In a local vehicle market dominated by SUVs, it seems strange that an OEM would bring a sedan to market today. That is, however, what Audi South Africa has done with the launch of the new Audi A5. Many in the automotive sphere believe that sedans are dead and buried, but I am glad to report that there are still some fresh new models out there, and boy, have they got a good thing going.
Related: Audi A5 Coupe 40 TFSi S Line (2021) Review
The new A5 is an exception in a segment that is quickly disappearing in a sea of SUVs. It is a premium motor vehicle that is neither a sports car nor a boring executive four-door. It is longer, wider, and taller than its segment competitors but is packed with tech and features that you would typically only find in vehicles in higher segments, and it has a drive to match. We spent the day with the new model at the local launch.
BMW 4 Series vs Audi A5 vs Mercedes C-Class Coupe: here's our winner.
Styling
The latest A5 is a four-door sedan with a coupe-style rear end and a boot that opens like a coupe hatch. It is longer, wider, and taller than the old model, competing with vehicles found in higher-end classes. The A5 technically competes against the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series, but with its new dimensions, it straddles this class, now competing against the aforementioned models and the likes of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series, finding a neat little space with plenty of elbow room.
It has a sleeker, sportier appearance with large wheels and wide arches. Up front, there are Matrix LED headlights, a flatter and broader single-frame honeycomb grille, and a bonnet line that seamlessly integrates into the bumper and front quarters. Around the back is a continuous 3D light bar for the brake lights, a black lower diffuser, and real exhaust tips emitting a signature bark.
Tech and Features
The interior is a digital artwork dominated by Audi's MMI infotainment and no less than three screens. Audi calls this setup their “Digital Stage,” which is comprised of a curved 14.5-inch infotainment screen, 11.9-inch digital driver display, and 10.9-inch passenger display.
Projected onto the windscreen is also an active heads-up display containing more information than before in a 3D visualisation of the vehicle activity. In terms of fit and finish, it's impeccable, with selectable ambient lighting, soft-touch leather, and trims. The cabin seats five adults comfortably, with passengers entertained by a Bang and Olufsen 20 speaker sound system with four of those speakers integrated into the front headrests for greater sound quality and better telephony from the Android-based infotainment system, which features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
To let the outside in, the panoramic glass roof features electrochromatic glass that, when charged, can go from see-through to opaque with various adjustments to change internal natural light. The front passenger will be able to watch YouTube videos or play video games and use the new voice-activated virtual assistant powered by ChatGPT. At the same time, the driver will get to grips with the outstanding performance of the vehicle.
There will be two tech packages available for customers to customise their A5, those being:
Tech Plus - Includes Matrix LED headlights, Comfort Access, Digital key, 360-degree camera, and various driver assistance systems, including front cross-traffic assist, side assist, exit warning and swerve assist
Tech pro - Builds on the Tech plus package with features such as digital OLED rear lights with selectable light signatures, MMI front passenger display, Steering wheel and Seat heating (front and rear), and S sport suspension with damper control, and adaptive cruise assist plus
The Drive
The new Audi A5 Sedan is powered by two efficient 2.0 TFSI engines: a 146kW/ 340Nm front-wheel drive model and a 200kW / 400Nm Audi quattro all-wheel drive, which we were able to sample both on the day.
Both engines are coupled with a seven-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission, delivering smooth and responsive acceleration. The 200kW quattro model features torque vectoring for improved agility, also available with adaptive damping as part of the Tech pro package. Audi Drive Select allows drivers to adjust performance characteristics between comfort and dynamic modes.
To say that the A5 is sublime to drive is an understatement; it glides along the road absorbing undulations, and when urged along in dynamic mode, it becomes a rather impressive grand tourer. It is nimble for its size and handles well, but it takes a bit of getting used to if you’ve spent many of the last three years driving SUVs. The low-slung seating position is welcome after years of command driving positions and reminds one why sedans are so fantastic to drive. Our only complaint on the day was not having enough time to sample and fully play with everything in the car.
Models and Pricing
| Audi A5 Sedan TFSI 146 kW S line | R 1 123 000 |
| Audi A5 Sedan TFSI 146 kW Black Edition | R 1 166 800 |
| Audi A5 Sedan TFSI 200 kW quattro S line | R 1 238 000 |
| Audi A5 Sedan TFSI 200 kW quattro Black Edition | R 1 281 800 |
Each model is equipped with standard S-line exterior styling. Standard equipment highlights include LED headlights Pro with high beam control, 19-inch wheels with run-flat tyres, S-sport suspension, an electric tailgate, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, park assist plus, rear view camera, MMI Navigation plus with Audi Connect, 3-zone automatic air-conditioning, and sport seats with leather/artificial leather combination upholstery.
Black Edition variants build on this by adding high-gloss black exterior accents, darkened Audi rings, black mirror housings, a bespoke 19-inch black metallic wheel, red brake callipers and darkened rear windows.
All models are sold with a standard 5-year/100,000km Audi Freeway Plan. Customers may also explore Audi Financial Services options, including Audi Assured, to support future value planning.
Verdict
The Audi A5 is a breath of fresh air, a sorbet palate cleanser at a high-end restaurant. It is a niche vehicle in a diminishing market segment that we are truly grateful for, and that Audi is continuing the legacy of premium sedans, even if they look like coupes. Audi plans to introduce another 18 models in the next 12 months, one being an Avant version of this new A5, showing that they are committed to South Africa and that sedans aren't dead yet. The A5 is a driver's car loaded with tech, features, and a feeling you don't get from an SUV.
