2025 Audi A5

I may be old school, an old fool, an old dude or possibly an old prude, but sitting behind the wheel of a luxury-inspired sedan gets my internal combustion engine churning. 

Sedans enjoy strong eye appeal combined with deft handling (compared with a majority of larger Sport Utility Vehicles) and deliver a civilized, grownup, behind the wheel experience. Unfortunately, sedans remain precariously difficult to spot on many new-car vehicle lots since domestic giants General Motors, Ford and Stellantis have retired this once proud body style to the automotive equivalent of a glue factory (used car lots). Fortunately, German importers keep the sedan spirit alive, and in our case today, with a twist. 

Volkswagen's upscale Audi division, in particular, promotes a healthy number of sedans and sedan look-a-likes sporting 'A' or higher performance 'S' prefixes. The S denotes versions upgraded with a larger engine and tweaked suspension. Anytime a Q prefix appears, that indicates a crossover body style within the Audi lineup.  

Audi markets its totally revamped, third-generation 2025 A5 as a mid-size luxury SEDAN, with extra value lurking inside and constructed from the company's Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture. Step to the rear and pop open the backside to the wonderment of a roof-hinged liftback design, with the decklid and rear window opening upward together to provide easier access to the storage region. Just remember, Audi for 2025 promotes this design as a sedan, not a liftback. 

From a side profile, the 2025 A5 exudes traditional exterior sedan styling with little hint of a wagon versatility hiding in plain sight. Audi also markets a mid-size A6 sedan (with a 'true trunk'), measuring in as the girthier of the mid-size pair. The A5 debuted in the 2008 model year with a second-generation climbing onboard in 2018.  

With a wheelbase (distance between front and rear axle) stretched 2.6 inches and the overall length 2.9 inches from 2024, expect wider, taller and longer overall dimensions within this third-generation A5 effort. Rear-seat travelers now enjoys an inch of extra leg room although for all intents and purposes, two adults ride and fit with optimal comfort.  

Available sedans/liftbacks here in the States for 2025 include Audi's A3, A5, A6 and A8 along with S3, S5, and S8. Audi discontinued the slightly smaller, compact-like A4 sedan at the start of the 2025 model year and invite current/former A4 clients to step right into redesigned A5. 

A high side belt line, narrow side windows framed with chrome-like elegance and a long 45-degree-angle back window connecting up with a short deck lid work to create a strong sporty coupe-like profile. The backside's power-operated design includes an inside button on the hatch underside to ease closing. With rear seats prone, A5 accommodates a humongous 22.6 cubic feet of space (compared to a conventional mid-size sedan boasting approximately 15 cubic feet). Fold second-row seats semi flat, and cargo volume swells to a sedan-envy 36.6 cubic feet.  

The Audi A5 is not the only bulb in the box combining sedan svelte with a family-friendly 'sportback' backside. Toyota's mainstream Crown also includes a liftback tail with a sedan-like exterior.  

The A5 includes three high-volume 2025 trim level selections, Premium, mid-grade Premium Plus and top-line Prestige. This exact trim level pattern adorns the extra-potent S5 sedan. 

All three A5 trims power via a well-tested 2.0-liter, turbocharged inline four cylinder cranking out 268 horsepower while the S5 trims opts for a 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 upping output to 362 horsepower. Both engines appear in the Q5 crossover and upcoming A6 offerings.  

The 14.8-gallon tank recommends premium-octane fuel for peak engine results. Fuel economy within the A5's four-cylinder turbo exceeds 30 miles per gallon (31 to be exact) while city mpg's list at 22 average for a mid-size four-cylinder engine.  

Audi's Midwest-friendly all-wheel drive system (branded as 'Quattro') arrives standard in all A5 and S5 trims combining with a seven-speed, performance-inspired dual-clutch transmission. All 2025 A5s promote traditional internal combustion engines with no gas-electric hybrid, pure electric vehicle or Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PHEV) variants as of yet. 

In the early 1980s, Audi popularized 'all-wheel drive' with the debut of 'Quattro'. Prior to Quattro all-wheel drive, four-wheel drive operating with heavy transfer case underpinnings dominated road-gripping mechanics. Quattro (or all-wheel drive) simplified the process of sending power to both axles with minimal input from drivers through electronic sensors. Now, just about every manufacturer offers up their own version of all-wheel drive.  

The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (which Audi markets as 'S Tronic') blends together the worlds of manual and automatic transmissions providing lightning quick gear movement with no interruptions in propulsion power. This parallel gearbox design requires no foot clutch mandated within the manual transmission world while eliminating the heavy torque converter required within conventional automatics. Clutch one handles odd gears (1,3,5,7) while the second clutch tackles even ones (2,4,6) plus reverse. From a layman's point of view, little to no audible interruption to the power flow is detectible, resulting in smooth acceleration especially from a stand still. It's an upgrade from a traditional automatic transmission and a performance improvement from the less-exciting sluggish continuously variable transmissions (CVTs). For those enjoying a precise glide with upgraded performance, it's the top transmission design available.  

Our tester's starting price checked in at $49,700. A smattering of stand-alone options included premium grade gray metallic exterior paint ($595) and 19-inch, five-arm, bi-color finish wheels ($800). The lengthy Premium Package ($6,450) and $1,295 destination charge brought the bottom line up to $58,840.  

Among niceties within the $6,450 prestige package: headlight washers, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, ventilated front sport seats and enhanced radar cruise control keeping A5 a safe distance from the highway car ahead by automatically slowing and speeding the car.  

