What does Audi’s S subbrand imply to you? As somebody who each day drove an authentic C4-generation Audi S6 for a decade, it’s a giant and burly sports activities sedan with extra efficiency than a whole lot of sports activities automobiles of its day. All-wheel-drive traction, enhance for days, and a handbook transmission are the secret. Within the final 34 years, Audi’s S has come a good distance from the place it started, and it’s now not as in-your-face with the efficiency facet, preferring to stay with understated luxurious and grand touring highway-mile-eating quiet. Is that higher? I suppose it will depend on 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 sort. 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 equipped 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 standard 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 inner combustion engines, whereas even numbers shall be absolutely electrical fashions. The A5 and S5 will kind of change the A4 and S4, however the brand new platform is a measurement bigger, splitting the distinction between A4 and A6 within the previous Audi lineup. Audi’s new A5 gained’t compete immediately with the BMW 3 Collection or Mercedes C-Class because it usually has, but it surely’s not fairly as massive because the 5 Collection or E-Class, both. Audi is taking a web page out of the Cadillac playbook and operating with one thing extra CT4-sized. It’s greater, is what I’m saying.
The automotive 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 continues 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 automotive is larger, 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 possibly can guess it’ll be a chunky 4,000 plus.
Except for being barely bigger and using on flippantly revised platform, the S5 is kind of a revamp of the previous automobiles it size-up replaces. The driving expertise shall 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 higher impact, giving the automotive’s varied drive modes extra impact within the modifications to suspension damping. The Consolation mode has a noticeably softer really feel, and Sport mode can have you feeling a pea by 27 mattresses. However what is actually new right here? Not a lot. Ze Germans have optimized ze expertise, why would something must be modified?
Visually, I believe the automotive is engaging. It teeters on being a bit lackluster, with its new upright grille and virtually Ford-like aesthetic, however Audi manages to tug it off in a enterprise go well with sort of approach. 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 automotive’s inside is a leap ahead by way of know-how and rear seat consolation. Many of the automotive’s newfound size was added for rear seat legroom, probably in an attraction to the Chinese language market. Earlier than it will have been a bit cramped for a full-sized grownup to take a seat within the again seat, however now it’s fully potential. I’m 6-foot-2 on a foul day, and I used to be in a position to slot in the again seat moderately comfortably with the entrance seat adjusted to my seating place (an hour throughout city could be nice, however a several-hour highway journey would get annoying).
Audi went all-in on screens for the brand new S5. Along with the large Digital Cockpit display behind the steering wheel, you get a curved panoramic 14.5-inch MMI heart display. If you wish to, you possibly can possibility in a 3rd 10.9-inch display for the passenger as nicely. The passenger display can’t function with Apple CarPlay, however it may well obtain apps and be used independently, which means your passenger can watch Netflix or YouTube. Some trick new privateness know-how means the driving force can’t see the passenger display as soon as the automotive is shifting, until it’s simply set to indicate the navigation maps. You possibly can see it crystal clear when the automotive is stopped, however as soon as the automotive will get shifting once more the display 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 automotive, permitting ChatGPT to reply questions for you when you’re driving. I attempted to work together with it just a few occasions, however like virtually 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 occupied with weeks faraway from the driving expertise is the seats. Audi has at all times constructed some fairly good seats in my estimation, however these new sporty consolation seats are the proper 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 approach, the primary time I’ve skilled a snug seat that felt like it will maintain me in place by twisty roads. The therapeutic massage features have been barely noticeable nonetheless, I’d have appreciated a bit extra stress.
The Bang & Olufsen audio system within the S5 is killer. I’m not a lot of an audiophile, but it surely 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 automotive’s navigation system immediately, giving the driving force precisely what they should know with out annoying everybody within the automotive.
In comparison with the BMW M automobiles and Mercedes-AMG fashions that may beat you up for taking a look at them flawed, the brand new Audi S5 is a snug all-uses sort of automotive. It gained’t win any monitor days, but it surely’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 most likely have extra energy lately.
This automotive is certainly a pleasant place to spend time, and it’s moderately fast, however the ardour and pleasure is gone from S. In order for you one thing comfy with affordable gas mileage, you’ll need the approaching A5. In order for you 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 pace demon. The client for an S5 shall be discovered someplace within the center floor. In order for you moderately fast and comfy, and don’t need to shell out for all of the pace and aggression of an RS, possibly the S5 goes to suit your invoice.
Additionally, right here’s a cute canine I noticed in France:
