Audi A5 Coupe 35 TFSI (2020 - )

The Audi A5 line-up is extensive with coupes, cabriolets and sportback versions, as well as the powerhouse S5 and RS5 high-performance models. Then when you have decided on the body styling, it’s a case of choosing from a wide range of trims, engines and, of course, options.

But whatever car you end up with, one factor is guaranteed - it will deliver miles upon miles of enjoyable driving with a wealth of high-end technology to explore and a generous list of safety equipment as standard.

It faces stiff opposition from fellow German carmakers BMW and Mercedes, but the A5 Coupe can certainly compete at the highest level.

The Audi A5 Coupe is available in trim levels called Sport, S line, Black Edition and Vorsprung with a choice of punchy, yet efficient powertrains.

We opted for the entry-level Sport version powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine delivering 150ps and 270Nm of torque. This car, which is the least powerful in the line-up, can reach 62mph from a standstill in 8.9 seconds and maxes out at 130.5mph.

The acceleration out the blocks is not blisteringly fast, but its certainly decent enough and the all-round performance also impressed. The seven-speed automatic S tronic gearbox is perfectly timed with steering wheel paddles so you can change gears manually.

There are drive modes called Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual that change the characteristics of the car with Dynamic sharpening up the gear shifts, throttle, braking and steering responses.

The A5 Coupe is very at home cruising at 70mph on motorways but can also put in a decent shift when faced with the more testing country lanes. Measuring more than two metres across, it does feel quite wide at times especially on narrow B roads. But with lots of sensors and a reversing camera, weaving through busy town centres is easy enough with nice light steering for improved agility.

The Audi A5 Coupe looks dynamic in its design and can certainly put in a very impressive performance out on the open road. The grip is confident and there is next-to-no body movement into sharp bends. There are more exhilarating models to drive, but it’s worth remembering we were testing the least powerful (and cheapest) version. Step up to the likes of the S5 or RS5 and the wow factor is instant.

With its low centre of gravity, the A5 Coupe is well balanced and there are generous amounts of feedback from the direct steering. 

The five-link front and rear axle suspension does a really good job of ironing out the creases in the road, but you will feel the full force of any unexpected potholes.

As is the Audi way, the A5 Coupe is really well insulated so occupants are protected from road tyre rumble, wind or engine noise. Our car was riding on 18-inch wheels which were the perfect match. Go any bigger and the refinement will take a hit and also the quality of ride will be less impressive.

The deep wide stance of the two-door, four-seat Audi A5 Coupe gives it a very muscualr, athletic appearance. There are LED headlights as standard with the excellent Matrix LED headlights available from S line model upwards.

Sport-designed front and rear bumpers along with side skirts, a rear diffuser in matt black and body coloured door handles complete the look.

The car stretches 4.7 metres in length, is more than two metres wide and just over 1.3 metres in height. So, it would be fair to say it possesses quite a lot of road presence, especially with its sleek streamlining, twin exhaust pipes and smart alloy wheels.

Move inside and the cabin is upmarket, elegant and clutter-free. There is a wealth of technology on display and the interior is crafted from premium quality leather upholstery, soft-touch surfaces and smart decorative aluminium trimmings. A panoramic sunroof allows light to flow into the cabin and the steering wheel and gear lever are trimmed in leather.

Ambient lighting and illuminated footwells add to the car’s appeal.

Finding the perfect driving position behind the wheel of the Audi A5 Coupe is simple enough with plenty of manual seat and steering wheel adjustment. There is also four-way lumbar support which is easily controlled.

Behind the steering wheel is a 12.3-inch colour digital instrument cluster that can be personalised to taste. This is where all the vital driving data is displayed with the appearance changing as you switch through the various drive modes.

A 10.1-inch high-resolution infotainment touchscreen is housed on the top of the dashboard and this is where you will discover the on-board systems such as the navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, DAB digital radio and pitch perfect Bang & Olufsen sound system, which was part of the Comfort and Sound Pack that cost an additional £1,395.

There is a separate panel for all the climate control settings which is always good and leads to less driver distraction and the heated seats help fend off the winter blues.

You do sit quite low down in the A5 Coupe but the view forwards and sideways is good. Wide B pillars rather obstruct the over-the-shoulder visibility and the design of the car, with its tapering roofline, results in a narrow rear windscreen. There are lots of sensors and a reversing camera to help when parking though.

By the very nature of its two-door sleek coupe design, this A5 is never going to be practical family option. Yes, there is space in the back for two passengers with a decent amount of legroom when the front seats are not pushed back too far, but it still means clambering over folded-forward seats to get in and out of the car.
Up front though, there is oodles of space to stretch out and the boot has a decent storage limit for a coupe too with a 450-litre capacity. In addition, there’s plenty of handy compartments scattered throughout the cabin. 
These include a lockable glovebox, narrow door pockets, a deep tray, central cubby box, cup holders and a wireless charging pad beneath the front armrest.

The Audi A5 Coupe is priced from £38,080 for the Sport model up to £56,700 for the high-end Vorsprung edition. We tested the entry-level A5 Coupe Sport and the price of that increased to £42,830 when some options were added.

These included a Storage Pack (£195), special alloys (£150), a panoramic glass sunroof (£1,400) and a Comfort & Sound Pack (£1,395).

When it comes to day-to-day running costs, our test car powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine, could deliver a combined 45.6mpg with carbon emissions of 141g/km under WLTP testing.

That CO2 figure would result in a first year Vehicle Excise Duty charge, or road tax as it’s more commonly known, of £220 dropping to the standard fee of £155 after 12 months.

However, because the vehicle costs more than £40k, there is an additional premium car levy surcharge of £335 for five years beginning 12 months after registration.

The insurance rating for the Audi A5 Coupe test car is group 29.

Audi tends to finish around the mid-table mark when it comes to customer satisfaction surveys, but the German manufacturer has an excellent reputation for developing top quality and reliable cars that run and run.

Audi’s powertrains and transmissions are all tried and tested and passed with flying colours, so this 2.0-litre petrol unit should deliver many miles of trouble-free motoring

The interior of the A5 Coupe oozes quality with premium upholstery, soft touch surfaces and sturdy-looking switchgear throughout. There is a chunky gear lever, separate controls for the air conditioning so you don’t have to navigate the touchscreen to adjust the temperature, The touchscreen is a little prone to mucky fingerprints but is easily wiped clean.

And black is always a good colour choice for any car interior. It may not be that striking in its appearance, but it is practical.

The vehicle comes with Audi’s three year, 60,000-mile warranty for added peace of mind.

The latest A5 Coupe was awarded the maximum five stars when tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating and even our entry-level Sport trim model was kitted out with an extensive range of driver assistance aids.

These included Pre-sense city that uses a camera positioned on the rear-view mirror to detect vehicles and pedestrians in front of the car. If a collision is imminent, the driver is warned and, if the warnings are ignored, the car will in turn brake the vehicle. This works at speeds of up to 52mph.

Additional safety features include cruise control with speed limiter, multi-collision brake assist and hill hold assist.

These systems complement the more standard safety kit such as a pop-up bonnet for pedestrian protection, electronic stability control including anti-lock brakes, Isofix child seat mountings, six airbags along with a comprehensive anti-theft alarm.

The two-door A5 Coupe may not be the most practical car out there, but it oozes style, drives beautifully and even comes with a very decent price-tag … for a premium model.