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The sedan is a dying breed in the American new-vehicle market, a vehicular configuration being driven out of dealerships in the rush for ever-more SUVs. Foundational four-door models like the Ford Taurus and Nissan Maxima are no more, but Audi is bucking the trend. Rather than retiring its A4 sedan, Audi is adding a hatch plus a little more volume, and adding one to the number.
Photo: Tim Stevens
Meet the new Audi A5, which replaces the sedan formerly known as the A4 and the old A5. For now, at least, the new A5 is exclusively available with four doors and a hatchback, though curiously, Audi isn't applying the Sportback moniker here that it uses elsewhere. For 2025, it gains a few inches in length, picks up a bit of power under the hood, and grows a sweeping new set of displays on the dashboard.
The 2025 Audi A5 is available in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. Base prices range from the low-$50,000s to the high-$50,000s, including the destination charge. Those wanting something sportier can step up to the Audi S5, also available in the same three trims, with starting prices ranging from the mid-$60,000s to the low-$70,000s, including destination.
Read our full 2025 Audi A5 preview for more background and details.
Photo: Tim Stevens
Where the outgoing A4 had an upright and purposeful look—a sporty appearance brought forth by pronounced fenders and a large grille up front—the 2025 A5 goes with styling that features fewer creases and design cues on the sides but far more dramatic lights front and rear.
Unfortunately, the net result is a machine that appears more anonymous than before, but as a mass-market device, it should do well. That new style makes room for the extra 2.7 inches the A5 gains in length over the previous generation.
Those dimensions help give the car a roomier interior, gaining an inch of rear legroom and netting 22.6 cubic feet of cargo space under the rear hatch. That figure increases to 36.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The generously sized panoramic sunroof aids a surprising amount of rear headroom.
The rear seats are comfortable, and there's now tolerable legroom. Those seats are heated too, if you opt for the Prestige trim. The two front seats gain ventilation plus a massage function that’s optional on the Premium Plus or standard on Prestige trim. They, too, are quite comfortable and offer a great view of the world around them.
You have your choice of three colors of leather upholstery in the A5, which essentially boil down to cream, black, and brown. Seating surfaces feel good, but the rest of the interior is more hit-or-miss, with a massive section of piano black plastic in the center console framed by some unfortunate-looking faux wood.
The biggest story on the inside, though, is the new interface that runs the full width of the dashboard.
Photo: Tim Stevens
Slot yourself into either of the front seats in the 2025 Audi A5, and you're greeted by a massive set of digital displays that dominate your view. Starting on the left is an 11.9-inch panel that comprises the gauge cluster. It provides a simple view of the vehicle, framed by two panes of trip data and other metrics. Unfortunately, it offers minimal customization beyond that, presenting a very basic experience compared with the dramatic display stylings available on modern Mercedes-Benz or BMW products.
To the right of that is another panel, even larger at 14.5 inches. This forms the primary interface for the A5's MMI infotainment experience. Both displays use OLED technology—a panel that enables bright colors, high contrast, and true blacks. If you've ever been annoyed by in-car LCDs that glow brightly even at night, this will be music to your eyes.
Go with the Prestige trim, and the passenger gets their own display—a 10.9-inch unit on the far right of the dashboard. This technology makes it virtually impossible for the driver to see, allowing passengers to stream videos without worrying about driver distraction.
Finally, Premium Plus trim and above features Audi's latest head-up display, which is bright, colorful, and easy to view, even through polarized sunglasses. All those displays are backed by Audi's latest voice assistant, which, with a quick "Hey, Audi," can do everything from changing basic vehicle settings to finding a place to stop for lunch.
Regarding technology designed to keep you safe, not stuffed, the A5 has a comprehensive set of advanced driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control (ACC), active lane-centering assistance, blind-spot warning, and automatic emergency braking. The ACC worked smoothly, while the lane-centering system kept the A5 perfectly centered in the lane even when the lane markings were far from perfect.
Still, this is very much a hands-on system. Anyone looking for hands-off driver assistance will need to look elsewhere—somewhat disappointing, considering the increasing number of models from Ford, BMW, and Ram that offer some form of more advanced driver assistance.
Photo: Tim Stevens
The same turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine powers all versions of the 2025 Audi A5. With no hybrid or plug-in hybrid options, those looking for something electrified will have to wait for Audi's upcoming A6 E-tron or look elsewhere. The A5's 2.0 TFSI engine produces 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. That's a boost of seven hp and 22 pound-feet over the previous model’s 2.0 TFSI power plant—an increase that isn't much to write home about.
Regarding shifting, for 2025, Audi continues with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT)—a design that promises quicker shifts than a typical automatic transmission. In theory, at least.
In practice, Audi tuned the DCT in the A5 to prioritize smoothness. Even when driven aggressively in its sportiest mode, the A5 slips from one gear to the next with minimal disturbance felt behind the wheel or in the passenger seat. I found that even when I resorted to using the shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel, those shifts happened in their own time.
The power delivery from the 2.0-liter engine is likewise relaxed. There's a noticeable amount of turbo lag, which is the annoying delay between pressing the accelerator and the car beginning to accelerate. But once the turbos start singing, the A5’s acceleration is quite good. So long as you don't mind the slight delay, this sedan has plenty of power for passing on two-lane roads or ducking into gaps on the highway.
On the highway, the A5 proved very quiet, only picking up some noise on certain stretches of road with bad asphalt. Otherwise, the acoustic door glass on the Prestige ensures the cabin stays hushed, making it the perfect place to experiment with the powerful Bang & Olufsen speaker sound system.
Regarding ride quality, the A5’s suspension is again tuned for comfort. It handled the worst roads I could find on my test drive between Denver and Aspen, Colorado, without fuss, despite rolling on the lower-profile 19-inch wheels and tires (18-inch wheels and tires are standard).
Despite the comfortable dynamic, the A5 offers surprisingly good steering feel. It features a progressive-ratio steering rack, which results in sharp, immediate turn-in on secondary roads without feeling nervous on the highway. Cycling through the various drive modes, from Comfort to Dynamic, increases the car's throttle response, but doesn't exactly result in a radically different feel.
Regarding efficiency, the Environmental Protection Agency rates the 2025 A5 at 22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. In my testing, I scored a decidedly poor 17.9 mpg, but in the A5's defense, that was because I was driving up a winding mountain pass in the Rockies. Those driving on more even terrain and at lower altitudes will surely do much better.
Photo: Tim Stevens
The new A5 may have gained a number in its name plus a few inches in its dimensions, but overall, it's very much the same story as before. Call it a Sportback, a sedan, or whatever you like, it's still an attainable luxury sedan with a good blend of performance, technology, and safety.
The 2025 A5 faces some perennially stiff competition in the form of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the latest BMW 3 Series. Still, the new A5's practical layout and stunning dashboard displays set Audi's latest sport sedan apart.
Tim Stevens is a veteran automotive and technology journalist with over 25 years of experience covering everything from smartphones to supercars. In addition to JDPower.com, his expert perspectives have appeared in numerous national and international outlets, including print, online, and broadcast television.