The green-tinted head's up display also a Prestige trim element projects onto the windshield rates 85 percent larger than in 2024. Also part of the Prestige package/trim; a creative electrochromic sunroof design allowing different degrees of sunlight light to enter the cabin. While the roof remains permanently sealed, the glass panel orders up with different light-blocking degrees of shading and options. A ceiling button near the rear-view mirror moves forward, rearward (reducing and increasing the clear surface with tints) and pushes in when opting for different panel-like tinted rectangular patterns.  

The Prestige package also includes built-in headrest speakers providing another dimension within the Bang & Olufsen 3D sound Audio navigation prompts may also play through these visually hidden speakers.  

The electronic transmission shifter between front buckets offers a unique design. No large mechanical grab handle slides fore and aft to select PRN or D. Instead, a small square-like plug travels forward and back within a narrow track with a gentle tug of the thumb and forefinger. Park summons from a push of a button just ahead of the track. To the side, a pair of inline beverage holders. Ahead resides a circular, electronic push-button start/stop far enough away from steering column interference. Flanking the east end, one of the few dials found inside monitoring on/off/volume of the touch screen along with a left/right wiggle function when selecting new music options. The steering wheel's 3 O'clock wing includes secondary audio controls featuring a feathered-touch option requiring just a brush of a fingertip when adjusting sound or station selection. In between, a mode button selecting one of three selections (comfort, dynamic, individual), traction control/engine start/stop deactivation and the red hazard button. A rear center arm rest top folds up and back out of play (if desired) revealing an unobstructed small storage tray.  

The prominent, wide, narrow 14.5-inch Multi Media Interface (MMI) center screen extends up from the center dash flowing seamlessly into the left-side 11.9-inch digital instrument screen. The two black backgrounds combine into one gently curved wall of information creating a virtual cockpit experience. The bright-colored, touch-sensitive, swipable infotainment side includes a three-panel home screen with eight quick access buttons constantly displayed to the far right including a four-square access button displaying than 25 iconed commands. It's nesting technology requiring a bit of a learning curve so plan plenty of practice time. The HVAC commands, built into the center screen's bottom row, utilize press-sensitive icons monitoring fan speed, direction and front dual-zone temperature. This MMI also works with voice commands for those tech savvy folks.  

Prestige trims arrives with yet another sizeable flat, passenger 10.9-inch touch screen built into the dash region above the glove box. This swipable and pinch-and-zoom palate provides shotgun riders access to a vertical, left-side touch-sensitive menu to order up terrestrial and satellite radio stations and you tube video tutorials, navigation maps, video games and other selections.  

At the very bottom of the central dash and fore of the transmission shifter resides a cove serving as an angled resting and built-in Qi charging spot for a single Smartphone along with a pair of Type C USB electronic plug ports and 12-volt outlet. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Smartphone interface arrives standard welcoming all phone downloads to work in tandem within the multi-function MMI screen.  

An LED color lightbar runs the length of the lower windshield where the glass meets the dash, offering multiple color choices found within the center multi-function screen. It's active in the sense that the edges blink in time with the turn signal indicators when summoned. Mood lighting finds its way onto doors and front inline beverage holders. A wonderful low-tech blast from the past includes a small, light green digital directions (N,S, E, W) built into the rearview mirrors upper right corner to better monitor the vehicle's approximate direction with a simple, highly effective glace.  

Exterior doors feature a flush-mounted design with an inside, electronically-enhanced frame quietly unlatching the door with a gentle squeeze. Up front long narrow headlight housing divides into a top and bottom region with the top promoting the programable 'dancing' daytime running light parade flashing artfully in piano-keyed patterned sequences within the Prestige trim. Below reside slightly larger LED bulbs for optimal nighttime driving illumination. The light structures flank a prominent black hexagonal grille with honeycomb fill atop and the four-ringed logo front and center.  

In back, a long, narrow, LED-enhanced red light strip travels East and West, from end to end, positioned under diminutive, Maxtrix-like taillight artistry. Both front and back enjoy advanced lighting design. The rear's 'movement of lighting' aesthetics employs 360 tiny light segments with their three-dimensional dance when locking and unlocking the vehicle.  

Audi's four interconnected horizontal ringed logo represents a union of four different automotive brands (Audi, Horch, Wanderer, DKW) that merged together in 1932 creating, at that time, the Auto Union. When financial troubles arose following World War II, Auto Union was bought and sold to multiple suiters, eventually acquired by Germany's Volkswagen in 1964 which updated and truncated the company name simply to Audi. In 2025, the Volkswagen Group not only includes Audi, but other European name plates including Bentley, Porche, Lamborghini, Skoda and Seat.  

When summoning the brakes during a hard stop, expect minimal front nosedive upfront while keeping in control. Steering remains light and sharp while a whisper-quiet interior welcomes all riders. The A5 weighs in with lighter poundage than conventional crossovers or sport utility vehicles enhancing the driving experience baked into traditional sedans. Supportive knee extenders build into contoured sport seats adding a degree of comfort for those long, inseamed individuals. Sedan-like ground clearance (lower than traditional crossovers) adds to the A5's on-road flair. It's a daily driver that pampers occupants.  

2025 Audi A5 Prestige  
Price as tested: $58,840 
Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four 
Horsepower: 268 
Torque: 295 lb.-ft.  
Wheelbase: 113.8 inches 
Overall Length: 190.1 inches 
Overall Width: 73.2 inches 
Overall Height: 57.0 inches 
Curb Weight: 4,090 pounds 
Powertrain warranty: Four years/50,000 miles 
Fuel Economy: 22 mpg city/ 31 mpg highway 
Assembly: Neckarsulm, Germany