Audi A5 vs Audi S5

The 2025 Audi A5 presented a familiar yet refined design, maintaining Audi's signature styling with its large "single frame" grille and prominent daytime running lights. Despite its hatchback form, the A5's profile closely resembled a sedan, reminiscent of the Audi A4 it replaced. While the design elements were familiar, they lacked excitement, though subtle details like the "ice cream scoop" hood indents and programmable lighting signatures added a touch of modernity. The interior followed Audi's current design language, featuring a dashboard accommodating a curved screen and a supplemental passenger touchscreen, with high-quality materials and standard leather upholstery enhancing the cabin's appeal.

The 2025 Audi S5, with its Sportback body style, offered a blend of sporty aesthetics and practicality, thanks to its power-operated liftback and spacious cargo area. Despite its aggressive bumper designs, the S5's appearance was somewhat bland, lacking distinctiveness. Inside, the S5 provided a high-tech environment with Audi Digital Stage displays, including a digital instrumentation screen and a comprehensive infotainment system. The interior was adorned with premium materials like Fine Nappa leather and carbon atlas inlays, while ambient lighting and configurable themes added personality. The S5's snug yet comfortable rear seats and advanced climate control system ensured a pleasant experience for passengers.

The 2025 Audi A5 featured two powertrain options, both equipped with standard all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The base model was powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, offering a slight increase over the previous model. The A5 achieved a 0-100 km/h time of 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 210 km/h. The S5, on the other hand, boasted a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine, delivering 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, with a 0-100 km/h time of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h.

The S5's performance was enhanced by a sport-tuned suspension, progressive steering, and a sport rear differential, providing a dynamic driving experience. Despite its increased weight, the S5 offered a satisfying power delivery, especially in Dynamic mode, where it showcased its thrilling capabilities on winding roads. The S5's steering was precise, and the brakes and tires provided excellent grip, making it a compelling choice for driving enthusiasts.

The 2025 Audi A5's redesign resulted in a larger and more spacious interior, with increased dimensions contributing to improved rear legroom and overall roominess. The A5 excelled in cargo space, offering 640 litres behind the rear seats and 1,026 litres with the seats folded, thanks to its hatchback design. The dimmable glass roof and standard heated front seats added to the A5's appeal, providing convenience and comfort.

The 2025 Audi S5 accommodated four adults comfortably, with sport seats offering a range of adjustments and features like heating, ventilation, and massage. The rear seats, though snug, provided adequate space for taller passengers, and the triple-zone climate control system ensured comfort for all occupants. The S5's cargo area, with a capacity of 640 litres, expanded to 1,064 litres with the rear seats folded, offering ample storage space.

The 2025 Audi A5 featured a significant upgrade in infotainment technology, with a standard 14.5-inch touchscreen and an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with wireless device charging and multiple USB-C ports. The optional Bang & Olufsen sound system enhanced the audio experience, while the digital key tech and head-up display added convenience and functionality.

The 2025 Audi S5 incorporated Audi Digital Stage OLED displays, including an 11.9-inch digital instrumentation screen and a 14.5-inch MMI touchscreen. The system was intuitive, with natural-language voice recognition and connected services. The optional passenger screen mirrored the centre screen's functionality, though it was often deemed redundant. The Bang & Olufsen sound system provided impressive audio quality, though some display limitations were noted.

The 2025 Audi A5 came equipped with standard driver-assist features such as adaptive cruise control, active front assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional options included park assist and adaptive cruise assist. While complete safety ratings were not available, Audi aimed for high safety standards similar to its predecessors.

The 2025 Audi S5 offered a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance systems, including forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. However, the lane-assist system was found to be aggressive and occasionally inaccurate, leading to driver intervention. The S5 lacked hands-free traffic jam assist, a feature becoming more common among competitors.