What does Audi’s S subbrand imply to you? As somebody who day by 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 variety of sports activities vehicles of its day. All-wheel-drive traction, increase for days, and a guide 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 is dependent upon 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 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 an alternative 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 provided me with good meals and wine so I might 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 observe 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 shall be totally electrical fashions. The A5 and S5 will type of exchange the A4 and S4, however the brand new platform is a dimension bigger, splitting the distinction between A4 and A6 within the previous Audi lineup. Audi’s new A5 received’t compete instantly with the BMW 3 Collection or Mercedes C-Class because it usually has, but it surely’s not fairly as giant 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 larger, is what I’m saying.
The automobile 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 automobile 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 previous S4 was 3,800 kilos, so you may guess it’ll be a chunky 4,000 plus.
Other than being barely bigger and driving on frivolously revised platform, the S5 is kind of a revamp of the previous vehicles 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 claimed 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 automobile’s numerous drive modes extra impact within the modifications to suspension damping. The Consolation mode has a noticeably softer really feel, and Sport mode may have you feeling a pea by way of 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 feel the automobile is enticing. It teeters on being a bit lackluster, with its new upright grille and virtually Ford-like aesthetic, however Audi manages to drag it off in a enterprise go well with sort 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 automobile’s inside is a soar ahead by way of expertise and rear seat consolation. A lot of the automobile’s newfound size was added for rear seat legroom, probably in an attraction to the Chinese language market. Earlier than it might have been a bit cramped for a full-sized grownup to take a seat within the again seat, however now it’s totally doable. 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 superb, however a several-hour highway journey would get annoying).
Audi went all-in on screens for the brand new S5. Along with the huge Digital Cockpit display screen behind the steering wheel, you get a curved panoramic 14.5-inch MMI middle display screen. If you wish to, you may possibility in a 3rd 10.9-inch display screen for the passenger as nicely. The passenger display screen can’t function with Apple CarPlay, however it may possibly obtain apps and be used independently, which means your passenger can watch Netflix or YouTube. Some trick new privateness expertise means the driving force can’t see the passenger display screen as soon as the automobile is transferring, except it’s simply set to point out the navigation maps. You possibly can see it crystal clear when the automobile is stopped, however as soon as the automobile will get transferring once more the display screen 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 degree 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 automobile, permitting ChatGPT to reply questions for you whilst you’re driving. I attempted to work together with it a couple of occasions, however like virtually each voice command system I’ve ever used I shortly discovered it annoying and stopped asking.
The factor concerning the Audi S5 I nonetheless can’t cease fascinated 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 manner, the primary time I’ve skilled a snug seat that felt like it might maintain me in place by way of twisty roads. The therapeutic massage features had been barely noticeable nonetheless, I might have favored 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 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 all the directions from the automobile’s navigation system instantly, giving the driving force precisely what they should know with out annoying everybody within the automobile.
In comparison with the BMW M vehicles and Mercedes-AMG fashions that can beat you up for them flawed, the brand new Audi S5 is a snug all-uses sort of automobile. It received’t win any observe 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 nowadays.
This automobile 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 cheap 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, 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 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:
