This is the all-new Audi A5. And it isn’t just the direct successor to the previous generation A5, because it is also the replacement for the old Audi A4.

But, why? Well, this is all part of Audi’s plan to seamlessly integrate all of their combustion and electric cars into one overall cohesive line-up. The petrol-powered models will use nomenclature with odd-numbers in it, whilst its electric offerings will have even-numbers in their names.

This new A5 is also significant in several different ways. But most significantly, this is the first all-new combustion Audi model to have been introduced after several years of unveiling electric-only vehicles.

And it is truly an all-new car too, being the first to be built on VAG’s PPC platform. (Note: Audi also launched the updated A3 in 2025, but that was a facelift based on the older MQB platform).

Svelte and Sleek

The A5 isn’t what you’d call a “true” saloon. That’s because, like many of its VAG cousins in its segment, it is a liftback. It still has the general three-box silhouette of an old-school saloon, but it appears that Audi has drawn upon the learnings they’ve had with their electric escapades.

All the surfaces are smoother and far more refined than in their past combustion offerings, and other aero touches, like the recessed door handles, also make an appearance here. It is a very smart looking car too, sporting design cues that you’d automatically associate with the Audi marque.

But yet again, each element has been subtly reimagined for this new era. The grille is smaller and sleeker, with the same general shape applied to the taillights as well. You’ll find a lightbar fitted to this car too, with vertical slats integrated throughout the whole assembly.

Curious Inclusions

It may come with the next generation of Audi’s MMI system, but the interior of the A5 remains very familiar to anyone that has driven one of Ingolstadt’s cars from within the past 10 years. This means generally solid build quality, and materials that feel truly robust and premium.

Cabin space is good throughout, but the rather large transmission tunnel does mean you’d not want to be in the middle seat for too long. Otherwise, head and knee room is generous, and comfort on longer journeys shouldn’t be an issue.

If you are buying an A5, you may want to consider a livelier interior colour palate though. Tech upfront is good, but there are signs that the new MMI is in its earlier stages. Some of the commonly used controls are buried within sub-menus, making it rather frustrating to use whilst on the go.

The Drive

This Germanic sensation continues when you drive the car. The steering, whilst light, is very accurate, allowing this liftback to feel properly agile – it is a joy to use through a sequence of corners. The heavy power steering assistance does sap feedback, and its sport mode doesn’t really do much to reinstate communication.

The suspension is more compliant than a lot of the recent Audi models, probably as it doesn’t need to lug around a hefty battery pack. There is some body roll when you start to drive a little faster in the bends, but nothing overly major or dramatic that’d take away from its overall German-ness.

Powering the A5 is VAG’s 2.0 litre four pot motor. This compact powertrain has been tuned to ensure there’s plenty of usable torque all the way through the rev range. The DSG coupled to the engine has also been configured to ensure you’d always be in the powerband, even when pootling around town.

This means that it isn’t what you’d necessarily call a fast car, but it doesn’t at all feel sluggish when you are driving around in the city.

The Combustion Revival

Plans sometimes change. And it seems like electric isn’t necessarily the only way forwards. But there’s no point in just extending the lifecycle of your existing offerings in a bid to buy you time to figure out what to do next.

You’ll end up with a bunch of uncompetitive cars that are overpriced and hard to shift. Which makes investing in all-new combustion architecture a very clever move in the long run. With new underpinnings and a completely reenvisioned interior, the A5 feels properly fresh and modern.

But it comes at a price. With VES surcharges and hefty COE prices, the Audi A5’s competitiveness is likely to be hampered by car-unfriendly taxes. Still, if you can stomach the price tag, it is an solid alternative to the cars currently being churned out by its closest European rivals!

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