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 whole lot of sports activities vehicles of its day. All-wheel-drive traction, increase 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 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 assume it relies 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 not any coupes, convertibles, or sports activities vehicles of any form. 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— although the brand new S5 does have a liftback rear as a substitute of a sedan trunk, successfully changing the outdated S5 Sportback too.
Full disclosure: Audi flew me to Good, France, put me up in a pleasant lodge, 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 normal naming conference we’re used to, in apply by Audi for 30 years, has been thrown out the window. Going ahead, odd numbers are for vehicles with inner combustion engines, whereas even numbers can be totally electrical fashions. The A5 and S5 will kind of exchange the A4 and S4, however the brand new platform is a dimension bigger, splitting the distinction between A4 and A6 within the outdated Audi lineup. Audi’s new A5 received’t compete straight with the BMW 3 Sequence or Mercedes C-Class because it sometimes has, however it’s not fairly as giant because the 5 Sequence 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 automotive relies 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 outdated S5. It nonetheless makes use of Quattro all-wheel drive, too. However as a result of the automotive is greater, it’s really 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 outdated S4 was 3,800 kilos, so you may wager it’ll be a chunky 4,000 plus.
Except for being barely bigger and using on evenly revised platform, the S5 is kind of a revamp of the outdated vehicles it size-up replaces. The driving expertise can 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 numerous drive modes extra impact within the adjustments to suspension damping. The Consolation mode has a noticeably softer really feel, and Sport mode can have you feeling a pea by means 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 feel the automotive is engaging. 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 type of manner. 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 soar ahead when it comes to expertise and rear seat consolation. Many of the automotive’s newfound size was added for rear seat legroom, probably in an enchantment 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 totally attainable. I’m 6-foot-2 on a foul 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 could be tremendous, however a several-hour street 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 may possibility in a 3rd 10.9-inch display for the passenger as effectively. The passenger display can’t function with Apple CarPlay, however it will possibly obtain apps and be used independently, that means your passenger can watch Netflix or YouTube. Some trick new privateness expertise means the motive force can’t see the passenger display as soon as the automotive is transferring, except it’s simply set to point out the navigation maps. You possibly can see it crystal clear when the automotive is stopped, however as soon as the automotive will get transferring 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 whilst you’re driving. I attempted to work together with it just a few occasions, 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 desirous about 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 manner, the primary time I’ve skilled a snug seat that felt like it will maintain me in place by means of twisty roads. The therapeutic massage capabilities have been barely noticeable nonetheless, I might have preferred a bit extra stress.
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 occurring 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 motive force’s headrest transmits the entire directions from the automotive’s navigation system straight, giving the motive force precisely what they should know with out annoying everybody within the automotive.
In comparison with the BMW M vehicles and Mercedes-AMG fashions that may beat you up for them unsuitable, the brand new Audi S5 is a snug all-uses type of automotive. It received’t win any observe days, however it’ll eat up a mountain street with relative ease, and with out inflicting seasickness in your passengers. Audi calls this a Grand Touring Sedan, and I assume that describes it effectively sufficient, although a real Grand Tourer would in all probability have extra energy today.
This automotive 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 cheap gas 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, at any time when 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 customer for an S5 can be discovered someplace within the center floor. If you need moderately fast and comfy, and don’t wish to shell out for all of the pace and aggression of an RS, perhaps the S5 goes to suit your invoice.
Additionally, right here’s a cute canine I noticed in France:
