Audi A5 and S5 2016 Review

Audi A5 and S5
International Launch Review
Porto, Portugal

At long last the A5 and S5 have been dragged into the present with all the up-to-the-minute technology of their A4 counterparts. This new pair of 5s finally gives Audi a full hand to play against their counterparts in the luxury coupe segment. But is it enough?

On the face of it, the A5 and S5 are just A4 platforms with a sexy coupe body welded on top. It’s a path well worn by manufacturers attempting to squeeze out a few more sales using parts they already have. No surprises there.

Yet the new Audi coupes have the means to provide more than just an A4-with-fewer-doors experience. A lighter body that also cuts through the air more cleanly and a lower, stiffer suspension could make the A5/S5 a more engaging drive experience.

Or not.

Even though styling can start more arguments than just about any component of a car, this coupe is one of Audi’s better efforts to date. It doesn’t look as if Audi got out the scanner and copied the previous model, which is more than can be said of the A4 sedan and wagon. It’s beautifully put together too, with tight panel gaps and a finish that is exemplary.

That theme continues inside. You won’t see any rough edges in here. The materials are high quality stuff put together with Teutonic precision and detail.

It’s mostly A4 gear of course, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The 8.3-inch infotainment screen standing proud of the dash looks wrong at first but you soon forget that as you discover how easy it is to see and use.

The controls on the centre stack give you a few different ways to tackle the screen menu and that plus the optional virtual cockpit and head-up display make driving much less distracting. You get key info you need at a glance (just about wherever you glance) especially when using the satnav.

The front seats are well suited for the semi-sporting nature of the car. They are not race buckets but they hold you in place comfortably for the highway cruise and keep you from sliding around when stringing together your favourite set of twisties.

There’s enough space here to put your stuff too: two centre-console cupholders and a shallow lidded centre console cubby plus ample door pockets allow enough room for the needs of hydration, alimentation and such.

Getting into the back is never going to be a graceful exercise in a low-slung coupe, but with the A5/S5 it’s not as bad as some. But it’s definitely a two-plus-two coupe once you’re seated, with rear headroom and legroom at a premium.

The seats themselves are well shaped but you’re sitting close to the floor and in the inevitable knees-up position. Drink holders, narrow storage pockets and netted front seat back pockets round off the back-seat story.

The boot is shallow but deep and wide, with a large opening. The rear seat drops down to add storage space.

We drove the 2.0 TFSI S tronic quattro out from the maze of Porto’s spaghetti junctions and into the hills. The turbo four is docile for slow-speed work and gets into the meat of its torque curve without having to wait forever for the turbo to spool up.

Playing with the drive select modes (with the three cars we drove, all had the CDC adaptive dampers fitted), the 2.0 TFSI goes from a docile tourer in Comfort or Auto modes to a frenetic, eager sports car in Dynamic.

In Dynamic, the quick throttle response, firm damper settings and steering feel and eager transmission combine to make the A5 engaging. This was particular apparent on the looping sections of tarmac south-east of Porto near Nesperiera.

All-wheel drive grip made launching out of rain-soaked corners much easier and quicker than the rear-drive competition could ever manage. The steering’s variable ratio steering rack comes into its own on tighter bends, making the steering feel more direct and responsive.

The 2.0 engine is a willing companion on such a drive for its raucous yet smooth, high-revving nature. The 2.0 TFSI quattro is above all, a balanced package.

The A5 3.0 TDI’s V6 diesel is a sweet engine with a solid punch thanks to a 620Nm mound of torque that is shoveled on early in the rev range.

At full noise the 210kW diesel A5 spins smoothly to around 4700rpm before the eight-speed tiptronic automatic gearbox whips into a higher gear. Speaking of noise, the gruff V6 diesel is not nearly as melodious as a good petrol V6. And the extra weight of the 3.0 TDI engine over the 2.0 TFSI is obvious when you start to dial in some lock in tight corners.

The S5 is the heavy-hitter of the new range with its new 260kW/500Nm EA838 turbo V6.

On the freeway it doesn’t disappoint with its handy knack of reeling in hundreds of metres of tarmac in a sudden rush. Indeed, there doesn’t seem to be anywhere in the rev range that this engine likes to have a nap. It responds to a prod at the accelerator without hesitation, and spins out to meet its redline with enthusiasm.

The eight-speed tiptronic, like in the 3.0 TDI, has the knack of finding the right gear at the right time without a judder or fluffed shift in sight. That said, it’s clear that while the S5 has the grip of all-wheel drive and sticky Hankook 255/35R19 tyres, it doesn’t have the overall balance of the 2.0 TFSI.

Quicker between corners, but not as involving in them…

The A5 and S5 are smarter, lighter and more efficient than their predecessors. This all points to a success in the market Audi Australia sorely needs as the luxury market continues to heat up.

They can’t arrive soon enough and yet in contrast to how some marques are fast-tracking new models, Audi Australia will have to wait until midway through next year.

When the time comes for local release, the smart money will be on the 2.0 TFSI quattro for its balanced feel. Again, it’s a case of less is more…

2017 Audi A5 2.0 TFSI pricing and specifications:
Price: $TBA
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 185kW/370Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 5.9L/100km (NEDC)
CO2: 136g/km (NEDC)
Safety Rating: n/a

2017 Audi A5 3.0 TDI pricing and specifications:
Price: $TBA
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel
Output: 210kW/620Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: n/a
CO2: n/a
Safety Rating: n/a

2017 Audi S5 pricing and specifications:
Price: $TBA
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo-petrol
Output: 260kW/500Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.3L/100km (NEDC)
CO2: 166g/km (NEDC)
Safety Rating: n/a

Also consider:
>> BMW 4 Series (from $70,000 plus ORCs)
>> Lexus RC Coupe (from $65,610 plus ORCs)
>> Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe (from $65,900 plus ORCs)