What does Audi’s S subbrand imply to you? As somebody who every day drove an authentic C4-generation Audi S6 for a decade, it’s an enormous and burly sports activities sedan with extra efficiency than a number of sports activities automobiles of its day. All-wheel-drive traction, increase for days, and a guide transmission are the secret. Within the final 34 years, Audi’s S has come a great distance from the place it started, and it’s now not as in-your-face with the efficiency side, preferring to stay with understated luxurious and grand touring highway-mile-eating quiet. Is that higher? I suppose it depends upon your priorities.
After 34 years on sale as Audi’s compact flagship sports activities sedan, the S4 is useless, changed by a brand new larger-in-every-dimension grand touring sedan, the 2025 S5. The model has killed off its enthusiast-oriented machines, and there are now not any coupes, convertibles, or sports activities automobiles of any variety. And earlier than you ask, we’re not getting the wagon both, so shut your mouth and eat your slop little piggies — although the brand new S5 does have a liftback rear as a substitute of a sedan trunk, successfully changing the previous S5 Sportback too.
Full disclosure: Audi flew me to Good, France, put me up in a pleasant resort, and provided me with good meals and wine so I may drive the 2025 S5.
A lot as the unique Audi S4 did in 1991, the brand new S5 is setting the stage for a revamped and hopefully revitalized four-rings model. The normal naming conference we’re used to, in follow by Audi for 30 years, has been thrown out the window. Going ahead, odd numbers are for automobiles with inside combustion engines, whereas even numbers will likely be absolutely electrical fashions. The A5 and S5 will type of change the A4 and S4, however the brand new platform is a dimension bigger, splitting the distinction between A4 and A6 within the previous Audi lineup. Audi’s new A5 gained’t compete instantly with the BMW 3 Collection or Mercedes C-Class because it sometimes has, however it’s not fairly as giant because the 5 Collection or E-Class, both. Audi is taking a web page out of the Cadillac playbook and working with one thing extra CT4-sized. It’s greater, is what I’m saying.
The automobile is predicated on a Audi’s new Premium Efficiency Combustion (PPC) structure, however in actuality it’s a closely revamped revision of the present MLB Evo platform utilized by the outgoing A4 and A5. The engine remains to be longitudinal and mounted forward of the entrance axle, and it’s the identical turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 349 horsepower that was utilized by the previous S5. It nonetheless makes use of Quattro all-wheel drive, too. However as a result of the automobile is greater, it’s truly a tick slower from 0 to 60 mph, with a 4.5-second run up from 4.4 seconds within the outgoing S4. Audi doesn’t but have an official weight for the S5, however the previous S4 was 3,800 kilos, so you may wager it’ll be a chunky 4,000 plus.
Other than being barely bigger and using on calmly revised platform, the S5 is kind of a revamp of the previous automobiles it size-up replaces. The driving expertise will likely be acquainted to anybody who has pushed the prior S4, although bigger, and the chassis itself is alleged to be considerably stiffer than the outgoing mannequin for improved steering really feel. This additionally permits the suspension to do its work to raised impact, giving the automobile’s numerous drive modes extra impact within the adjustments to suspension damping. The Consolation mode has a noticeably softer really feel, and Sport mode could have you feeling a pea by way of 27 mattresses. However what is really new right here? Not a lot. Ze Germans have optimized ze expertise, why would something have to be modified?
Visually, I believe the automobile is enticing. It teeters on being a bit lackluster, with its new upright grille and nearly Ford-like aesthetic, however Audi manages to drag it off in a enterprise go well with form of method. It’s very grownup with out fake sporty adornments or in-your-face design different manufacturers would leap to incorporate. In a world of BMW 340i M Sports activities, be an Audi S5.
The brand new automobile’s inside is a leap ahead by way of expertise and rear seat consolation. Many of the automobile’s newfound size was added for rear seat legroom, probably in an attraction to the Chinese language market. Earlier than it could have been a bit cramped for a full-sized grownup to sit down within the again seat, however now it’s solely doable. I’m 6-foot-2 on a nasty day, and I used to be ready to slot in the again seat moderately comfortably with the entrance seat adjusted to my seating place (an hour throughout city can be superb, however a several-hour highway journey would get annoying).
Audi went all-in on screens for the brand new S5. Along with the huge Digital Cockpit display screen behind the steering wheel, you get a curved panoramic 14.5-inch MMI middle display screen. If you wish to, you may possibility in a 3rd 10.9-inch display screen for the passenger as nicely. The passenger display screen can’t function with Apple CarPlay, however it might obtain apps and be used independently, which means your passenger can watch Netflix or YouTube. Some trick new privateness expertise means the motive force can’t see the passenger display screen as soon as the automobile is transferring, until it’s simply set to point out the navigation maps. You’ll be able to see it crystal clear when the automobile is stopped, however as soon as the automobile will get transferring once more the display screen turns into a black void within the driver’s peripheral, although the passenger can nonetheless see it fairly clearly.
A revised head up show is crystal clear and provides a stage of consolation to the drive. Even for somebody who’s all torso like me, there was sufficient adjustability for me to have the ability to see it clearly. Audi additionally added some Microsoft AI bullshit to the automobile, permitting ChatGPT to reply questions for you when you’re driving. I attempted to work together with it a number of instances, however like nearly each voice command system I’ve ever used I rapidly discovered it annoying and stopped asking.
The factor concerning the Audi S5 I nonetheless can’t cease fascinated by weeks faraway from the driving expertise is the seats. Audi has all the time constructed some fairly good seats in my estimation, however these new sporty consolation seats are the right mix. That is the primary time I’ve skilled a well-bolstered sport seat that didn’t beat the shit out of me, or put one other method, the primary time I’ve skilled a snug seat that felt like it could maintain me in place by way of twisty roads. The therapeutic massage capabilities have been barely noticeable nevertheless, I’d have favored a bit extra strain.
The Bang & Olufsen audio system within the S5 is killer. I’m not a lot of an audiophile, however it was crisp and clear it doesn’t matter what was happening exterior or what speeds I used to be touring. New for the S5, B&O put a pair of audio system in every entrance headrest. The driving force’s headrest transmits all the directions from the automobile’s navigation system instantly, giving the motive force precisely what they should know with out annoying everybody within the automobile.
In comparison with the BMW M automobiles and Mercedes-AMG fashions that can beat you up for taking a look at them flawed, the brand new Audi S5 is a snug all-uses form of automobile. It gained’t win any observe days, however it’ll eat up a mountain highway with relative ease, and with out inflicting seasickness in your passengers. Audi calls this a Grand Touring Sedan, and I suppose that describes it nicely sufficient, although a real Grand Tourer would in all probability have extra energy today.
This automobile is certainly a pleasant place to spend time, and it’s moderately fast, however the ardour and pleasure is gone from S. If you need one thing comfy with affordable gasoline mileage, you’ll need the approaching A5. If you need one thing to stir your soul, you’ll probably have to attend till the RS5 arrives, every time which may be. The S5 is left in some purgatory in between. It isn’t frugal, it isn’t cheap, and it isn’t a velocity demon. The client for an S5 will likely be discovered someplace within the center floor. If you need moderately fast and cozy, and don’t wish to shell out for all of the velocity and aggression of an RS, perhaps the S5 goes to suit your invoice.
Additionally, right here’s a cute canine I noticed in France:
