2025 Audi A5: A4 Replacement is Still a Treat to Drive
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Nice, France—After somewhat taking a break last year, Audi is now busy revamping its model lineup for 2025. Headliners include electric vehicles like the all-new Q6 e-tron midsize crossover, the substantially refreshed e-tron GT sports sedan and the upcoming new A6 e-tron midsize sedan.
What about conventionally powered vehicles? Big names are getting a special treatment for 2025, too. The Q5 compact SUV is completely redesigned. The A4 compact sedan is carried over and will be sold alongside its successor, the 2025 Audi A5, which we recently got the opportunity to drive on the roads of Provence in France.
To be clear, the German luxury brand is currently in the process of revising its nomenclature, giving odd numbers to gas-powered models and even numbers to electric ones. That’s why the A4 will become the new A5 moving forward. In Europe and other markets, the A5 and the sportier S5 will be available in sedan and wagon body styles, the latter known as Avant. That won’t be the case in SUV-obsessed North America, where only the former will be offered.
It’s a shame Audi keeps denying wagon lovers on this side of the Atlantic most of the Avant models that it sells back home. The latest decision came from the U.S., and Canada inevitably had to follow suit.
Like a Sportback
The five-door A5 Sportback is on the way out since the new A5 sedan comes with a rear hatch instead of a conventional trunk. The “Sportback” moniker will be tossed aside simultaneously.
Look for prices to increase quite a bit as a result. Of course, you can’t really blame Audi as many other luxury brands are doing the same thing. Incidentally, the 2025 A5 is the first Audi to be built on the new Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture, to be shared with the third-generation Q5.
A Dynamic Performer
Said platform makes the new A5 more dynamic than the outgoing A4. Suspension geometry has been revised and new progressive-ratio steering makes for sharper cornering, as we found out while driving across the French countryside. The latter also assists during parking manoeuvres as drivers don’t have to turn the wheel as much.
Once again, there are various drive modes to choose from via Audi Drive Select. Dynamic mode firms up the steering system, ensuring a tighter connection with the road.
S5 Gets Electrified and Turbocharged V6
Handling is enhanced in the sportier S5 thanks to a torque-vectoring sport differential. A synchronous electric motor fed by a 1.8kW lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and a 48V mild hybrid system are part of the mix. The motor is located right next to the transmission and provides an extra 24 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque, benefiting acceleration and passing manoeuvres alike. It also helps maintain cruising speeds in more efficient fashion and is the only power source required when reversing.
Fuel savings are said to be around 0.74 L/100 km, but make no mistake: the primary reason for the system is to boost performance. The electrically assisted and turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 in the S5 generates 367 total horsepower and allows 0-100 km/h sprints in 4.5 seconds. The car showed remarkable poise and predictability on the mountain roads we encountered during our trip in France.
Plug-in Hybrids Are Coming
The base A5 features a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with variable-turbine geometry that delivers 204 horsepower in Euro-spec models and is expected to churn out 268 horsepower in Canadian-bound units. The engine is a good match but proves noisy at higher revs.
Audi has confirmed that plug-in hybrid variants of the A5 and S5 are on the way. Details for those will be shared at a later date, but the company is promising 100 km of zero-emission range based on the optimistic WLTP test cycle. We also know that a high-performance RS 5 will follow at some point, likely using an electrified powertrain in a bid to challenge the 671-horsepower Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance. In fact, that model could be revealed soon.
Displays for Everybody
Similar to the Q6 e-tron, the main highlight inside the new A5 is what Audi designers call the Digital Stage, a curved digital panel combining an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit with a 14.5-inch touchscreen. Optionally, a third display (10.9 inches in size) allows the front passenger to either assist with navigation or watch movies through streaming platforms such as YouTube, Amazon Prime and Disney+.
The three separate displays make for a busy dashboard, but all the information and content is clear, the menus are intuitive, and navigating through it all is quick and easy. The native GPS boasts remarkably crisp graphics. Same thing for the head-up display on the windshield, which adds confidence when following a route in unfamiliar territory.
Bottom Line
The new 2025 Audi A5 sedan lives up to the brand’s reputation for build quality and driving dynamics while offering cutting-edge technology. We think the Avant body style is even sleeker, not to mention more versatile than the five-door fastback, so it’s a real shame we won’t get it in Canada.
