Overview

So, you want to buy a new Audi A4 but can’t find any trace of it…?

That’s because the new A4 is now known as the A5; a vehicle that is closer in size to the previous A6, and one that is larger than competitors from BMW (3 Series) and Mercedes-Benz (C-Class).

Confused? You’re likely not alone.

However, Audi assures us the decision makes sense – and is intended to highlight the difference between petrol and electric models – while at the same time continuing to provide Sedan (Liftback) and Avant (Wagon) body styles for A4 loyalists.

The B10 series A5 (the series designation following numerically from the outgoing A4 range) is offered from launch with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder or turbocharged and mild hybridised 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine. The former offers front-wheel drive while the latter uses Audi’s renowned quattro all-wheel drive system.

Other variants will fill out the middle reaches of the A5 line-up shortly, including identically priced TFSI quattro 200kW (petrol) and e-hybrid quattro 270kW (PHEV) variants.

On the subject of pricing, we find the A5 range starting from $79,900 plus on-road costs – or $8000 more than the entry-spec A4. It’s a significant price hike, but one that is tempered by comprehensive upticks in appearance, connectivity, design, dynamics, efficiency, performance, and safety.

Built upon Audi’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture, the launch variants sampled included the A5 Sedan (which is really a Liftback) with its 150kW/340Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and the S5 Avant (Wagon) edition one powered by a 270kW/550Nm turbocharged V6 petrol running a similar transmission and all-wheel drive.

Importantly, the V6 features 48-volt mild hybrid assistance not found on the four-cylinder. Audi says that while helping to improve fuel economy, the technology aids in eliminating turbo lag, resulting in a rather impressive 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.5 seconds – almost half that of the base A5 (9.8s)

As reported previously, the 2025 Audi A5 arrives with a generous list of standard equipment including 19-inch alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights with selectable digital signatures, anodised matt anthracite aluminium detail styling elements, electric side mirrors with heating, auto-dimming, memory function and kerb view function, and a convenience key system with keyless entry and electric tailgate featuring gesture control.

Also included are features like digital key functionality allowing full access and drive functions from a connected smartphone.

Inside the A5 sports an entirely redesigned cabin with integrated sport seats upholstered in premium leather/leatherette, door sill trims with aluminium illuminated inlays, electric seat adjustments with memory functionality for the driver, heated front seats with four-way lumbar support, a multifunction leather steering wheel, and tri-zone climate control.

The cabin further offers an all-new human-machine interface with an advanced MMI navigation plus system presented via a high-resolution 14.5-inch OLED panoramic touch display, complemented by an 11.9-inch Audi virtual cockpit (digital instrument panel). The system is supported by Audi’s latest E3 1.2 electrical architecture (and a total of five computers), as recently introduced in the new Q6 E-Tron SUV.

Other interior kit encompasses colour ambient lighting, wireless smartphone integration (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), wireless charging, USB outlets for charging and connectivity functionality in the front and rear, Audi connect plus for navigation, infotainment, security and assistance, and an advanced Audi sound system with digital radio (DAB+) reception.

All variants of the new A5 and S5 are equipped with an extensive array of safety equipment covering ADAS, primary and secondary, active and passive safety systems.

Stepping up to the S5 we find a sporty exterior appearance highlights including 20-inch alloys, aluminium S exterior styling, red brake callipers, S sport suspension with adjustable dampers, matrix LED headlights with selectable light signatures, digital OLED rear lights, and privacy glass as standard.

Inside highlights include Nappa leather upholstery with diamond stitching, heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, heated rear outer seats, a heated steering wheel, head-up display, and colour ambient lighting with a dynamic interaction light strip that visualises a variety of vehicle functions including dynamic turn signals to the cabin occupants.

In terms of infotainment the S5 benefits from a premium Bang & Olufsen 3D Premium Sound System, and a new 10.9-inch MMI display for the front passenger that allows for an enhanced cabin experience when paired with the convenient connectivity of high-power USB interfaces capable of charging laptops and tablets, further underscoring the S5’s luxurious appointment.

