2025 Audi S5 Avant review

7NEWS

17-07-2025

The Audi A4 has been a staple of the German luxury marque's lineup since 1994, but it's dead… for now.
Yes, the long-running A4 nameplate was culled in Audi's recent lineup shuffle, which makes all-electric model names even-numbered and combustion- and hybrid-powered nameplates odd-numbered. It has since backtracked, but the mid-size passenger slot had already been renewed and revealed before Audi could bring back the A4 badge.
Enter the 2025 Audi A5 and S5 sedan and wagon (Avant) , which effectively combine both the old A4 and A5 ranges into one lineup. The new model is larger in just about every dimension compared to its A4 and A5 predecessors, and brings the brand's latest tech to the table.
From launch, the non-performance A5 is sedan-only, with the high-performance S5 available in two variations as well as sedan and Avant body styles. The new A5/S5 family is the first model to bring Audi's new PPC (Premium Platform Combustion) to Australia, with the related Q5 mid-size SUV up next.
The S5 also debuts Audi's new mild-hybrid 'plus' system in Australia, extending the regular fuel-saving 48V mild-hybrid tech by allowing the vehicle to roll around at low speeds in EV mode and reducing combined fuel consumption by up to 0.74L/100km.
It's no secret that passenger car sales are down, and the A5/S5 is up against stiff competition in the premium mid-size car category, including the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, among others. Further, you could argue the Avant in particular is trying to make a case for not buying an SUV, even if the incoming Q5 will prove to be in-house competition.
To find out whether Audi's new mid-sizer is worth a look, we attended the Australian media launch in Victoria for our first local drive. We'll touch on the wider launch range in this review, but focus is on the high-output S5 models.
How much does the Audi S5 cost?
What? A new car that's cheaper than its predecessor? Madness in 2025…
The Audi S5′ edition one' is something of a 'purist' specification that does without some of the creature comforts for a $15,000 discount over the full-fat S5s, and also well undercuts the outgoing S4.
Even the regular S5 is only a couple grand more than the ageing S4 it replaces, while offering more power, performance and standard specification.
While the headline act for the standard A5's price and specs is that the entry point rises substantially, spec-for-spec the 150kW A5 Sedan is more powerful and better equipped than the old A4 35 TFSI S line (110kW), and cheaper than the old A4 45 TFSI quattro (180kW) while offering more standard specification.
Later this year, Audi will add four new variants in the form of the 200kW TFSI quattro and 270kW e-hybrid quattro, in both Sedan and Avant body styles. The limited-run edition one is expected to be out of stock by then – more details further down.
To see how the Audi S5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What is the Audi S5 like on the inside?
The new A5 and S5 usher in a new generation of interiors for Audi, laden with bright and sharp OLED screens just about everywhere and moving away from the more classic, conventional layout of old.
The new 'digital stage' interior layout is in full effect in the cabin of the flagship S5, with the 11.9-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus (digital instrument cluster) and 14.5-inch MMI navigation plus infotainment touchscreen bolstered by an additional 10.9-inch passenger-side multimedia touchscreen.
Compared to Audi's pared-back, fairly traditional cockpits of old, the new layout and interface can be a little daunting, even jarring. There's a lot of piano black in the bezels of the curved housing of the main driver displays, as well as the centre console, too.
The interface is now powered by Android, which explains the smartphone-like widgets and app drawer. Audi says the software is fully tailored to the brand, and allows the installation of a wider set of in-car apps via the Audi Application Store as well as over-the-air software updates.
While it's generally fairly usable and definitely not as fiddly as some other touch control-heavy interiors within the Volkswagen Group, the A5/S5's infotainment interface feels less conventional and less user-friendly than the previous generation of MMI.
The displays offer beautiful clarity, brightness and graphics, though the widget-based menu structure isn't as clean as the tiled system it replaces and you will need to spend a bit more time learning where everything is.
