Audi A5 Hatchback ( 2024 - ) review

As with all Audis, the A5 commands the usual premium you'd expect of the badge, placing it in a similar ballpark to the 3 Series and C-Class. Like its German rivals the estate version is slightly more expensive than the saloon, with the S5 costing even more. Out on the road the 2.0-litre petrol versions of the A5 shouldn’t be too thirsty, but if fuel economy is a priority, the diesel is your best bet. This is now assisted by mild hybrid technology which uses a small battery to improve efficiency and allows you to drive the car for a few metres on electricity alone. We managed to get around 45mpg from our diesel test car which is a little short of the official figures, but we expect a more economical route would improve on this. Company car drivers will be disappointed by the lack of plug-in hybrid option so will have to look to BMW or Mercedes to gain the Benefit In Kind incentives given to lower emission vehicles.

German engineering tends to be fairly dependable, however the A5 is built on a new platform which will also be used for the upcoming Q5, so we don’t yet know how reliable it will be. At a brand level Audi hasn’t fared as well for reliability in recent years finishing 24th out of 31 manufacturers in the latest What Car? reliability survey. However, you do get a standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty and you can buy an extended warranty for extra peace of mind.

The A5 comes with the usual suite of safety features as standard including lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, a reversing camera, front emergency braking and systems to detect and prevent you turning into oncoming traffic. While some of these systems are helpful, others can be overly cautious, but the good news is you can easily turn them off in the settings. Opting for a top of the range Edition 1 models also get you some additional airbags, blind spot monitoring with an alert to warn you if you are about to reverse out into traffic and the ability to detect if you’ve left children or pets in the back seats.

This generation of A5 is much more modern than before with nearly all buttons replaced by sleek screens. This helps to create a smart and clean interior, but we were less impressed by the piano black finishings which are a magnet for scratches and fingerprint marks. The A5 has plenty of room for front passengers and even entry-level Sport models get lumbar support and heated seats. If you upgrade to Edition 1 you’ll get electrically adjustable memory functionality too. The A5 is longer than the previous A4, but not as big as the new A6 and as such, rear head- and legroom is fine, but taller passengers may find it tight with those in the middle being impacted by a large transmission tunnel. Saloon models have the flexibility of a hatchback rather than a separate boot compartment which provides a good amount of space, while the Avant offers more room besides. The ride in the A5 was generally composed, but the sports suspension in the Launch Edition car we were driving could be a little harsh and bouncy over rough surfaces. However, refinement overall was good and even the diesel engine was smooth to drive.

The main feature is the large, curved infotainment screen integrated into a second driver display. Top of the range Edition 1 models also gain an additional screen specifically for the passenger. In theory you shouldn’t be able to see this from behind the wheel, but we could still spot it in our peripheral vision. We’re not convinced by this addition, but the optional Sound and Vision Pack is worthwhile as it adds a large head-up display and Bang & Olufsen sound system. All cars have wireless phone charging and following in the footsteps of Volvo, Renault and Nissan, the navigation is now powered by Google, though you can still use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto wirelessly if you prefer. Additionally, there’s Alexa built-in and the option to download further apps from Audi’s app store. On the outside, Edition 1 cars get some snazzy matrix LED headlights with a choice of eight different light signatures and on the S5 the pattern in the taillights can change to communicate warnings to other road users.

There are two petrol versions of the A5 with a 2.0-litre engine and either 150 or 204 horsepower. Alternatively, you can still get a 2.0-litre diesel with 204 horsepower which is available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Our car was the front-wheel drive diesel. This didn’t give you the instantaneous power you’ll get from the all-electric A6, but it made a perfectly decent motorway cruiser. The A5 doesn’t quite live up to Audi’s promise of a dynamic driving experience – we’d recommend a 3 Series if that’s your priority – but it is easy and relaxing to drive, helped by the slick seven-speed automatic gearbox standard on all models. Meanwhile the S5 with its V6 petrol engine offers an alternative for those after a little more grunt.