The 2025 Audi A5 Looks Fantastic as a Wagon, Liftback, and Sedan

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. While we mourn the loss of yet another low-slung gas-powered car, 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.

See All 39 Photos39

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. On the top of each unit is a configurable DRL that can be set to one of eight patterns within the A5’s infotainment system. The darkened lower half is deemphasized, hiding the low and high beams.

See All 39 Photos39

The taillights receive an even more 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, although our market won’t be receiving the globally available active safety functions due to NHTSA’s regulations. In other markets, the A5’s OLED taillights use 364 individual segments to display animated alerts and warnings for road hazards ahead.

We’d be remiss to mention the stunning Audi A5 and S5 Avant. Although the automaker’s duo of compact station wagons that won’t be making their way to our shores, we can dream of one day getting behind the wheel of Audi’s stylish and practical all-rounders. Featuring a long roof and a spacious rear cargo area, we’re particularly fond of the A5 Avant’s graceful D-pillar.

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’re expected 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.

See All 39 Photos39

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.

Globally, Audi will offer the A5 with a low-output 2.0-liter turbocharged engine developing 148 hp and a more powerful variant developing 201 hp. This engine makes use of variable turbine geometry to improve fuel efficiency under partial load. There’s also a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system on offer that also develops 201 hp. These powertrains won’t be making their way to the U.S., however.

Regardless of which engine is equipped, Audi outfits all A5 and S5 models with real exhaust tips. Audi’s prior-generation product line received criticism from enthusiasts for its generous use of fake exhaust tips, where the bumper looked like it had an outlet while the actual tip was hidden underneath the car. Audi told us this was an intense point of discussion during the development of the B10 A5 and S5, but ultimately it decided to equip 2.0-liter models with genuine metal pipes with rectangular finishers and 3.0-liter variants with quad oval-shaped metal tips. During our first look, we got underneath both the A5 and S5 to inspect the setup and noted that there’s nothing fake about the new arrangement.

See All 39 Photos39

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 says this whole display is designed to be reachable without the driver needing to lean forward from their seatback, allowing for better focus and stability while the vehicle is in motion. These displays are underpinned by Audi’s new E3 1.2 architecture and employ an Android-based operating system. From our first interaction, these screens react quickly to inputs.

Because Audi’s Digital Display is oriented toward the driver, the automaker offers an available 10.9-inch passenger-side display with media streaming and most of the functionality of the main infotainment screen. Passengers can input new navigation destinations, which the driver can then confirm. 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.

See All 39 Photos39

Audi has taken further steps to keep the driver’s eyes on the road. A voice-activated “Audi Assistant” uses ChatGPT to receive over 800 commands to alter the vehicle’s settings, interact with the infotainment, or set air conditioning fan speeds or temperatures. 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 with headrest integrated speakers, a 5G mobile hotspot, smartphone tethering, a wireless phone charger, and an app store. Configurable ambient lighting sets the mood inside the A5’s cabin.

An electronically tinting panoramic glass roof is standard in our market. Audi outfits the A5’s roof with glazing that can fully darken the glass panel or be split into several combinations using six separate segments. Essentially a digital sunshade, there’s even a striped pattern that darkens every other tinting panel. The roof looks black from the outside, which helps the A5 maintain its 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. Audi offers Adaptive Driving Assist Plus, which monitors the driver’s attentiveness and if no sign of activity is detected, the vehicle will steer and stop itself until it’s no longer moving. Audi’s Adaptive Driving Assistance Plus uses a combination of map and swarm data to inform the A5’s semi-autonomous driving functionality. The Active Front Assist suite combines Audi’s Front Emergency Brake Assist, Evasion Assist, Turn Assist, and Front Cross Traffic Assist for improved safety and convenience. Finally, Park Assist Plus enables fully automatic parking and braking.

How Much Does the Audi A5 Cost and When Will It Be Available?

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 will return to our market. However, expect the A5’s base price to rise over that of the Sportback, especially as the base engine is now as powerful as the outgoing A5’s upgraded tune. That model started just under $50,000, so we expect the new A5 will start in that ballpark. Sportier S5 variants should begin around $59,000. We anticipate that the new Audi A5 lineup will arrive mid-2025. Currently, Audi says the B10 generation will enter production as a 2025 model year vehicle, but depending on how things go, it could arrive for 2026 instead.

While it’s bittersweet that Audi is discontinuing the A4 sedan during its 30th anniversary, the redesigned A5 promises to honor the legacy of its forbearers with exquisite design, solid performance, and high-tech appointments. If the A4's demise means that Audi is able to dedicate more resources to improve a single car’s lineup, then we reluctantly admit that it’s the right move for the automaker to make.