Unfortunately, Audi has also moved the A5 to touch-based climate controls, housed in a permanent virtual toolbar at the base of the central display. These aren't as user-friendly as even the clicky touch controls in larger vehicles like the Q7 and Q8, and feel like a step back.
The toolbar is small relative to the available display real estate, as are the virtual buttons, meaning any quick changes while on the move require your eyes to be averted from the road and often result in a press of the neighbouring button or pressing it one too many times.
I'm also not a big fan of the new multifunction steering wheel controls, which feel like a halfway house between Audi's old tactile physical buttons and the more fiddly touch-capacitive controls used in other VW Group models. They're not bad, but they're not great, either.
Be prepared to have a microfibre cloth always at the ready too, because the glossy finish of the display and the swathes of piano black trim are a nightmare for fingerprints and smudges. But it's not all bad, I promise.
Quick load times and gorgeously bright colours make these displays beautiful to look at, and while I miss the beautiful simplicity of the old Audi virtual cockpit layout, the new one with its central dial and adjustable side widgets make me feel like I'm wearing Iron Man's helmet.
As you'd expect, the S5's infotainment fitout comes fully equipped with connected services, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB+ digital radio, as well as native navigation with online mapping. The S5 (optional in the edition one) also comes as standard with a thumping 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system.
At full blast this immersive in-car sound experience is fantastic – though if you turn the bass and subwoofer up too high I reckon it might feel too much like a nightclub. In the standard S5, you can also opt for additional speakers built into the front head restraints for $980, bringing the speaker count to 20.
I didn't spend much time with the passenger display because I drove by myself at the event, but a quick play with the screen reveals it's much like the available passenger displays in Porsche products, in that it basically acts as a secondary infotainment unit for the person riding shotgun, and has a privacy layer to prevent distracting the driver when the vehicle is in motion.
The general feeling of quality is pretty good, with a good mix of soft-touch and textured materials dotted throughout the cabin. Being the flagship, the S5 gets lovely contrast stitch detailing for the extended leather and leatherette-clad upholstery extended pretty much everywhere, pairing nicely with the beautifully supportive fine Nappa leather-trimmed sports seats with diamond quilting.
Being a wagon, you'd expect decent levels of practicality in the S5 Avant too. There's good space for four adults, though the protruding rear centre console and raised centre seat cushion mean a full-size fifth passenger might only be a good idea on the odd occasion.
It can all feel quite closed in if you choose the standard black interior – I personally would be quickly rushing to tick the red interior option box – and while the rear windows are decent in size, the rising shoulder line restricts outward visibility for shorter passengers.
Forward visibility is also obstructed by those chunky front seatbacks with integrated head restraints, which is something to consider if your children are prone to motion sickness, and also makes it hard for adult passengers to see out.
That said, you can really open up the cabin with the available panoramic glass roof, though you need to pay $4990 for the privilege. The optional roof also comes with what Audi calls 'switchable transparency', basically utilising similar tech to the Porsche Taycan whereby a liquid crystal sandwiched between two glass panels can be turned clear or opaque using electricity.
That may all sound a little naff to you, but it removes the need for a conventional shade, which opens up more headroom while in theory offering similar if not better insulation from heat and UV rays.
Rear climate controls and USB-C charge ports add to the back-seat amenity, and there are your requisite ISOFIX and top-tether anchors for child seats should you need them. Fun fact? The rear USB-C ports can output 100W to charge larger devices like laptops should you need the extra juice, too.
You might expect the S5 Avant to have a vastly larger and more practical boot than the S5 Sedan, but it's actually not all that much larger. Audi quotes 448 litres with the rear seats in place and 1396 litres with the second row folded, which is not a huge difference to the Sedan's 417-1271L.
That's because the A5/S5 Sedan is actually a liftback, giving it a much larger opening than a conventional sedan with bootlid, and basically giving you the choice of two hatchback designs. Still, I'd go the Avant every time.
As is seemingly customary in most premium products these days, particularly European ones, there is no spare tyre – just a repair kit.
