
Textual content by Tom Appel
2025 Audi S5 Status quattro
Specs
Class: Premium Compact Automobile
Nation of Manufacture: Germany
Shade: 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 autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim degree evaluated, and should not replicate Client Information’s impressions of the complete mannequin lineup. | |
Huge & Tall Consolation | |
Huge Man | B- |
Tall Man | B |
Huge & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Huge” 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 automated |
Drive Wheels | AWD |
Noticed gasoline financial system: 18.9 mpg
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway
EPA-estimated gasoline financial system: 19/28/22 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)
Gas sort: Premium fuel
Base worth: $80,135 (not together with $1945 vacation spot cost)
Choices on take a look at automobile: Head-up show ($600), Adaptive Variable Suspension ($1045), energy operating boards ($1005), entrance skid plate ($385), sprint cam ($499), related providers (2 years) ($325), roof cross bars ($365)
Worth as examined: $86,304
Audio-System Model
Bang & Olufsen
Audio-System High quality
Poor Honest Good Very-Good Wonderful
Execs and Cons
The nice: Sporty, snug, luxurious
The great: Hatchback comfort, first rate rear-seat legroom
The not so good: Somber cabin lacks pleasure
Overview
You probably have grown connected in any approach to Audi’s conventional A4/A6/A8 lineup of premium sedans, we have now very unhealthy information for you. The German maker of sporty luxurious autos is juggling its lineup—and naming scheme—in such a approach that even model loyalist can be left scratching their heads.

Rebranding
The tip plan is that this: Audi gasoline-powered autos can 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 finally a line-wide branding scheme that may make discussing—and purchasing 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 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 supplied 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 type. Although, somewhat surprisingly, the brand new A5 retains the outdated 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 doubtlessly expensive 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 yr, the small sedan began at $45,395. The redesigned A5, now solely supplied 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—at the least in S5 trim—can be 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 outdated 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 “outdated” 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)
Take a look at Automobile
Client Information not too long ago spent per week behind the wheel of the 2025 Audi S5. Our Status take a look at automobile got here in Ascari Blue Metallic and was geared up with the Version One package deal. All informed, 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
By way of energy, the 2025 S5 is powered by a 362-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. This rather than 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 type of bummed that the A5/S5 has misplaced its particular place as a model design halo automobile of types. The A5 was as soon as meant to attracted buyers 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
Getting into the S5 reminds us that Audi as soon as led the trade by way of cabin design and common—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 bit of 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 the event 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 middle console touchscreen, and a ten.9-inch passenger-side touchscreen.
Controls
The passenger display screen permits front-seat co-pilots to entry numerous automobile features, together with navigation and media. We discovered all the screens vivid and straightforward to learn below most situations, and fast to answer inputs. We typically favor that local weather management not be included within the touchscreen-operated suite of features, however the S5 system is comprised of fastened controls which run alongside the underside of the display screen, and are simple sufficient to shortly manipulate.
Room and Consolation

Total, the S5 cabin is barely bigger than that of the outgoing A5/S5 Sportback, which suggests this large 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 essentially 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 a bit of extra really feel, we loved driving the compact Audi aggressively. Cornering lean is properly managed, and the robust brakes add to the motive force’s common sense of management. The turbocharged V6 is generally hushed, however emits an aesthetic snarl when pushed, as does the exhaust. Certainly, we might have appreciated a bit of extra exhaust noise, at the least throughout acceleration.
And, talking of noise, there may be little or no of it at freeway velocity. 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 stylish, 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 usually. 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 formidable substitute, boasting a bit of extra passenger house and a sexier profile. For a lot of luxurious sedan buyers, we suspect the “normal” A5 will match the invoice, however for fanatics on the lookout for additional commuting pleasure, we recommend placing the S5 in your test-drive brief record.

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2025 Audi S5 Photos
Click on under for enlarged photos