Test Car Specifications
Model: 2025 Audi A5 Saloon 2.0 TFSI 150
Price: A5 Saloon from £42,675
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol
Transmission: seven-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Power: 150hp
Torque: 280Nm
Emissions: 153-169g/km
Economy: 38.2-42.2mpg
0-62mph: 9.8 seconds
Top speed: 134mph
Boot space: 445 litres
Styling
It might be called a 'Saloon', but the new A5 is actually a five-door fastback, just like the old A5 Sportback. Quite why they didn't call it a Sportback is a mystery to us, but there we go. Anyway, it has a more modern, e-tron GT-inspired nose than any of its predecessors, with a flatter, wider grille and some massive air intakes either side of it. That, combined with lights that can be customised to produce one of four different 'signatures' gives it a sporty and modern look, while the full-width light bar at the back has much the same effect, even if there's a bit of excess volume in the rear end. Whatever, it's a good-looking car, with a sleek roofline and just the right balance of aggression and sophistication.
Interior
While other car makers seem to prefer a minimalist approach to car interiors, Audi doesn't appear to have the same policy. The new A5's cabin is an angular frenzy of materials and shapes, so even though lots of buttons have been cleared away, it doesn't feel quite as clean as, say, a BMW 3 Series.
It does feel better made, though, with some lovely materials on show and impressive construction quality. Everything feels just as robust as you expect from an Audi, even if the gear selector appears to have been taken from a Skoda Enyaq.
Ergonomically, there are some challenges, including the decision to put the climate control system in a touchscreen and the strange buttons on the steering wheel, which are a bit fiddly, but the Audi's positives largely outweigh the negatives. The touchscreen, for example, is nice and sharp, and the touchscreen climate control system actually works fairly well, even if some of the other menus in there are a bit more cluttered and disorganised than in the old A5.
We should also praise the optional passenger display, which feels a bit superfluous in many ways, but is neatly integrated and works really well. Certainly, it has more functionality than the digital instrument cluster, which is very sharp, but doesn't feel as customisable as the old Virtual Cockpit in the A5 and doesn't look much more attractive.
Practicality
Despite the sloping roofline, the new A5 Saloon still feels pretty roomy inside. Front-seat occupants are very well catered for, with a nice driving position and plenty of elbow room, but rear-seat passengers don't do too badly either. Headroom and legroom are both decent, although very tall rear-seat passengers will probably thank you for choosing the Avant estate version, which comes with a little more headroom thanks to its extended roofline. Boot space isn't quite as impressive, with 445 litres on offer, but compared with an old A4 Saloon, the space is more practical than it sounds, thanks to the bigger loading aperture.
Performance
At launch, Audi is offering the A5 with a small choice of 2.0-litre engines – both petrol and diesel – and a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, which powers the more performance-orientated S5 Saloon and Avant models. Plug-in hybrid options arrive next year, but for now, we’re testing the basic 2.0-litre petrol engine, which Audi expects to be the biggest seller.
Endowed with 150hp and paired with a seven-speed automatic gearbox, it sends all its power to the front wheels, enabling a 0-62mph time of just under 10 seconds and a top speed of just over 130mph. Those figures don’t sound especially exciting, and indeed the basic A5 isn’t all that fruity, but it’s perfectly adequate. You don’t really need to go any faster in day-to-day driving.
Refinement is a bit of an issue, though, because while the petrol engine is reasonably smooth at low speeds, it makes a tuneless, charmless roar at higher engine revolutions, and that’s a bit of a pain on the odd occasion when you have to put your foot to the floor. And in a car with 150hp, you have to do that more often than in a car with 250hp.
Still, that’s a minor complaint, and the 2.0-litre petrol A5s make up for that with solid fuel economy. You’ll get 40mpg from the big fastback on the official economy test, and high 30s in the real world, particularly on a longer run. It isn’t ground-breaking, and those who do lots of long trips will be better off with the diesel, but it isn’t bad for an entry-level version of a premium car.
Ride & Handling
Unlike its rivals – the Alfa Giulia, Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series – the A5 follows the usual Audi doctrine of sending its power to the front wheels, and that has an impact on the way it drives. Traditionally, Audis have been less balanced, less poised and less agile than their rear-wheel-drive rivals, and that remains the case for the new A5, but Audi has definitely narrowed the gap.
The suspension and steering have both been tuned to make the car turn more keenly, and it has worked, even if the steering is a bit numb. Overall, though, it provides a safe and secure drive that never quite pushes the bounds of ‘fun’, but does at least hold onto the road much better than before. It’s comfortable, too, with a ride that’s relatively supple even on big wheels, and is best experienced on the motorway.
Value
This 2.0-litre petrol A5 is the cheapest option in the new A5 range, and it starts at £42,675. That might sound like a lot compared with, say, a fridge magnet, but it's only slightly you'll pay for an equivalent 3 Series, and it's a little cheaper than the basic Mercedes C-Class. And the Audi has plenty of standard kit, including the digital instrument display, three-zone climate control, and 18-inch alloys. LED headlights, a reversing camera and keyless start are also thrown in, even on the basic Sport model. Move up to S Line and you get a bit more kit and sportier styling, as well as a swankier interior, while the First Edition gets a passenger display, sports seats in microfibre and leather, and some dark styling features.
Verdict
In this form, the new A5 may not be especially exciting, but it's generally a better and more worthy car than the A4 it replaces, and therefore an even closer rival to the BMW 3 Series. And while we'd rather have a 2.0-litre diesel A5, or even one of the 3.0-litre S5 models, this basic petrol engine will be absolutely fine for most customers. So while it may not be the car we'd want, or even recommend, it's very hard to find a serious fault with it.
