The Audi A5 Is Actually the A4, Just Renamed to Confuse Everyone
All three reviews open with the same genuinely bemusing backstory: Audi renamed its long-running A4 saloon to A5 as part of a wider naming shake-up, then partly reversed course on that same strategy shortly after — meaning this "new" A5 is really just the next-generation A4 wearing a different badge.
A Name Change That Solved Nothing, Confused Everyone
Audi's plan was simple in theory: even numbers for electric cars, odd numbers for combustion. Reviewers keep noting that plan barely survived contact with reality, leaving buyers to work out that the new A5 is simply what used to be the A4.
Specs at a Glance
| Body styles | Saloon (liftback) and Avant estate |
|---|---|
| Engines | 2.0 TFSI 150, 2.0 TDI 204, e-Hybrid PHEV (295bhp), S5 (362bhp V6) |
| PHEV electric range | Up to 67 miles official |
| Length | Just over 4.8 metres (both saloon and estate) |
| Boot space | 445 litres (417 litres with quattro) |
Full Review Summary
Top Gear
Top Gear found the entry 148bhp petrol relaxed enough for country roads despite an unremarkable 9.8-second 0-62mph time, and rated the plug-in hybrid's 67-mile electric range as genuinely useful, though best driven gently to hit its claimed 141mpg figure. They praised Audi's effort in making the car neutral and reassuring to drive, while conceding it isn't a particularly fun car, with even the warmer S5 falling short of outright excitement.
What Car?
What Car? measured the quattro-equipped diesel at 6.9 seconds 0-62mph thanks to superior all-weather traction, and rated the e-Hybrid's engine-to-electric transitions as genuinely smooth, capable of running near-silently on electric power until the throttle is fully floored. They found the A5 Avant's handling meaningfully sharper than the outgoing A4 Avant, though still rated the BMW 3 Series Touring as more engaging thanks to meatier steering and a more agile feel overall.
Carwow
Carwow praised genuinely fantastic build quality and a spacious cabin, though found the enormous new screens and thick steering wheel create a slightly claustrophobic feel looking straight ahead. They rated boot space as adequate but smaller than the Mercedes C-Class or BMW 3 Series, and found the car easy and relaxed to drive around town, if not particularly engaging on a twisty road without stepping up to the S5.
Strengths
- Excellent build quality and cabin materials
- Smooth, refined plug-in hybrid power delivery
- Strong all-weather traction with quattro all-wheel drive
- Comfortable, relaxed everyday driving experience
Weak points
- Not as engaging to drive as the BMW 3 Series
- Boot space trails key rivals
- Confusing naming strategy inherited from Audi's wider model-line shake-up
- Large screens and thick steering wheel feel slightly overwhelming
Who It Actually Suits
Buyers who want genuine Audi build quality and a comfortable, reassuring drive over outright handling engagement. The e-Hybrid is worth serious consideration for company car drivers given its useful electric range, while keen drivers should look at the S5 or a BMW 3 Series instead.