Audi A5 2021 Car Review

The only variant of the A5 available in this part of the world is the 40 TFSI S Line Sportback, priced from $83,500 (+ORC), and it sits below the sportier S5 and RS 5 models in Audi’s fleet.

Understated elegance

Audis tend to hold a certain road presence that you only really get from luxury European marques. The A5 is a looker without being over the top understated elegance at its best.

The new Audi range shares numerous design cues among their models, and we particularly like the angular lines that define the front-end that help give the A5 some attitude. In fact, the A5 looks great from any angle – the dual tailpipes 19-inch alloys help maintain the sporty look of the car. The S Line exterior package adds door sill trims and sports bumpers.

On the inside

We’ve tested several Audis over the past eight months, and the interiors don’t differ much between models. This isn’t a bad thing, as they are extremely pleasant places to be in, but once you’ve been in one Audi in the current range you’ve pretty much been in them all.

There are constant reminders – such as the sport seats and steering wheel – that the A5 has the S Line package as standard which, again, adds to the sporty-feel of the car. The electric and heated seats are finished in a ‘fine’ Nappa leather, and there are frequent trims of aluminium which gives the car a premium feel. The pedals and footrest are finished in stainless steel.

Audi’s 10.1-inch MMI touch display can look a bit overwhelming at first glance, but it becomes simple to use after just a small amount of time in the car. Haptic feedback lets you know when a certain command has been made via a small vibration through the screen.

The majority of functions can be actioned through the MMI, which means there aren’t a huge amount of buttons in the cabin (including on the steering wheel). Wireless charging comes as standard.

The Audi Virtual Cockpit is a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster and it allows you to flick through several different viewing modes.

Despite the Sportback styling, the space throughout the car is more than enough. Yes, if you’re over a certain height then you might struggle with the lower roof, but foot room is great.

Safety

There are a large amount of safety features included as standard in modern Audis, and the A5 includes Audi Active Lane Assist, Audi pre-sense city, Audi pre-sense rear, Audi Side Assist, Cross traffic assist rear, Exit warning and front/rear parking aids. A five star ANCAP rating was awarded to the A5 back in 2015.

Performance

The Audi A5 is perfect for New Zealand roads, and provides high levels of comfort and excellent ride quality. While it may not have the performance levels of the S5 or RS 5, it’s still extremely fun and satisfying to drive. The sport suspension firms things up a bit, but it only intensifies the ride and make you feel planted as you carve through corners.

The 2.0-litre, four cylinder turbocharged engine creates 140kW of power and 320Nm of torque, and is paired to a seven-speed dual clutch S tronic transmission. These combine to help get you from zero to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds, despite a lack of grunt coming from the engine. Sadly, the quattro all-wheel drive system is reserved only for the S5 and RS 5.

There are four driving modes available via Audi Drive Select – Auto, Comfort, Efficiency and Individual.

Verdict

The new Audi A5 feels really refined and, due to the S Line package, feels almost as the more expensive S5. Anyone who wants a more performance-focused ride should instead focus on the top-of-the-line RS 5.

The Audi A5 40 TFSI S Line is a great choice for those who want to get from A to B in luxury and style.

Safety systems

• ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, electronic diff lock, traction control and electronic stabilisation control
• Driver and passenger airbags, front and rear side airbags and head airbagLane Keep Assist (LKA)
• Active Lane Assist
• Cross Traffic Assist
• Pre-Sense city, Pre-sense rear
• Turn Assist
• Side Assist
• Exit Warning

Find out more on how the AA can help you when buying a new car:

• AA Money - aa.co.nz/money
• AA Insurance - aa.co.nz/insurance
• AA Car Reviews - aa.co.nz/car-reviews
• AA Running Cost Reports - aa.co.nz/runningcosts

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