The A5 coupe and Cabriolet are aimed straight at their fellow two-door heartthrobs: the BMW 3 Series and Infiniti G37 coupe and convertible. The A5 seats four. Audi offers a performance version of the A5, the S5, that’s covered separately in the Research section.
New for 2012 A new leather color, Cinnamon Brown Milano, is available for Premium versions of the A5, and the Premium Plus model adds a memory feature for the driver’s seat and auto-dimming side mirrors. Adaptive headlights and a blind spot warning system are now included on Prestige models.
Exterior The A5 is instantly recognizable as an Audi, with the brand’s customary wide-mouth grille flanked by lower air intakes. The Cabriolet has a power folding canvas roof with thick acoustic fabric that keeps the interior as quiet as a hardtop, Audi says. Exterior features include:
Twin exhaust pipes
Standard 18-inch wheels
Optional 19-inch wheels
Optional LED taillights
Interior Audi’s Multi Media Interface system governs various functions, including the optional navigation system, with a central knob behind the gearshift. The system also features shortcut buttons surrounding the knob, but uninitiated drivers might still find it confusing.
The A5 has an extensive range of materials to choose from, including two-tone leather/Alcantara seats and several decorative interior trim options. Interior features include:
Standard automatic climate control
Standard MP3 jack
Standard leather seats
Optional three-zone automatic climate control
Optional Bang & Olufsen stereo
Under the Hood All A5s use a 211-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The coupe comes only with all-wheel drive and either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. The Cabriolet is available with front-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission or all-wheel drive and the eight-speed automatic.
In normal conditions, the all-wheel-drive system channels 60 percent of power to the rear wheels. With the manual transmission, Audi says the A5 can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in about 6 seconds. Mechanical features include:
211-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 258 pounds-feet of torque
Uses premium gas
Available Audi Drive Select Package, which includes adaptive suspension dampers and a dynamic steering system
Safety Standard safety features include:
Side-impact airbags for front seats
Side curtain airbags for both rows of seats (coupe)
