The A5 is dead! Long live the A5, sort of.

The story starts in 1994 with the Audi A4 hitting showroom floors as one of the most beautiful sedans in the compact executive sedan segment. In 2007, the Audi A5 was revealed as a coupé version of the A4, available with two doors and a four-door sportback variant. In 2025 both the A4 and A5 are dead, sort of.

In a revamp, Audi will now be giving its all-electric vehicles even numeric names. While the internal combustion engine models move to odd numbered names — thus the 2025 A5 is actually the new A4, itself replacing a car which was a coupé version of itself. Got it? Ultimately, it doesn’t matter, as the all-new A5 delivers on the promise of the next generation of Audi sedans.

EXTERIOR

Three decades on the A4, ahem, A5 is still a looker. Audi calls it dynamic and muscular. Most obvious is the new take on the singleframe grille. Given more depth due to a honeycomb structure, the grille is flanked by thin LED headlights that animate, feature adaptive behaviour at night, and can be given different lighting signatures via a menu in infotainment. This continues around the back, where the second generation of OLED lighting integrates into a light strip that runs across the rear of the vehicle. There’s no sportback moniker used here, but the A5 incorporates a sweeping arc past the B-pillar to give an overall appearance of a low sporty sedan.

INTERIOR

The technology begins on approach. The door handles are fixed, requiring only a touch on the inner section for release in conjunction with the keyless entry. Of course, they’re all illuminated and complemented by puddle lamps. Entering the A5 reveals Audi’s E3-based interior. The triple OLED screens, including the two main ones as part of the Audi Panoramic Display, stand out first. Drivers get 11.9-inches as part of the new virtual cockpit, and the infotainment goes a bit bigger at 14.5-inches. Passengers have the option of a 10.9-inch screen for themselves. The current version of Audi MMI moves fast, is razor sharp due to the displays, and has an intuitive user interface. The technology is focused on occupant convenience, allowing access via touch or voice to a wide range of vehicle features, like knowing who is making the command and responding appropriately. As with Audi, it’s the little touches; for example, the ambient lighting provides extra functions, such as warning when a door is open.

As a premium cabin, what is not automated from the infotainment is otherwise powered. The new Premium Platform Combustion interior comes with fresh styling, great material look and feel, and logical ergonomics centred on quality switchgear that includes capacitive touch buttons. There is more refinement due to the space afforded by the change in wheelbase, a further sense of room aided by the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal panoramic sunroof, and a low noise floor. Yet, the car is still able to have that wrap-around sporty feel from the heated and cooled front S-line seats.

ON THE ROAD

Fortunately, the A4 continues to drive as great as it looks. The 2-litre turbo engine delivers power on demand regardless of the drive modes, but its docile and frugal enough for the majority of urban duties. It always works in concert with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, whether crushing highway miles, serving up excitement down a B-road, or shifting into the highest gear possible for fuel consumption efforts.

There’s a host of safety and driver assist functions, such as automatic cruise control that operates down to zero miles an hour to ease the stress of stop-and-go traffic. While it’s not equipped with Quattro, the front-driven wheels do a great job of ensuring confidence behind the wheel with direct turn-in to match the sharp handling afforded by the Audi suspension tuning. In typical fashion, the A5 contains that Audi magic of being able to float over imperfections without affecting passengers, but still retaining a sporty tautness when the corners arrive.

THE VERDICT

Audi could have just mailed this one in, given the demand for sport utility vehicles and a perceived reduction in demand for the traditional sedan. Instead, they’ve imbued the A5 with all the metrics of both their SUV and electric offerings to much success. The 2025 A5, the vehicle formerly known as the A4, proves that Audi hasn’t given up on the segment and will continue to meet the needs of buyers in the market for a premium compact executive sedan.

A combination of sculptural geometry and continuous, three dimensionally offset light strip gives the rear of the new Audi A5 presence and visual dynamism. (Photo: Rory Daley)

The new operating concept of the Audi A5 integrates the slim, free-standing Audi MMI panoramic display consisting of the Audi virtual cockpit with a 11.9-inch visible screen diagonal, the 14.5-inch MMI touch display, and the optional 10.9-inch MMI front passenger display.(Photo: Rory Daley)

The Audi A5 features an optional panoramic glass roof that uses PDLC technology, allowing it to switch from transparent to with four opaque presets at the touch of a button for privacy and sun control.(Photo: Rory Daley)

Along with a generous sense of space and high comfort levels even in the rear, the A5 boasts Audi’s E³ electronic architecture for significant levels of premium features.(Photo: Rory Daley)

The turbo four-cylinder powers the front wheels through a dual-clutch gearbox.(Photo: Rory Daley)

There’s plenty of cargo space. (Photo: Rory Daley)