Textual content by Tom Appel
2025 Audi S5 Status quattro
Specs
Class: Premium Compact Automotive
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- |
| Gasoline Financial system | C |
| Worth | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim degree evaluated, and will not replicate Shopper Information’s impressions of all the mannequin lineup. | |
| Massive & Tall Consolation | |
| Massive Man | B- |
| Tall Man | B |
| Massive & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Massive” score based mostly on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score based mostly on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 362-horsepower 3.0-liter |
| Engine Sort | Turbocharged V6 |
| Transmission | 7-speed automated |
| 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)
Gasoline kind: Premium gasoline
Base worth: $80,135 (not together with $1945 vacation spot cost)
Choices on take a look at car: 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 Honest Good Very-Good Wonderful
Execs and Cons
The good: Sporty, snug, luxurious
The great: Hatchback comfort, respectable rear-seat legroom
The not so good: Somber cabin lacks pleasure
Evaluate
In case you have grown connected in any approach to Audi’s conventional A4/A6/A8 lineup of premium sedans, we’ve very dangerous information for you. The German maker of sporty luxurious autos is juggling its lineup—and naming scheme—in such a manner that even model loyalist might be left scratching their heads.
Rebranding
The tip plan is that this: Audi gasoline-powered autos might be named utilizing odd numbers, whereas electric-vehicle monikers will make use of even numbers. The consequence? A transitional interval of confusion for certain, however in the end a line-wide branding scheme that may make discussing—and looking 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 sluggish 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 virtually 25,000 clients into the Audi fold in 2024, although that quantity contains 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). Utterly redesigned on Audi’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) structure for 2025, the A5/S5 combo return solely in 4-door sedan kind. Although, quite surprisingly, the brand new A5 retains the previous automobile’s hatchback design. (We take into account this factor.)
Tariffs
Audi has steered that killing the A4 was additionally a matter of cash, as all the 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, all the marque’s fashions are uncovered to probably expensive tariffs. And, because the A5 has historically value greater than the A4, the transfer successfully shifts the model’s compact sedan patrons upmarket, probably 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. Nonetheless, 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—not less than in S5 trim—is known as a good automobile.
Legacy Fashions
(Word that, as a result of Audi enjoys complicated clients, the brand new A5/S5 is being bought alongside the previous A5 and S5 for 2025. The old-design automobile remains to be dubbed Sportback, whereas the brand new automobile is dubbed Sedan. Word, too, that the coupe and convertible variations of the “previous” A5 had 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 Automotive
Shopper Information just lately spent every week behind the wheel of the 2025 Audi S5. Our Status take a look at automobile got here in Ascari Blue Metallic and was outfitted with the Version One package deal. All instructed, together with vacation spot cost, the automobile 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 embrace 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 “gentle hybrid” system. Each the A5 and S5 are fitted with a 7-speed dual-clutch-style automated transmission and Audi’s quattro-brand AWD.
Design
We’re form of bummed that the A5/S5 has misplaced its particular place as a model design halo automobile of kinds. The A5 was as soon as meant to attracted customers trying to stand out in site visitors and within the health-club car parking zone. And whereas nonetheless very enticing, it appears as Audi has to some extent “normalized” the A5/S5 design, this, we presume to achieve 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 normal—if restrained–opulence. That position appears to have been usurped by Genesis, although the S5 inside is actually upscale. We discovered the black-on-black motif a little bit somber, although in no way lower than luxurious. Supplies high quality is high notch, and meeting match and end consistent with our expectation of a German luxurious sedan.
Three Screens
In case you 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 permits front-seat co-pilots to entry numerous car capabilities, together with navigation and media. We discovered all the screens vibrant and straightforward to learn underneath most circumstances, and fast to answer inputs. We typically desire that local weather management not be included within the touchscreen-operated suite of capabilities, however the S5 system is comprised of fastened controls which run alongside the underside of the display, and are straightforward sufficient to shortly manipulate.
Room and Consolation
General, the S5 cabin is barely bigger than that of the outgoing A5/S5 Sportback, which suggests 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 growing by about an inch. Taller back-seat passengers will wish to sit behind the shortest front-row occupant, although for probably the most half the Audi will mange 4 adults in affordable consolation.
Trip and Dealing with
On the highway the S5 shines, with a sporty character that’s each playful and refined. Whereas we want the steering had a little bit extra really feel, we loved driving the compact Audi aggressively. Cornering lean is nicely managed, and the sturdy brakes add to the driving force’s normal 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 a little bit extra exhaust noise, not less than throughout acceleration.
And, talking of noise, there may be little or no of it at freeway pace. The S5 cabin is impressively hushed at occasions the engine isn’t being exercised. Trip 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 highway noise. Name the experience stylish, with a facet 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 normally. A middle pass-through within the rear seat decomplicates the hauling of lengthy objects, together with skis.
Worth
Whereas the we lament the value enhance, and can miss the tidy and accessible A4/S4, the redesigned S5 is a powerful alternative, boasting a little bit extra passenger area and a sexier profile. For a lot of luxurious sedan customers, we suspect the “commonplace” A5 will match the invoice, however for fans searching for additional commuting pleasure, we recommend placing the S5 in your test-drive brief checklist.
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2025 Audi S5 Photos
Click on under for enlarged pictures