The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Slippery looks
- Great turbo power
- Balanced chassis
- Comfy ride
Dislikes
- Boring base engine
- Small trunks in two-door versions
- Can get quite pricey
- Too subtle? Maybe
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2024 Audi A5 range blends svelte style with turbocharged punch and a high-tech cabin.
What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Audi A5? What does it compare to?
Audi’s sleek hatchback, coupe, and convertible lineup ranges from mild A5 to ghost pepper RS5. Don’t miss these cars, and shop them against the BMW 4-Series and perhaps the Lexus IS.Â
Is the 2024 Audi A5 a good car/SUV?
The A5 is a solid choice, though its basic underpinnings are starting to show their age. The svelte coupes and convertibles are gorgeous playtoys, while the Sportback hatchbacks blend utility with style. The range scores 6.8 out of 10 overall. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 Audi A5?
All versions of the A5 now come with adaptive cruise control, active lane control, parking sensors, and a heated steering wheel. Most versions also now include navigation and remote engine start.
The A5 range actually includes a wide range of models including the sporty A5, the sportier S5, and the much sportier RS5. Coupes and convertibles fill a third-car role admirably. As daily drivers, they’re comfy enough. They’re not that practical—but boy are they pretty, with muscular, haunches and clean detailing. Sportback versions are worth the upcharge over the A4 range for their styling alone, with a long roof that arches gracefully toward the rear bumper.
Inside, the look is pure A4 with a simple, clean dash and a touchscreen perched up high. Skip all-black trim for warm brown hues to add some much-needed personality inside.
Engines depend on body styles, though all models send power to each corner via an automatic transmission.Â
Base A5 40 TFSI versions put out a modest 201 hp. Budget for the A5 45 TFSI with its 261-hp turbo-4, which includes mild-hybrid tech to eke out slightly better fuel economy. The S5 models use a turbocharged V-6 for a hearty 349 hp. Opt for the hot-rod RS5 and you’ll find a healthy 444 hp. That’s not a match for top offerings from BMW and Benz, but it’s plenty of power.
No version shies away from sporty driving, but those with S in the name amp up with sharper handling and a firmer ride. RS5 models are stiff but not punishing. Adaptive dampers are worth the extra cost where available.Â
Fuel economy ranges, though the best models can nudge 30 mpg combined.Â
Inside, look for great front seats and so-so space rearward, unless you opt for the Sportback. That model’s nearly as practical as Audi’s own A4 Allroad, albeit with better fuel economy and handling (and a lower price).Â
All models have a good touchscreen and approachable tech, post a short learning curve.
With this year’s addition of adaptive cruise control, every A5 is a decidedly safe and relaxing choice.Â
How much does the 2024 Audi A5 cost?
The A5 starts at about $46,600 in its cheapest form. We’d spend up for the more powerful 4-cylinder that costs a reasonable $2,200 more (and includes bigger wheels that look great). Better yet, go for the S5 at $57,895, which delivers thrilling performance without guzzling too much fuel.
Where is the 2024 Audi A5 made?
In Germany.Â2024 Audi A5 Styling
The 2024 Audi A5 range boasts slippery exterior styling paired with a staid cabin.
Is the Audi A5 a good-looking car?
Oh yes. There’s no bad-looking version here. But the A5 earns its 7 out of 10 based on two points above average for its exterior. Its interior lacks the exterior’s verve.Â
There are three A5 shapes on offer: coupe, convertible, and five-door Sportback. Coupes have a classically beautiful look, with a fairly big greenhouse for a sporty model and a long hood that gives them rear-drive proportions. Convertibles are much the same, and work wonderfully with the roof tucked away.Â
Sportbacks are on their own thanks to a long, sloping roofline that gives way to a big mouth of a tailgate. They’re like old Saabs, only genuinely pretty.Â
Each version looks the same from the front with a big shield of a grille borrowed from the A4. Wheel designs similarly lean heavily on the A4.Â
Be sure to pick a pretty color. Audi offers a lot, and they’re not terribly expensive.Â
Inside, the A5 is all A4, and that’s just fine. Nothing more. The 10.1-inch touchscreen perched high on the dash looks like an afterthought. At least Audi isn’t shy about including extra buttons and knobs for climate controls here; other Audi models go touchscreen-only.
2024 Audi A5 Performance
Base version aside, the 2024 Audi A5 range delivers terrific performance.
There are plenty of Audi A5 configurations out there, each with its own level of power. We rate the range at 7 out of 10 thanks to great acceleration in most versions and a great balance between ride and handling.Â
Is the Audi A5 4WD?
Yes. All versions come with all-wheel drive.
How fast is the Audi A5?
