The Audi A5 is one of the most popular models in the entire Audi catalog and even manages to sell well in the era of SUVs and crossovers. The A5 promises an equally accommodating experience as in the A4, but with the added flair and styling which makes the A5 much more of an attention grabber when compared to the A4. So, is Audi A5 a good car?
The A5 is indeed a really good car because it is one of the best cars Audi makes. It slots between the smaller A3 Sedan and the larger A6 and is perfectly sized to be both accommodating and compact. The A5 offers a bunch of engines that include both diesel and gas engines and mild hybrid models.
One of the strong suits of the A5 is undoubtedly the exterior design which oozes sophistication without being overly aggressive. The interior of the A5 is equally as good because it is cladded with high-end materials and everything is screwed together really well.
The A5 is lower than the A4 a little bit so it drives a bit more dynamically. Reliability is decent, but there are some issues worth talking about. The A5 does not offer the same amount of headspace in the 2nd row of seats as in the A4, but it does offer a larger trunk space thanks to a practical hatchback tailgate.
Audi A5 – The powertrain
The A5 offers a few 4-cylinder gasoline engines, a few 6-cylinder gasoline engines, and even V8 engines for older Audi RS5 models. The 4-cylinders range from 1.8L to 2.0L engines and the most powerful 4-cylinder engines are the ones found in the latest A5 generation which offers 265hp. V6 gasoline engines can be found in the 3.0L TFSI models, S5 models, and the range-topping RS5 models with 450hp.
If you want a V8 Audi A5, you will have to go for one of the older Audi RS5/S5 models that offer a naturally aspirated 4.2L V8. Diesel engines range from 4-cylinder units to 6-cylinder units and the 2.0L TDI 190hp engines are the best while the best V6 diesel engines are the 3.0L TDI S5 models with 350hp.
You can get an A5 with either FWD or Audi’s iconic Quattro AWD system. Manual gearboxes are only available with 1st gen A5s while all later A5s use either a Tiptronic torque converter or Audi’s proprietary S-Tronic dual-clutch gearbox.
Audi A5 – Design and chassis
One of the best aspects of owning an Audi A5 is the enjoyment you get from looking at it as all A5 models look amazing. Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder, but only a blind beholder could ever say that the A5 looks bad. The interior of the A5 is also a really pleasant place to be, even in the early A5 models.
The A5 drives in a more focused manner compared to the A4, but there are no substantial differences between the two. If you want the most dynamic A5 models, you ought to go for a 2-door RS5 model as they are the ones with the most panache when it comes to handling.
Audi A5 – Reliability and common issues
Reliability-wise, the A5 is more or less the same as the Audi A4 which means that it is a relatively reliable car, but only if you maintain it well enough. The most common Audi A5 issues are related to the engine’s timing chain or the EGR valve while the most common transmission issues are related to the infamous CVT Multitronic gearbox.
The A5 also suffers from excessive oil consumption/leaks, issues with the cooling system, or issues with the infotainment electronics. Most of these can be solved simply by doing all the necessary maintenance.
Audi A5 – Value and practicality
The current Audi A5 costs anywhere between $45,000 to $50,000 for Premium and Premium Plus models while Prestige models go way over $50,000. The most expensive A5 is the RS5 Sportback which costs $77,000. The A5 manages to retain its value relatively well because it is a really popular car on the 2nd hand market.
Practicality-wise, the A5 is also really good thanks to four accommodating seats and a large hatchback trunk space. The rear-seat headspace might be a bit less when compared to the A4 but is large enough for 90% of individuals.
FAQ Section
Is the Audi A5 a good family car?
The Audi A5 can be a good family car if you go for the 4-door Sportback version as it is both longer and taller than both the cabriolet and the Coupe. The Sportback A5 also comes with lots of family-friendly features such as lots of cubby spaces, wide-opening doors, and a sizeable trunk.
The 2-door A5 can also be a family car if you only want to use it for baby transportation. The cabriolet is the least family-friendly A5 model and therefore should be avoided. All in all, the A5 is more or less the same as the A4 which also extends to them both being good family cars.
Is the Audi A5 a safe car?
The Audi A5 is a really safe car thanks to a stellar 5-star crash safety rating. This means that the A5 offers great adult and children protection in an event of a crash. When it comes to active software safety features, the A5 also does not disappoint because it is available with pretty much everything you’d expect from a 21st-century car.
The bad thing is that most of these features are part of additional equipment packages which can raise the A5’s final price to a relatively steep territory.
How long can an Audi A5 last?
An Audi A5 can easily last at least 200,000 miles or 10-15 years of use without needing major overhauls. However, the A5 needs constant and thorough maintenance, without it, it is going to suffer. Almost all Audi cars are made to last a really long time so this is not something you should worry about if you keep your Audi in adequate condition.
