legroom rising by about an inch. Taller back-seat passengers will need to sit behind the shortest front-row occupant, although for probably the most half the Audi will mange 4 adults in affordable consolation.
Experience and Dealing with
On the street the S5 shines, with a sporty character that’s each playful and refined. Whereas we want the steering had just a little extra really feel, we loved driving the compact Audi aggressively. Cornering lean is properly managed, and the robust brakes add to the driving force’s basic sense of management. The turbocharged V6 is generally hushed, however emits an aesthetic snarl when pushed, as does the exhaust. Certainly, we’d have appreciated just a little extra exhaust noise, at the very least throughout acceleration.
And, talking of noise, there may be little or no of it at freeway pace. The S5 cabin is impressively hushed at instances the engine isn’t being exercised. Experience high quality, too, is noteworthy. The S5’s typically buttoned-down suspension tuning serves up a agency however compliant experience, although with none harshness and little or no street noise. Name the experience elegant, with a aspect of athleticism.
Cargo Area
As we famous earlier, the A5/S5 enjoys a rear hatch as a substitute of a trunk, which opens up cargo hauling to bigger objects, and extra stuff generally. A middle pass-through within the rear seat decomplicates the hauling of lengthy objects, together with skis.
Worth
Whereas the we lament the worth enhance, and can miss the tidy and accessible A4/S4, the redesigned S5 is a powerful alternative, boasting just a little extra passenger house and a sexier profile. For a lot of luxurious sedan consumers, we suspect the “customary” A5 will match the invoice, however for lovers on the lookout for additional commuting pleasure, we recommend placing the S5 in your test-drive brief listing.
Hearken to the Automobile Stuff Podcast
2025 Audi S5 Footage
Click on beneath for enlarged photos
