2010 Audi A5

Audi's A5 coupe and convertible earn some of the most favorable styling reviews from TheCarConnection.com and around the Web. Automobile calls it a "Design of the Year," while Jalopnik thinks the hardtop is "simply smashing." The A5's "proportions will please the dandy, sate the sports-car enthusiast, and offend no one," Car and Driver believes, while Edmunds deems it "curvaceous yet muscular." It's no different for the Cabriolet, despite the missing roofline; as Edmunds observes, "There are certain convertibles in which the sun seems to shine a little brighter," and it names the A5 as that convertible. Car and Driver says "there are absolutely no surprises when it comes to the cab's styling: it looks exactly how an A5 sans roof should look," as it admires how "the coupe's beautiful body lines remain pretty much unfettered." Automobile raves,
"as gorgeous as the A5 looks in hardtop form, it looks even better as a convertible," while Motor Trend simply notes the new "Cabriolets offer handsome styling, whether the top's up or down."

The A5's cockpit is equal to the sheetmetal's high design standard. Inside, the 2010 Audi A5/Cabriolet feels lavish and luxurious, with high-grade materials and plenty of attention to small details like the finely graded instruments and the light grace notes of metallic trim on switches and buttons. ConsumerGuide says the interior is "more sporty than luxurious," while Cars.com points out "the A5 has an extensive range of materials to choose from, including two-tone leather/Alcantara seats and aluminum, wood or piano-black dashboard trim." Automobile is of the mind that, "When you open the door [you] find one of the best interiors offered today, for any car at any price." They add, the A5 "a classy driving environment-functional and comfortable, cool but not overstyled."

The larger engine is a 265-horsepower, 3.2-liter V-6, and it moves the A5 with authority. It doesn't feel particularly responsive, but it's very quick and unruffled as it pushes the A5 to 60 mph in about 6 seconds. It's offered only with all-wheel drive and the six-speed automatic. Edmunds says "the spirited V-6 provides likewise eager response," though elsewhere, they call it "a pretty relaxed piece of work," well-suited to the Cabriolet. In this configuration, the Washington Post applauds the Audi's "silky six-speed automatic transmission" that adds paddle shifting when teamed with the optional S-line package. Comparing the two powertrains, Motor Trend picks the turbo four with all-wheel drive as the "ultimate all-around option."

The 2010 Audi A5/Cabriolet can be expected to get reasonable fuel economy. It's certainly no fuel miser, but neither is it a guzzler. EPA estimates rate the automatic-equipped 2009 A5 at 17 mpg city, 26 highway. Premium fuel is required by Audi.

Hushed, capable engine performance pairs well with the A5's ride and handling. They're tuned more for serenity than taut feel. Steering is light and accurate, though a little slow and without much feedback. The composed ride absorbs most bumps easily, but tackles corners with less enthusiasm. TheCarConnection.com's test car had the base suspension and four-cylinder/CVT combination and still felt nimble enough for most casual drivers. Edmunds approves of the A5's "more relaxed gait," too, noting, "It's less eager to turn in than the coupe and it responds best to smooth, laid back inputs." ConsumerGuide reports, "Steering feel is responsive at higher speeds, but some testers complain that it's too light at low speeds." An S-line option package promises stiffer suspension settings and better handling, and the optional Drive Select feature allows the driver to tune the suspension, steering, and throttle response, which meets with mixed reviews in the 2010 Audi A4 also driven and studied by TheCarConnection.com. Braking is sure-footed and confidence-inspiring, according to various opinions researched for this review.

The A5's high shoulders give it a good-sized trunk, though, and the rear seat folds down for plenty of pass-through space. In the Cabriolet, "the trunk remains large and usable at 11.3 cubic feet," Car and Driver says, "and 50/50 split-folding rear seats help maintain some practicality." With the Coupe, "the trunk offers 16.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity (large for a sedan, let alone a coupe)," Edmunds reports, "and the rear seat flips down to accommodate more, if need be." A ski bag is standard.

The A5 affirms Audi's reputation for high-quality interiors. Surfaces have a low-gloss luster, and the cockpit shows the company's mastery of mixing plastic, leather, and wood in the right proportions. Automobile says it's "virtually impossible not to be impressed by this cockpit," while Edmunds asserts "typically Audi, the A5's cabin impresses with finely stitched leather, impeccable fit and finish and real wood trim (aluminum with the S-line package)."

Reviewers do note some points against the Audi in structural rigidity, but praise it for low road noise. It "doesn't feel as bad as some convertibles," Edmunds comments, "but you still sense tremors in the steering column and through the seat that would simply go unnoticed in the A5 coupe." Motor Trend observes that the convertible top "features a glass rear window" and says, "we were impressed with the Cabs' coupelike quietness."

A lane-departure warning system, a blind-spot warning system, radar-based cruise control, adaptive headlamps, and rear parking sensors are options on the A5 lineup.

As for visibility, it's "surprisingly good in all directions" in the A5 Coupe, notes ConsumerGuide. The optional rearview camera and reverse parking sensors mitigate any difficulties drivers may have with the A5 Coupe's somewhat thick roof pillars and small rear windshield.

As Automobile points out, "While competitors (we're looking at you, 3-series) have moved to heavy retractable hardtops, Audi's stuck with a traditional cloth top." The top itself is triple-lined and power-operated, and it cycles up or down in 15 seconds at speeds of up to 30 mph-so there's no excuse for leaving it up, even at stoplights. "Trendy buyers may scoff at Audi's decision not to cap the cabs with a rigid roof," Car and Driver observes, "but Audi makes a strong case, citing the soft top's speedy operation (top-down/top-up times are just 15 and 17 seconds, respectively), thick acoustic padding, and low weight"-not to mention "the whole matter of the expense, complication and weight of a metal hardtop," Edmunds chimes in. They applaud the top's operation, the "four different exterior colors and three different headliner colors" offered, and the fact that it "steals only 2.1 cubic feet away from the A5 cabriolet's 13.4 cubic feet of cargo capacity when it's retracted into the trunk."

Audi's Multi-Media Interface (MMI) has been updated for the new model year and controls navigation and Sirius Satellite Radio with more understandable logic and fewer spins of the console-mounted click-wheel controller. "Unlike its German rivals," Edmunds says, "Audi's controller is mostly intuitive and easy to use once you clear the still-steep learning curve." Cars.com finds that MMI remains a hurdle for new owners: "Thanks to more than a dozen shortcut buttons surrounding the knob, it's easier to use than BMW's similar iDrive, but uninitiated drivers may find it confusing."