To see how the Audi S5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What's under the bonnet?
At launch, just the 150kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and the 270kW 3.0-litre V6 turbo-petrol engines are available, the latter with Audi's new MHEV plus 48V mild-hybrid system.
Overseas, there are also MHEV plus-equipped TFSI petrol and TDI diesel variants, and Audi's local product team has left the door open to offering more mild-hybrids here, though it hasn't confirmed when we might see them.
Speaking of, the MHEV plus tech is effectively an extended 48V mild-hybrid system that can drive in EV mode unassisted at low speeds, like when crawling in traffic or rolling in carparks. Audi says official combined-cycle testing shows the system can save 0.74L/100km of fuel – likely more in stop-start traffic than in the real world.
The system consists of an 18kW motor/generator mounted to the S tronic dual-clutch transmission, powered by a 1.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Audi claims its MHEV plus tech boosts performance and cuts turbo lag, in addition to the fuel savings that result from this.
Following the initial launch, Audi Australia has confirmed it will release the TFSI 200kW quattro and e-hybrid 270kW quattro variants, both of which will be available in sedan and wagon body styles.
The latter is the first plug-in hybrid Audi in the mid-size passenger car segment, and claims to offer just under 90km of WLTP-certified driving range while being about half a second slower from 0-100km/h than the hi-po S5.
To see how the Audi S5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How does the Audi S5 drive?
The Victorian-based launch drive program took us from Melbourne Airport and up Mount Macedon north-west of the Victorian capital, then to the regional town of Trentham before returning back to the airport.
Above: S5 Avant
Not only did this drive program have a good mix of road and traffic conditions, but we got a typically Victorian mix of weather conditions too – including rain and light snow.
Having started the event in a base-spec A5 Sedan 150kW (more on that in a dedicated review soon), the full-fat S5 Avant I drove next definitely had its own distinct personality and sound by comparison.
The petrol V6 has a brassy muted growl which sounds quite purposeful when tested back to back with the standard A5's 2.0-litre four-pot, and the substantial increased in grunt as well as quattro all-wheel drive make it quite a lot faster.
Audi quotes a 0-100km/h time of just 4.5 seconds, which is seriously quick in anyone's money for a family car. But it actually feels quicker when rolling, steaming along with very responsive acceleration and a meaty mid-range punch that just shoves you along.
The S5's maximum torque of 550Nm is available from just 1700rpm, but the extra boost from the mild-hybrid system means you don't really get that sensation of turbo lag on initial throttle input thanks to the immediacy of torque from the electrified tech.
Audi's quattro AWD system offers excellent grip in all weather conditions, and the standard quattro sport differential on the rear axle additionally shuffles drive to the rear wheel with the most grip to provide even more rear-end traction in addition to the rear-biased torque split. It makes for some pretty silly fun on twisty B-roads like those we encountered on the launch drive.
In addition to the addictive acceleration and response, the S5 is a pretty capable handler with quick steering and heaps of grip as mentioned earlier. While the steering in typical Audi fashion could do with a little more weight and feedback, the S5 Avant is a pretty rad grand tourer that is very eager to eat up any back road.
The V6's lovely brassy tone makes itself well known at full noise and as the revs rise, though it's not as sonorous as some might like. Blame ever-stricter European emissions and noise regulations that continue to strangle powertrains like this, but you do get little burbles and cracks at the limit.
The S5 does pump real engine noise into the cabin via the speakers to compensate and, while it's much better than the fake sounds used by other brands, you may still be left wanting for some fuller sounds.
Above: S5 Avant edition one
Should you want to take more control, you can shift gears yourself via the steering wheel-mounted paddles, though the S5 has a habit of shifting up for you if you are about to hit the rev-limiter.
The adjustable damping does change up noticeably enough when playing around with the Audi drive select modes too. Even in its dynamic mode, the S5 is far from uncomfortable. Some may be tempted to always drive in this setting with the transmission left in D (rather than S) to get the most direct steering feel and fullest engine sound.
