Are the Audi A5 and S5 Good Compact Luxury Sedans?
- The redesigned 2025 A5 and S5 are exceptionally good luxury sedans. Both are roomy, handle well, and have at least adequate power and mostly excellent tech. The touch-sensitive steering wheel and door-panel controls are frustrating, however.
How Do the Audi A5 and S5 Compare With Other Compact Luxury Sedans?
- The A5 may trail the Genesis G70’s base engine in power a bit, but it feels more refined, and the S5 has enough get-up-and-go to keep up with other mid-level sports sedans. Both Audis have excellent, luxurious interiors and technology that match or best anything from competitors.
The redesigned 2025 Audi A5 and S5 replace both the previous A5 and the A4 family of sedans — which are both also being sold as 2025 models. Confusing? We think so. But here’s what you need to know: The new A5 and S5 have “more” than their predecessors in just about every way, including physical size, power and technology. Does that mean the new 2025 A5 and S5 are better than the two model lines they’re replacing?
To find out, I headed to Colorado to drive them on open highways and snow-lined mountain roads (per Cars.com’s ethics policy, we pay for our travel and lodging costs when attending such manufacturer-sponsored events).
Related: All-New 2025 Audi A5 Replaces Previous A5 and A4
In this review, assume that I’m talking about the new 2025 A5 and S5 unless specifically stated otherwise. The new sedans use a new platform, dubbed Premium Platform Combustion, that embiggens the car in pretty much every dimension: The 2025 A5 and S5 are wider, taller, longer and have a longer wheelbase than their predecessors. Both new sedans also have more power, with the A5’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder now making 268 horsepower and 295 pounds-feet of torque, increases of 7 hp and 22 pounds-feet. The S5, meanwhile, retains a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 with 362 hp and 406 pounds-feet of torque, which is up 13 hp and 37 pounds-feet. The other major change is the addition of the new Audi Digital Stage infotainment suite, which incorporates an 11.9-inch digital instrument panel and a new 14.5-inch center touchscreen.
This review is based on my experience with the top Prestige trim levels of the 2025 A5 and S5. The as-tested price of the A5 I drove was $58,840, while the S5 came to $73,940 (all prices include a $1,295 destination fee).
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How Are the New Interiors of the 2025 Audi A5 and S5?
The biggest news, to me, is that both the A5 and S5 are luxury compact sedans that let me actually fit in the backseat with the front seat adjusted to my driving position. The added length and longer wheelbase, along with increased height, turn the backseat from a penalty box to a usable space for adults. I’m 6-foot-1, and I used all of the available headroom in the back (thank you, sloping roofline), but I prefer that to having my legs squished.
The dramatic interior improvements in both models don’t stop with just increased space; the new Audi Digital Stage is a massive improvement over the previous screen tech. We always prefer physical climate controls, which the prior A5 and S5 had, but the dedicated and easy-to-use climate-control bar at the bottom of the center touchscreen is much better than what Audi uses in some of its models: a secondary touchscreen that was also a fingerprint and smudge magnet. Dynamic interior lighting provides visual cues for safety systems and car actions — green lights appear to indicate a turn signal, for instance — and they’re a helpful visual cue so you don’t accidentally leave that turn signal on.
Materials quality is excellent in both the A5 and S5, with the A5 a more traditionally luxurious space with wood accents while the S5 replaces the wood with carbon fiber and adds simulated-suede trim. The sportier front seats in the S5 were a bit too aggressively bolstered for my tastes and not as comfortable for longer driving as the A5’s seats. There’s more cargo space by Audi’s measurements — we still need to measure the cargo area using our methodology — but anecdotally, it seems extremely usable in an almost hatchback-like way, and the low load floor and wide opening are significant pluses.
The A5 and S5 interiors also have some quirky features. An available 10.9-inch front passenger display is one of the most obvious, and it’s frustratingly visible in certain situations while driving. I’d much prefer this secondary screen remain hidden from the driver at all times. The available panoramic glass roof with variable light control is also a very interesting choice. Rather than opening, the panel’s transparency is adjustable; it’s a fun party trick, but I’d rather have the option of fresh air. Most aggravating, however, are the touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel and driver’s door. The controls are clumsier than physical buttons, switches and knobs, and the steering-wheel controls are prone to inadvertent activation while driving, which can be frustrating and distracting.
How Does the 2025 Audi A5 Drive?
Powertrain upgrades are less dramatic, but they give the A5 a refined and capable engine that’s more than enough for a daily driver, even if it doesn’t have class-leading power. Power figures are roughly mid-pack for the class, and while the A5’s 268 hp and 295 pounds-feet of torque represent a modest improvement over previous models, the refinement of its turbo four-cylinder is more impressive.
The A5’s longer wheelbase also contributes to a more comfortable ride, with excellent isolation inside the cabin — even with a conventional steel-spring suspension. Steering and suspension enhancements make the driving experience more engaging, but the A5 is at its best as a comfortable cruiser, not as a sports sedan.
How Does the 2025 Audi S5 Drive?
That’s where the S5 comes in. With 362 hp and 406 pounds-feet of torque from its turbo 3.0-liter V-6, the S5 hustles up and down mountain roads easily. A manufacturer-estimated 4.3-second 0-60 mph time feels achievable if not beatable. Audi’s steering and suspension enhancements here allow for a much more confident driving experience, with significantly increased feel and communication. The available adaptive suspension that was on the car I drove still retains a measure of comfort, too, even in its most aggressive setting.
The S5 is meant to be a bridge between the comfortable A5 and a (currently hypothetical) RS 5 high-performance variant, and it’s at the center of the Venn diagram of Audi models: regular models on the left, RS models on the right and S models in between.
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- All-New 2026 Audi A6: Refining a Sports Sedan Favorite
- Shop for a 2025 Audi A5 Near You
Are the 2025 Audi A5 and S5 Better?
So, are the bigger, all-new 2025 A5 and S5 better than their predecessors? The answer is an emphatic yes. The consolidation of model lines into one capable liftback sedan lineup feels smart in this SUV-heavy era, and the larger Premium Platform Combustion architecture provides a host of improvements. The price you pay for those improvements is some confounding controls, but it’s worth it.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
