Audi A5 Coupe review

Despite its sleek, broad-shouldered looks, the Audi A5 Coupe actually shares its underpinnings with the A4 saloon and A4 Avant estate. It expresses its German manufacturer's sharp, clean-lined family identity and has a sportier air than the Mercedes C-Class Coupe, without being as visually aggressive as the BMW 4 Series. Where the A5 really excels is as a fast, luxurious and stylish motorway cruiser, where its smooth engines really come into their own.

Key to the A5's appeal is its beautifully built, cleanly styled dashboard and interior. While not as flamboyant as that of the Mercedes C-Class Coupe, the A5's has a restrained elegance that hasn't dated at all since it was introduced. The materials used are all first-rate, too, and wouldn't disgrace a car at the very top end of the market. It's also comfortable, although those in the front have a much better deal than rear-seat occupants.

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Access to the rear seats is undeniably tight, and few adults will thank you for a long ride in the back. Getting small children in and out won’t be easy, either, but then the A5 and its rivals are often bought by people who’ve had a string of practical cars and want something more sporty. If you want to avoid the formal look of a saloon but need genuine space for five, you might want to look at the Audi A5 Sportback. There's no shortage of standard equipment on any version, though, and a sizeable boot makes the A5 Coupe an indulgent car for two people to take on a long weekend.

The A5 Coupe shares its range of petrol and diesel engines with the A4 but Audi has recently shrunk the number of choices. There’s now just one turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine available in 148bhp, 201bhp and 261bhp outputs, badged as 35 TFSI, 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI respectively. Diesel buyers are served by turbocharged 2.0-litre engines with a choice of the 161bhp 35 TDI or the more powerful 201bhp 40 TDI model.

The sporty S5 model was discontinued midway through 2023, leaving the more hardcore RS5 with its 2.9-litre V6 engine and 444bhp at the top of the range. For most drivers, however, the powerful 2.0-litre petrol engines in the A5 range will be more than fast enough.

It's not speed where the A5 falls a little short. Some driving enthusiasts will be disappointed when they peel off the motorway and onto a windier road, because the Audi can't quite provide the driving involvement many crave. The steering is precise and there’s no shortage of grip, but the steering is numb and the chassis feels set up for predictability and stability rather than fun. While this is good news for comfortable cruising, it makes it less rewarding on a challenging road than the BMW 4 Series coupe or the four-door Alfa Romeo Giulia. And, unless you choose the smallest 18-inch wheels, the Audi can’t match the ride quality of the Mercedes C-Class Coupe when cruising either.

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Not everybody will mind these shortfalls, though, and A5 still offers much to recommend itself. It’s a terrifically well built car and shares a five-star Euro NCAP rating as well as much of its structure with the A4, so it should be very safe. It also has a lot of standard crash-avoidance equipment, including autonomous emergency braking.

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And then there’s the financial side of things. The Audi name has long been associated with excellent resale values, so you’re unlikely to receive a nasty shock when it’s time to trade in. There's no arguing, however, that the A5 is expensive to buy, with even the cheapest version now starting from almost £40,000. The A5 may not be the most exciting coupe in the world, but it’s one of the easiest to live with.