What Car Shoppers Need to Know
- The Audi A5 is a compact luxury sedan with a rear hatch in place of a traditional trunk lid; the S5 is its performance derivative.
- All-wheel drive is standard.
- Pricing starts at $51,495 (all prices include a $1,295 destination charge).
Originally offered as a fastback version of the A4 sedan called the Sportback, the A5 has now replaced its forebear; the A4 was discontinued after the 2025 model year. Audi redesigned the A5 and its high-performance sibling, the S5, for 2025. The pair are now longer, taller and wider than the previous generation, riding on a longer wheelbase that results in a more spacious interior.
What’s New for 2026?
The A5 and S5 were all-new just last year, but Audi has refined their in-car tech for 2026. The brand updated the graphics in the cars’ Digital Stage infotainment screen, aiming to make them more closely mirror those in the myAudi smartphone app. Bluetooth headphones can now be paired with the available front-passenger display, allowing that occupant to stream video or game while other passengers listen to separate media over the car’s speakers. A dashcam is also now available, and Audi has updated the steering-wheel-mounted controls for the digital instrument panel: Previously touchpads, the controls revert to the scroll wheels Audi has used in the past.
Pricing
Both the A5 and S5 are available in three trim levels. The following prices are correct as of July 2026 (manufacturers sometimes change a vehicle’s pricing over the course of a model year):
A5
- Premium: $51,495
- Premium Plus: $53,995
- Prestige: $57,995
S5
- Premium: $64,595
- Premium Plus: $67,495
- Prestige: $72,195
Trims and Features
Standard equipment is largely the same between each trim level of the A5 and S5. Safety technologies included on the base Premium trims include forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, emergency steering assist, front and rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system.
Premium
The A5 Premium rides on 18-inch wheels and features LED head- and taillights, as well as a power liftgate. Inside, you’ll find leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel and three-zone automatic climate control. Cabin tech includes an 11.9-inch digital instrument panel and 14.5-inch touchscreen.
Premium Plus
Step up to the A5 Premium Plus and you’ll get upgraded exterior lighting with signature daytime running lights and dynamic turn signals, a panoramic moonroof with electrochromic variable tint, a Bang & Olufsen audio system and a dashcam.
Prestige
On the range-topping Prestige trim level, the headlights are further upgraded to Audi’s Matrix-design LEDs with selectable daytime running light signatures and organic light-emitting diode taillights. This trim also includes ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and rear-seat window shades. The Prestige gains more tech features, too, including an enhanced Bang & Olufsen sound system with front head restraint speakers, a head-up display, a 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen, front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking, and automated parking.
S5
In addition to the features listed above, every S5 trim level adds a sport suspension, 19-inch wheels and red brake calipers. To the A5 Premium’s equipment, the entry-level S5 Premium adds metal pedals and the upgraded exterior lighting from the A5 Premium Plus. The Bang & Olufsen audio system with head restraint speakers enters the S5 at the Premium Plus trim level, while the S5 Prestige gains adaptive dampers.
Powertrains and Fuel Economy
The A5 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 268 horsepower and 295 pounds-feet of torque, while the S5 gets a turbo 3.0-liter V-6 with 362 hp and 406 pounds-feet. Both are backed by a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard AWD.
The A5 trails many competitors’ when it comes to fuel-economy ratings even when those competitors are fitted with AWD; its rivals’ (usually standard) rear-wheel-drive configurations open an even wider lead over the Audi. The S5 flips the script, returning better fuel economy than most of its rivals with the exception of the BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe.
|
Trim |
Powertrain |
City MPG |
Highway MPG |
Combined MPG |
|
A5 |
268-hp, turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder |
22 |
32 |
26 |
|
S5 |
362-hp, turbo 3.0-liter V-6 |
20 |
29 |
23 |
Interior
These Audis’ cabins are handsomely designed and constructed from high-quality materials. With this generation’s longer body and increased wheelbase, 6-foot-1 Road Test Editor Brian Normile fit comfortably in the backseat with the front seat adjusted for his driving position; he did, however, note that anyone taller than him would find a shortage of headroom in back. The rear hatch makes for generous cargo room, though, with a wide opening and a low load floor.
Audi’s updates to the A5 and S5 for 2026 address one of our few gripes with these cars: The touch-sensitive pads on the steering wheel were distracting, and it wasn’t hard to accidentally press them in the course of normal driving. Those pads have been replaced by scroll wheels for 2026, which will likely solve that problem.
Versus the Competition
Audi’s compacts are some of the best sports sedans in their class. Two of their strongest rivals are the traditional ones: the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The BMW is slightly more engaging to drive — and vastly more efficient — and it has a tidier cabin. The C-Class has a more expressive interior design than either the Audi or the BMW, but its traditional sedan roofline doesn’t translate into as much added headroom in the backseat as you might expect. A generous list of standard equipment and a lower price make the Genesis G70 a compelling alternative, too.
Do We Like the Audi A5 and S5?
The Audi A5 and S5 embody most everything we look for in a luxury sports sedan. They ride comfortably but are still fun on a twisty road. Both are sufficiently powerful, and their cabins are surprisingly roomy — and while their spacious cargo holds are less surprising, they’re no less welcome. Standard AWD also makes the duo particularly attractive to buyers who regularly cope with inclement weather.
