Audi’s sedan lineup has always been terrific, known for offering just the right amount of class and luxury without feeling tacky or going overboard. And whenever Audi has swapped the A for an S on the badge, enthusiasts have been more or less happy with what follows: a balanced sedan that balances its luxury with performance, with a dash of style. The same is the case with the A4/A5 sedans and the S5 Sportback, which bridged the gap between a sports coupe and a luxury sedan.
Ever since its inception in 2007, the Audi S5 Sportback has always been about balance, bringing together the best features from multiple Audi cars, not just their corresponding layperson sedans. Think: the A7’s aggressive stance, the A4’s refined qualities, and the performance pedigree that comes with the S badge. Despite being an attractive choice, the S5 Sportback never really got the balance just right. Fortunately, the new S5, in its B10 iteration, promises to fix that.
The Outgoing Audi S5 Was An Almost Perfect Luxury Sport Sedan
The Audi S5 Sportback, as it was known in its previous B9 iteration, was a capable luxury sports sedan that won over the hearts of enthusiasts, including yours truly. It looked sleek, with its sloping coupe-like roofline and sharp shoulder lines, and it had the performance to back that look up. Powered by a turbocharged V6 engine, it delivered 349 horsepower through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels, resulting in brisk acceleration. Add to that its Quattro-backed sharp reflexes, which give you the confidence to chuck the car into corners even if it’s your first time behind the S5’s wheel.
Despite all its highlights, the S5 never really hit the mark for many enthusiasts, neither as a sports coupe nor as a luxury sedan. See, the cabin had all the upmarket materials and plenty of tech features to satisfy a modern buyer… back in 2018, when the B9 generation debuted. By 2025, it had started to feel a bit outdated, with rivals either catching up or surpassing it in terms of luxury and features. The rear wasn’t that spacious, either. And one comment on Reddit read, “the [2024] S5 has aged beautifully,” which shouldn’t be the case for a brand-new car that you pay $60,000 for.
On the performance front, the S5, while being great for most enthusiasts, fell a bit short of hitting the nail on its head. Its primary rival, the BMW M340i, was the benchmark here, and the S5 was often criticized for not having the same soul and drama as its Bimmer rival. Also, the M340i was more powerful, with 374 horsepower on tap, aided by a mild hybrid system. Owners also complained the S5 Sportback’s transmission wasn’t as quick as the Bimmer’s ZF-sourced unit. Put simply, the BMW M340i just offered a better driving experience for the price.
That Changes Now With The Latest S5
Confusingly, Audi sold the previous-gen S5 Sportback alongside the latest S5, both as 2025 models. But now, that’s streamlined. Audi has retired the A4 brand entirely, and the new generation is the A5 and S5, with the body count shrinking down to just one: a four-door fastback sedan, or as some would call it, a hatchback. The S5 also does away with the Sportback tag, since there aren’t any other S5 body styles you’d confuse yourself with.
Etymology aside, the new 2025 and 2026 Audi S5 is completely new in its B10 generation, and it promises to fix the shortcomings of the previous-generation S5 Sportback. The new S5 irons out the sheet metal but adds a few inches to the wheelbase, improving rear seat comfort. Under the hood sits Audi’s new internal combustion platform, producing more power, and the cabin is packed with the latest Audi has to offer for the price, including more screens and trick LED lights. The latter is not on offer for the US market, though.
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|
Horsepower |
Torque |
0-60 MPH |
Top Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
362 HP |
406 LB-FT |
3.9 seconds (C/D test) |
157 MPH |
The new Audi A5 and S5 are the first sedans to run the brand’s new Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture, which is also said to be Audi’s last internal combustion platform. Here, the S5 runs a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6, producing 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. That’s 13 more ponies and 37 pound-feet more than the outgoing S5 Sportback. Audi has also swapped the eight-speed automatic for a seven-speed DCT unit that’s said to be responsive and crisp. The Quattro all-wheel drive system remains standard.