Insulation from road and wind noise is also impressive given the S5's more athletic bent and its performance-focused tyres. Only on the roughest patches of bitumen did the Pirelli P Zero tyres drum up a bit of road roar, but it was still pretty well suppressed.
The MHEV plus system also really puts itself to work when you're not in dynamic mode. When coasting or coming to a stop, the 48V system will constantly shut the engine off to save fuel, and at lower speeds will also do its best to stay in EV mode as you roll along.
We still didn't manage to get under fuel consumption of 10L/100km during our pretty spirited stints behind the wheel of the S5 Avant, but I imagine in more realistic daily driving conditions like peak-hour commuting and the school run, this will help add a few kilometres per litre compared to a non MHEV-assisted powertrain.
I had a shorter drive in the S5 Avant edition one back-to-back with the full-fat S5 Avant as well, to see if the more purist spec provided a significantly different experience to go with its $15,000 lower price tag – yep, that much.
You get the same thumping V6 TFSI drivetrain but without the adaptive chassis tech, as well as fewer luxuries in the cabin, but really if your focus is the driving experience the edition one could be seen as an incredible bargain.
The smaller alloy wheels help to compensate for the lack of adaptive damping, with a well-sorted ride that errs closer to the firmer setting of the flagship model but does incredibly well to iron out the lumps and bumps of country roads, while also communicating the surface in a way that an S buyer would want.
If anything, it's a more focused experience, which is what Audi's product planners were aiming for. Should you be looking into the S5, I'd strongly suggest considering the edition one if you're not hell bent on having every option.
Finally, the assistance systems. The S5 (and the wider A5 lineup) comes standard with most things you'd expect, like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and surround cameras, but like the Q6 e-tron SUV, active lane centring is not fitted for the time being.
Audi Australia says it should come with a running change at the factory later this year, bringing semi-autonomous driving abilities to its premium mid-sizer.
The more advanced lane-keeping system is currently being tailored to Australian road conditions including our unique lane markings, for example, and will likely be retrofittable by dealers in vehicles if the hardware has already been included at the factory.
It's perhaps the only real kink in the S5's driver assistance armour, given Audi's active safety technologies are all well calibrated and pretty user-friendly in practice.
To see how the Audi S5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What do you get?
Three distinct trim levels are available at launch, including the S5 edition one that is more of a pared-back 'purist' variant. It will be effectively replaced by the TFSI 200kW and e-hybrid 270kW quattro variants later this year.
Above: A5 sedan
2025 Audi A5 TFSI 150kW equipment mhighlights:
19-inch alloy wheels
S line exterior
Matrix LED headlights
Convenience key – keyless entry
Projection light in exterior mirrors
Electric tailgate with gesture control
Digital key
11.9-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus
14.5-inch MMI navigation plus
Audi sound system
Audi connect plus
Audi smartphone interface
DAB radio
Audi phone box light – wireless phone charger
USB-C charge points – front, rear
Sport front seats with integrated headrests
Leather/leatherette upholstery
Wraparound interior elements – leatherette
Tri-zone climate control
Electric front seats
Heated front seats
Colour ambient lighting
A5 TFSI 200kW quattro adds:
19-inch alloy wheels – different design
S line interior
Sport front seats incl. S embossing
Door sill trims with aluminium inlays
Inlays in brushed aluminium with linear embossing
Sport leather steering wheel – 3-spoke, flat top/bottom
Stainless steel pedals
Black headlining
Roof rails – Avant
A5 e-hybrid 270kW quattro adds:
20-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels
Sport suspension
Red brake calipers
Black exterior styling package
Black roof rails – Avant
Privacy glass
Auxiliary air conditioning
AC charging port
11kW AC 3-phase charging
240V 3-pin. Australian standard plug
230V 32-amp CEE industrial plug
Type 2 charging cable for public charging
Wall bracket for mounting of charger
Above: S5 Avant
2025 Audi S5 edition one equipment highlights:
19-inch alloy wheels – black
S exterior styling
S sports suspension
Red brake calipers
Black exterior styling package
Black roof rails – Avant
Dinamica microfibre/leather upholstery with S embossing
Wraparound interior elements in Dinamica microfibre
Headlining in black
Door sill trims with aluminium inlays
Pedals in stainless steel
Sport leather steering wheel – 3-spoke, S emblem
S5 adds:
S design 20-inch alloy wheels
S exterior aluminium styling
Aluminium roof rails – Avant
S sport suspension incl. adjustable damping
Digital OLED tail-lights
Fine Nappa leather upholstery
Seats with illuminated S emblem
Heated front, rear seats
Heated steering wheel
Ventilated front seats
Massaging front seats
Electric steering column adjustment
Colour ambient lighting incl. dynamic interaction light strip
Head-up display
100W USB-C charge ports
Bang & Olufsen 3D premium sound
MMI front passenger touchscreen display
To see how the Audi S5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
Options
The S5 is available with selected options depending on the variant.