Forget about the base 2.0-liter turbo-4 called 40 TFSI. That version has just 201 hp, which isn’t enough to provide many thrills. The 45 TFSI version ups the ante to 261 hp and includes fuel-saving mild-hybrid tech. It’s good for a mid-five-second sprint to 60 mph, which is enough for most drivers.
These versions use a 7-speed automatic transmission that works quite well. They’re a bit softer than other models, but still plenty fun to drive on a curvy road.Â
S5 models use a 349-hp turbocharged V-6 that works brilliantly with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. RS5 versions adopt a genuinely high-performance 2.9-liter V-6 rated at 444 hp. They can hit 60 mph in under 4 seconds.Â
Add the optional adaptive dampers to the S5 and you’ll see an improvement in ride quality. They’re standard on the RS5, which makes sense given that model’s big wheels and low-profile tires. We’re less interested in the optional variable steering, which allegedly adjusts to road conditions but winds up feeling too inconsistent.Â
Big brakes bring these cars to a quick halt. The carbon-ceramic setup on RS5s is tricky to modulate in traffic, though.
You could add the $16,000 Competition Package to the RS5, but its coilovers, beefier sway bars, and styling tweaks seem a bit too much for this kind of grand-touring car.
2024 Audi A5 Comfort & Quality
The 2024 Audi A5 can be an SUV alternative in Sportback form.
We rate the 2024 Audi A4 at 8 out of 10 for comfort and quality, but that figure applies to the practical Sportback with its huge trunk. Coupes and convertibles rate much lower, which isn’t surprising since they prioritize fun over utility.Â
Every one of these models has comfy front seats wrapped in leather with a wide range of power adjustments. RS5 versions have a lot of bolstering, though, which can make them too tight for broader drivers.Â
Rear-seat legroom peaks in Sportback form, even with the sloping roofline. Coupes and convertibles are an exceptionally tight fit, but that comes with the territory.Â
Sportbacks also earn a nod for their huge 22 cubic-foot trunks, which nearly double in size with the rear seatbacks folded. Consider how often you really need to haul a tall object, since the A5 Sportback has plenty of room for suitcases. Two-door versions are tight, though.
Standard leather adds appeal here, and all interior materials are pretty nice.
2024 Audi A5 Safety
The 2024 Audi A5 lineup touts some of the best tech and crash-test scores.
How safe is the Audi A5?
You’ve landed on a safe choice. The IIHS and the NHTSA agree. We rate the range at 8 out of 10 thanks to a five-star rating from the NHTSA, a Top Safety Pick score from the IIHS, and loads of crash-avoidance tech.Â
Curiously, coupes earn just four stars from the NHTSA, however.
Still, all versions have the expected array of automatic emergency braking and multiple airbags, and they top most luxury rivals with standard adaptive cruise control. Outward vision isn’t as good as in the A4 sedan, though.
2024 Audi A5 Features
Stay away from costly options and the Audi A5 range can be a decent buy.
The 2024 Audi A5 lineup starts well south of $50,000 but can stretch to double that with more power and luxuries. We focus on the more affordable end of the lineup, where a judiciously optioned A5 Sportback scores a 7 out of 10 thanks to decent infotainment tech and standard fare.Â
You’ll get a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone mirroring, leather seats with power adjustment and heating, a heated steering wheel, and a sunroof for $46,595 to start.Â
Opting for the 261-hp engine nudges the price to a still reasonable $48,795 for either a coupe or a Sportback. An equivalent convertible runs about $7,200 more.Â
All models have a luxury segment-typical 4-year/50,000-mile warranty.Â
Which Audi A5 should I buy?
If you’re content with 261 hp, the base Premium trim is a fine stopping point. The $4,000 for the Premium Plus trim adds uprated audio and a digital instrument cluster, plus a few other niceties.
We’d either stop with the A5 Premium or step up to the S5 at $57,895 with its far more potent 6-cylinder engine.Â
How much is a fully loaded Audi A5?
The RS5 runs just shy of $80,000 in Sportback form (and slightly less as a coupe), but adding the Competition Package with its carbon-ceramic brakes and a few other bits can push it to over $100,000.
2024 Audi A5 Fuel Economy
The 2024 Audi A5 can be frugal so long as you stick with the base turbo-4.
Is the Audi A5 good on gas?
It could be worse. Sportback models are thriftiest. The EPA says to look for 26 mpg city, 35 highway, 30 combined in the cheapest form. That’s almost economy car-efficient, and it scores a 4 on our scale.Â
Other versions use more premium fuel. Look for 21/30/24 mpg in S5 guise, though convertibles are slightly less efficient. The RS5 rates 21 mpg combined, which is decent given how much power they put out.