The A5 and S may not be significantly quicker than the equivalent BMW, but they deliver a more aggressive launch thanks to their dual-clutch transmissions. Audi programmed in a 4,000-rpm clutch dump launch control, which feels entertaining in the A5 and thrilling in the S5. It gets off the line like an EV, pinning your head to the seat.
– Jared Rosenholtz, CarBuzz Journalist
Thanks to these updates, the new S5 sedan goes from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds in recent testing from Car and Driver, which is quicker than the older S5’s 4.2-second acceleration times. Reportedly, the car can hit the quarter mile in 12.5 seconds at 110 miles per hour, too. The EPA also reported a fuel economy of 22 miles per gallon combined, which is one MPG lower than the outgoing model. And thanks to the latest emission norms, you can expect a subtle exhaust note of up to 78 decibels with the pedal to the metal in Dynamic mode.
Handling Improvements Over The Last Generation
The Audi S5 sedan rides on sports suspension and optional adaptive dampers, which are standard on the top-tier Prestige trim. You get to choose from three modes: Comfort, Balanced, and Dynamic. The Comfort mode softens things up for daily driving, which should soak in the bumps as well as you’d expect in a performance sedan. In the Dynamic mode, things stiffen up, and owners praise its admirable body control and composure. If the previous S5 is anything to go by, the newer S5 should handle even better when tossed around.
Adding to its handling abilities is brake-based torque vectoring that is claimed to make the car feel more balanced with less front-end push than the outgoing S5. That’s great for a car that weighs over 4,300 pounds! The only complaint owners have raised is that the new S5’s steering is light and muted, even in Dynamic mode, which makes it a bit heavier. So, the S5 should feel sharper and more composed on the road, especially through curves, compared to the outgoing model, without sacrificing everyday drivability.
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And A Longer Wheelbase And More Comfort Add More “Luxury”
On the surface, the new S5 looks cleaner, with the wavy creases of the outgoing models being ironed out. A similar update follows on the inside, with the S5 taking on a cleaner cabin design. The panels are dressed up in suede-like material, along with ambient lighting across the base of the windshield. Adding to the comfort factor are heated and massaging front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and three-zone climate control, which are said to improve the overall comfort levels of the car.
Thanks to the longer wheelbase, rear legroom grows by over an inch, while headroom is also improved by the higher roofline. The outgoing A5 Sportback was too tight for tall adults in the back, but this new model is far more comfortable.
– Jared Rosenholtz, CarBuzz Journalist
For the front, you have sports seats with high backs and fixed headrests, upholstered in leather and synthetic trim. At the back is where taller passengers will notice an improvement, thanks to the new car’s longer wheelbase, which adds a much-needed inch or two for the legroom. That takes the rear seats from cramped to good enough for most adults, as long as you don’t cram in the fifth passenger at the back. Despite the sloping roofline, the headroom is decent, too. Even the trunk space is more than before, and it should be just as easy to get your stuff in, thanks to the hatchback.
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Finally, New Tech Brings The Audi S5 Up To Date With Rivals
As much as some of us would like to do away with screens in our sports sedans, that’s not the world we live in. So, those of us who enjoy the more tech-savvy approach, the S5 has a lot more to offer than the older generation. The older model had a digital gauge and a 10.1-inch display, which the new S5 upgrades to a curved screen that wraps across the driver’s side of the dashboard. It features an 11.9-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.5-inch touchscreen, which has more functions than before. At least the volume knob is still there.
Audi also offers a 10.9-inch display for the front passenger. Other standard features include a heads-up display for the driver, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an available 20-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Other markets also get the adaptive matrix LED headlights and taillights, which can display warnings or shimmer effects. These show how outdated American safety laws are, but that’s a different topic that we’ve already covered.
Audi has discontinued the older S5 Sportback, and only the 2026 Audi S5 is on sale in the US. It starts at $63,300, though we’d recommend splurging for the mid-level Premium Plus trim, which features the Bang & Olufsen sound system, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-view monitor. For the price, the Audi S5 is now hard to beat. It’s still not as sharp as the M3, nor is it as confusing as the Mercedes-AMG C43, but it arguably strikes a better balance of performance, tech, and luxury.
Sources: Audi, The EPA