MMI pro package: $6000 (S5 edition one)
Head-up display
High-powered USB charge ports – rear
Bang & Olufsen 3D premium sound system
Single-item options include:
Ascari blue metallic paint: $2100
Audi exclusive individual paint – S5: $9700
Black exterior styling package – S5: $2490
Rear privacy glass – S5 edition one: $1100
Panoramic glass roof with switchable transparency: $4990
10.9-inch MMI front passenger display – S5 edition one: $1950
To see how the Audi S5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
Is the Audi S5 safe?
The Audi A5 and S5 have yet to be tested by ANCAP, though the A5 did receive a five-star rating from sister authority Euro NCAP in 2024.
Standard safety equipment across the range includes:
Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection
Blind-spot monitoring
Driver attention monitoring
Front cross-traffic assist
Lane-keep assist
Front and rear turn assist
Rear cross-traffic assist
Swerve assist
Vehicle exit warning
Surround-view camera
Front and rear parking sensors
Front, side and curtain airbags
To see how the Audi S5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How much does the Audi S5 cost to run?
The A5 and S5 range is covered by Audi Australia's five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Roadside assistance is included for the duration of the warranty period, too.
To see how the Audi S5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
CarExpert's Take on the Audi S5
The new S5 Avant is a lovely luxury family express, and makes a pretty good case for itself alongside rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
Regardless if you go for the value-driven edition one or the full-house flagship, the S5 offers serious straight-line performance and strong dynamic capabilities, backed by swathes of luxury, tech and everyday practicality.
The new Android-based infotainment setup, at least in this reviewer's opinion, perhaps isn't as polished as the old interface from launch, but it has the ability to be improved and refined as time goes on. And the omission of lane centring technology from launch is disappointing – though this will also be addressed moving forward, and I'm sure not everyone will want it anyway.
Long-time Audi fans may also lament the move to a more touchscreen-heavy and buttonless interior layout, though in the current landscape I'd still argue the four-ringed marque's approach is no worse than its rivals.
Audi is also showing its commitment to the everyday performance wagon. BMW only offers the lesser 330i Touring or high-po M3 Touring, while Mercedes-Benz no longer offers any C-Class Estate in Australia – AMG or not. In today's market that's something to be commended, as is the confirmation of two more Avant variants coming soon.
For around $100,000, the S5 edition one is pretty good value for money, and doesn't really miss out on anything we'd consider must-haves. So I suggest you choose that and pocket the $15,000 for another family treat.
Oh, and #SaveTheWagon!
Interested in buying an Audi S5? Let CarExpert find you the best deal here
MORE: Explore the Audi S5 showroom
Pros
#SaveTheWagon!
It's properly quick
Sharply priced edition one
Cons
Some tech quibbles and omissions
Avant not much bigger than sedan
Some expensive options and packs
This article was originally published from CarExpert and appears with permission.