2025 Audi A5 (A4 Replacement)

The all-new 362bhp Audi S5 will start from a toasty £68,700

Or you can pay Audi another two on top for the Avant

Audi has revealed prices for its S4-that’s-now-the-S5-but-still-sorta-the-S4, with the entry-level saloon starting at £68,700. Or you can have that longer estate thingy for an extra two(ish) grand.

Drive is provided by an all-new 3.0-litre V6 which channels a meaty 362bhp through a dual clutch transmission. It’s also got a 48V mild hybrid system thrown in for all the low-effort driving activities, but despite being a hybrid, expect the usual concoction of snarls and snorts to come out of its quad-tailpipe exhaust when you do up the revs.

The tech and interior have also seen healthy upgrades over the predecessor, with a 14.5in infotainment screen and 11.9in driver’s display augmented with Audi’s latest systems. The diamond-patterned seats also look kinda snug, innit?

But arguably it's the exterior that’s seen the biggest change: a new grille, revised lighting signatures and additional fissures around the body make the S5 look sportier than ever, we’d proffer. Can’t forget those cut-throat alloys either, provided in either 18, 19 or 20in sizes.

 
Audi to start using Huawei's smart driving system in China

According to multiple sources close to a local Chinese media outlet, Audi will start implementing Huawei's advanced driving system for its cars in order to boost appeal in the local market. Recent trends show foreign automakers losing positions in the country, which is Audi's biggest market.

Huawei's driving system will debut on Audi's 2026 ICE models in the country and this will be the last generation of ICE vehicles before the German automaker transitions to NEV (New Energy Vehicles) in China.

The Audi A5 will be the first with Huawei's ADAS (Advanced Driving Assistance System), but it's perhaps safe to assume that all future Audi EVs after it will come equipped with Huawei's tech as well.

 
Audi A5 (2025) International Launch Review

Summary

Having driven the 2025 Audi A5, the biggest question on my mind was: “Is it as good dynamically as the BMW 3 Series, and as luxurious/refined as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class?” While we just had a few hours behind the model’s tiller, the signs are that this is an accomplished product – progress has been made.

However, we suspect that given the lengths Audi has gone to to produce a class-leading car, the German marque will have little choice but to offer the all-new A5 at a hefty premium over the outgoing A4.

A LOT of work has gone into this new-generation vehicle. Was it worth it? Well, when I compare my experience of the all-new A5 with those of the long-serving A4, the newcomer feels lightyears ahead in the ways that matter most: premium feel, a more engaging driving experience and tech galore.

The jury’s still out on the future of the venerable 4-door. Globally, sedan sales figures are flagging as more (no, most) buyers rush to buy high-riding SUVs. But even if the all-new A5 doesn’t sell as strongly as Audi hopes, at least its new-look cabin, hybrid tech and more will make their way into other vehicles.

 
Review: Audi A5 2.0TFSI 150 kW S tronic

Verdict

The A5 has managed to uphold the virtues of quality and comfort for which its predecessor was widely admired, while throwing some additional driver involvement and visual pizazz into the mix, doing enough to make it both competitive with – yet pleasingly distinct from – its compact-executive rivals.

 
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