Audi’s new A5 is motoring’s black turtleneck – as much a sartorial fashion statement as a form of transport.
The four-ringed brand has always had an eye for fashion. In the past, you could pick out the Audi executives at motor shows from their dapper Hugo Boss suits.
While Audi is patently a German brand, it often plays upon its Alpine links, tying Munich manufacturing skills to fashion houses of Milan, via the subtle synchronicity of Swiss precision.
You see it in the sleek exterior styling, but also in the disciplined minimalism of the cabin.
You also see it in the price. But more of that later.
First, a little housekeeping. Remember the two-door coupe A5? Gone. Instead, the four-door A5 Sportback has been overhauled into a saloon, tasked with filling big boots as the successor to the A4.
Once more Audi has upended its naming conventions. New models with odd numbers will feature petrol, diesel and hybrid power, while those with even numbers will be fully electric.
So, the next A4 will be an EV-only model, while this A5 inherits the petrol, diesel and hybrid mantle for the traditional A4 customer base. Confused? It will become clearer once the current model offensive is in full swing.
And a showroom refresh is overdue. The brand has been subdued since the Covid pandemic, impacted by the global semiconductor crisis, which disrupted deliveries and stalled new model roll-outs. At the same time, it has been struggling with its strategic pivot towards electric vehicles.
Now, Audi is back on track, with a fleet of new models arriving in showrooms over the next few years.
That said, it’s probably not fair to describe this A5 as entirely new. Certainly, it has been redesigned, but underpinning this is an evolution of the brand’s platform for combustion and petrol models that has served it well for over a decade.
Any fears that replacing the A5 saloon with a fastback coupe will result in a cramped cabin are quickly assuaged; this interior is roomier than the old A4, though the boot does become a little more restricted.
That shouldn’t cause a problem. With the steady demise of the traditional saloon, former buyers are dividing into two camps: those who want sleeker coupe looks and those who put practicality before appearance and opt for one of the myriad of crossovers on the market. The new A5 fulfils the needs of the former.
Once more Audi delivers a clinically crisp cabin. It’s where the brand does its best to justify the price tag. It’s not the cosy, comfortable sittingroom feel that others espouse, but rather the comfort of an executive lounge.
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Audi’s recent strength is in integrating new technology with minimal fuss. Both infotainment and driver screens on the A5 are stylish, graphic-rich and intuitive. They don’t try to turn this into a video arcade: these are instruments and are treated as such.
Admittedly, that’s not always the case: some Audi models have opted to move the dial far more to digital – and suffer as a result.
In a week where we had to head west days after Storm Éowyn swept across the nation, it was reassuring to have the two-litre petrol engine up front with the dash displaying a range of more than 800km, rather than hunting for electric power supply amid widespread outages.
The 204hp version of this engine is also well suited to the car: measured, refined and fast but not wild. Again there’s that clinical trait about it, fitting well with a nicely balanced steering and throttle set-up.
There’s no escaping the fact this car has a sizeable footprint, being longer and wider than the outgoing A4, and this becomes evident on Irish back roads. Yet the engineers have managed to reduce uneven bodyroll, and you can easily glide this A5 through the bends.
For current A4 owners, the good news is the A5 is that little bit sharper and more engaging, as suggested by its coupe styling. It still doesn’t catch the BMW 3 Series for driving fun, but it’s impressively refined.
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As it needs to be, for the starting price for a 150hp version of the two-litre petrol in SE trim is €55,700. Upscale to the S-Line version with the 204hp version of that engine and you are looking at €66,580. That’s before you start ticking boxes on the options page.
For anyone stepping out of a pre-Covid A4, these are nosebleed-inducing numbers. Back in July 2019 you could pick up an A4 two-litre 150hp SE for €38,945.
Yes, we’ve gone through a tumultuous time, and inflation is real, but not on this scale.
Certainly, there’s a lot more tech now, greater refinement and sleeker styling. But it’s coming at a very big price jump for current A4 drivers, who may be tempted to consider alternative newcomer brands. Can VW Group keep them in the family, courtesy of Cupra perhaps?
Long-established premium brands struggle to cover the bulging R&D budgets incurred in the transition to electric cars. Yet, by pushing up new car prices they’ve opened the door to newcomer brands, not least the portfolio of Chinese car makers landing on these shores.
Brand snobbery prevails for now, but history shows that consumers can quickly revise their views: consider the changed perceptions of Korean brands in Ireland over the last decade.
For those undaunted by the price, the A5 embodies Audi’s effortless, understated elegance. Its clientele of turtlenecked architects, engineers and dentists can take comfort in that, at least.
Lowdown: Audi A5 Saloon 40 204hp S-Line
Power 1984-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 204hp and 340Nm powering the front wheels via a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission.
CO2 emissions (annual motor tax) 151g/km (€280)
Fuel consumption 7.9l/100km (WLTP).
0-100km/h 7.8 secs.
Price €66,580 as tested, A5 starts from €55,700.
Our rating 3/5.
Verdict Exemplifies Audi’s understated elegance, but expensive for current A4 owners.