The S5 edition one (from $99,900 + ORC) will be available at launch “offering customers the chance to step into a high-performance S5 with attractive equipment and distinct black styling for a very competitive price tag”.

Paint colours across the line-up extend to eight with new hues including Horizon Blue, Grenadine Red, and Ascari Blue.

Where cargo capacity is concerned, we find 445 litres in the Sedan (down 35 litres from the outgoing A4) and 476 litres in the Avant (down 19 litres) in five-seat format, expanding to 1299 litres (up from 965 litres) and 1495 litres (down from 1424 litres) respectively with the seats folded flat.

As with all Audi vehicles, the A5 range is backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with included roadside assistance.

Driving Impressions

The differences between the A4 and A5 (and S5 here for the sake of brevity) should now be rather obvious.

It’s a bigger car, built on a new platform that offers more cabin space, the latest connectivity and safety tech, greatly improved comfort and dynamism, and revised yet familiar engines that provide each variant with its own personality and performance levels.

And while that all stands true and correct, it says little about the character improvements that aid in improving the vehicle: it’s ability to handle rubbish Australian country roads and adverse weather conditions, its surefootedness on the open road, and its cossetting, high-grade interior.

Excuse the confusing name change and you’ll find a mid-sized premium European entrant that although dearer, offers better value than its nearest rivals. It is quiet, polished, and a joy to drive – something we can no longer say of certain segment entrants that were once the ultimate in that regard…

Simply, the A5 is a lovely vehicle to pilot from the get-go. It feels impressively composed, beautifully balanced, and innately responsive.

The changes to front suspension geometry, damping, and rear subframe, along with the broadened footprint, provide a sense of clarity to the driver, allowing each wheel movement to be acknowledged, but disallowing any adverse impact on the vehicle’s posture – or its purchase on the road below.

In some of the worst weather conditions Victoria’s Central Highlands could throw at us, the A5 remained a dependable and focused companion: its steering consistent and its braking resolute. Combine these qualities with the ebullient torque of the S5’s V6 engine and you very nearly have the ideal family car.

That’s not to say the A5’s 2.0-litre engine is a slouch. Were we not to drive it back-to-back against a model with close to double the horsepower we’d likely have been quite impressed. But in sampling the entry unit alongside the irrepressible enthusiasm the S5 offers shows a marked contrast in intent.

The A5 is a serene and comfortable option. The driveline and surrounds fade into the background when cruising speed is reached, allowing time to enjoy the comfortable seating, diligent climate control, and plentiful tech offerings. It’s the sort of vehicle you could cover a lot of ground in without feeling worse for wear – and while consuming very little fuel.

Considering the model is without any form of electrical assistance, the 6.7 litres per 100km of indicated fuel consumption is perfectly acceptable, especially given the winding roads, inclement weather, and undulating terrain encountered on test.

By contrast, the S5 is something of a mum missile. As well as accelerating with a serious shove in the back, it offers sufficient reserves for rapid overtaking manoeuvres when required. The engine cooperates brilliantly with the dual-clutch transmission, not only shifting quickly, but almost seamlessly in all but its most aggressive driving mode.

Again, and in tackling some truly questionable weather conditions (the kind that would have many motorists pulling over and waiting for the ‘worst of it’ to pass), the S5 felt truly planted. The levels of grip, combined with clearly telegraphed feedback from each corner, shows the advantages of Audi’s decades of quattro fine-tuning. We can only imagine how well the vehicle might perform in the dry…

While the conditions and speed limits meant we were unable to properly open the taps, there’s a sense the S5 has a lot to offer the performance enthusiast. It’s certainly brisk, but still well composed, and like the A5 is a rewarding vehicle in which to spend time, almost as if a road trip beckons each time you hop behind the ‘wheel.

And when you’re spending the kind of money the A5 and S5 command, it’s that feeling that we feel should be a given…

In our opinion, a premium car must deliver that je ne sais quoi a mainstream model can’t – while at the same time instilling a sense that the money you’ve laid down is justified by top-notch engineering from bonnet to boot lid.

Pleasingly, that feeling is very much alive and well in the all-new Audi A5 range – and we can’t wait to take another drive.