2025 Audi A5: The Future of Luxury Driving

It’s a strange time to be an auto enthusiast. As an outpouring of all-electric models hits the market, long-standing nameplates that were once mainstays of our automotive landscape are falling to the wayside on what feels like a weekly basis. With the arrival of the next-generation Audi A5, we bow our heads in remembrance of the fallen as the German automaker discontinues the A4 sedan in favor of a slimmed-down car platform. However, Audi has given us plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the code-named B10 A5.

Don’t Call It a Sportback

Those familiar with the previous-generation A5 know that it carried the Sportback moniker when configured in its available hatchback body style. That nomenclature dies with this next-generation model as Audi seeks to retain as many A4 sedan shoppers, A5 coupe buyers, and A5 Sportback owners as possible. The idea is to keep the naming scheme as simple as possible, and Audi asserts that the new A5’s longer tailgate deck gives it a silhouette that more closely resembles a sedan than the old Sportback.

Whether you buy that explanation or not, there’s no doubting that the new A5 looks fantastic. Measuring 73.2 inches wide, a half-inch wider than its predecessor, the four-door hatchback has an aggressive stance. Audi’s signature “Quattro muscle” fender flares are emphasized here, lending closer visual proximity to the previous-generation high-performance RS5 Sportback. The B10 A5 is longer by 2.6 inches too, with a total length of 190.1 inches. Most of that extra length goes to the A5’s wheelbase, which is stretched by 2.6 inches to 114.2 inches. Height increases by 0.9 inches to 56.9 inches.

The automaker’s six-sided “Singleframe” grille, which is available with black or aluminum trim depending on configuration, is slim and wide in this application. Rather than blacking out the entire front end, the grille is surrounded by body-color paint on the right and left sides, preventing the fascia from looking too mouthy. The smooth, flat surfaces give the A5’s sides a streamlined look. Inset door handles keep the hatchback’s exterior looking slick.

Audi, determined to keep its status as an automotive lighting innovator, has outfitted the new A5 with intricate headlights contained within a rounded housing that wraps around the car’s front corners. The darkened lower half is deemphasized, hiding the low and high beams while maintaining a stunning design.

The taillights receive an elaborate treatment thanks to 3D sculpting and a dramatic light bar connecting the right and left elements. The taillights change their lighting signature with the headlights based on which scheme has been chosen within the infotainment display.

Powertrain Choices and Performance

In the United States, the A5 receives a powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine developing 268 hp, an improvement of 7 hp over the outgoing A5 Sportback 45 TFSI’s 261 hp. Equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, we expect all variants slated for our market to receive standard all-wheel drive.

Stepping up to the sportier Audi S5 equips a 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 engine developing 362 hp. Like the regular A5, the S5 makes use of a dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Performance upgrades include a sport differential with torque vectoring and an adjustable all-wheel drive clutch.

The new Audi A5 rides on the automaker’s Premium Platform Combustion architecture and receives entirely overhauled suspension and steering tuning, which Audi claims offers “largely neutral handling.” Models equipped with the available adaptive dampers can be adjusted to exhibit comfort-oriented dynamics or a sportier setup.

Interior, Technology, and Safety

Inside the cabin, the A5 and S5 use the automaker’s “soft wraparound” design technique, which ensconces the front passengers with a band of soft material that runs across the dash from door to door. Audi calls its new dashboard design its Digital Stage; that strip of soft material supports a large, curved glass panel housing two displays. A digital instrument cluster with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit measuring 11.9 inches is paired with a 14.5-inch touchscreen. Audi’s new E3 1.2 architecture employs an Android-based operating system for fast responsiveness.

Because Audi’s Digital Display is oriented toward the driver, the automaker offers an optional 10.9-inch passenger-side display with media streaming and most of the functionality of the main infotainment screen. In a bid to maintain driver attention on the road, Audi has equipped this passenger-side panel with its Active Privacy Mode to digitally shield the display from the driver’s vision.

Audi has taken further steps to keep the driver’s eyes on the road. A voice-activated “Audi Assistant” uses advanced technology to receive over 800 commands to alter the vehicle’s settings or interact with the infotainment. As a software-defined vehicle, the new Audi A5 can receive over-the-air updates. Other entertainment and connectivity features include an available 20-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, a 5G mobile hotspot, and smartphone tethering.

An electronically tinting panoramic glass roof is standard in our market. The glazing can fully darken or be split into several combinations, maintaining the A5’s sleek profile.

Audi outfits the B10 A5 with a suite of active driver assistance technology, including rear parking sensors, cruise control, lane departure warning, and driver attention warning. Most other tech is optional or available at higher trims. The Active Front Assist suite combines emergency brake assist, evasion assist, and front cross traffic assist for improved safety and convenience.

Pricing and Availability of the Audi A5

Audi will build the A5 at its Neckarsulm factory just north of Stuttgart, Germany. While pricing has yet to be confirmed, we expect Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trim levels to return. However, expect the A5’s base price to rise from the previous model. Sportier S5 variants should begin around $59,000. We anticipate that the new Audi A5 lineup will arrive mid-2025 as a 2025 model year vehicle.

While it’s bittersweet that Audi is discontinuing the A4 sedan, the redesigned A5 promises to honor the legacy of its predecessors with exquisite design, solid performance, and high-tech appointments. If the A4’s demise means that Audi can enhance a single car’s lineup, then it’s a strategic decision in the evolving automotive landscape.