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2025 Audi A5 and S5 First Drive: Five-Door Hatchbacks Replace the A4 Sedan

The U.S. 2025 Audi A5 and S5 look like sedans but use five-door fastback hatches. Here’s how the A5’s comfort and the S5’s extra power compare.
Entry424 Date Time4 min MechanicCarCody Team
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In the U.S., the 2025 Audi A5 and S5 are five-door fastbacks: they look like sedans, but the rear hatch lifts with the back glass for wider cargo access. The A5 is the comfortable, refined choice; the more powerful S5 adds stronger acceleration and a more engaging chassis. The redesign also marks a name change: Audi’s combustion-engine successor to the A4 is now called A5.

Does the 2025 Audi A5 have a hatchback?

Yes. The U.S.-market 2025 A5 and S5 use a fastback body with a large rear hatch that opens together with the rear window. That makes them five-door cars, even though their sloping roof and overall profile can read as a conventional sedan. Audi describes this rear opening as a new concept for the segment in its July 16, 2024 announcement.

For loading, the key difference is the opening itself: lifting the glass with the hatch gives access to the cargo area through a broad opening rather than a sedan’s smaller trunk lid. Ars Technica reported 22.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 36.6 cubic feet with the 40:20:40 split rear seats folded. Those figures describe the U.S. A5/S5 family as reported in 2025.

What replaced the Audi A4?

For this combustion-engine generation, Audi has replaced the familiar A4 name with A5. The change is part of a broader global lineup reshuffle, not a claim that every A5 sold around the world has the same body style as the U.S. cars. Audi’s launch announcement lists A5 Sedan, S5 Sedan, A5 Avant and S5 Avant versions globally; the U.S. cars discussed here are the five-door fastbacks.

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The new A5 is also the first model line on Audi’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC). Audi’s announcement describes MHEV plus, a partially electrified system, for its global launch family. That does not mean the U.S. test cars reviewed here have the European 48-volt hybrid-assist hardware: Car and Driver says that system was absent from its U.S.-spec test car.

2025 Audi A5 vs. S5: What is different?

U.S. model Engine and output Transmission and drive Character reported in drives
A5 Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder; 268 hp and 295 lb-ft Seven-speed dual-clutch transmission; standard all-wheel drive in the reviewed U.S. configuration Refined and sure-footed, with a comfortable ride and light steering that offers limited feedback
S5 Turbocharged 3.0-liter V6; 362 hp and 406 lb-ft Seven-speed dual-clutch transmission; standard all-wheel drive in the reviewed U.S. configuration Stronger acceleration and more chassis composure; still quiet and smooth, with more engagement than the A5

Both versions share the five-door body format. The difference is what happens when you drive them: reviewers describe the A5 as a capable cruiser rather than a sports sedan, while the S5’s extra power and chassis tuning make it the livelier choice. Ars Technica attributed some of the A5’s output increase to a variable-geometry turbocharger and reported Audi revisions to steering and suspension geometry, plus brake-based cornering control; those are manufacturer explanations reported by the outlet, not independent component measurements.

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How do the A5 and S5 drive?

A5: composed and comfortable

On a Colorado mountain drive, Ars Technica found the A5 sure-footed in poor weather and not overly firm, but its steering felt light and delivered little feedback. Cars.com likewise characterized it as a comfortable cruiser rather than a sports sedan. That makes the A5 a better fit for drivers who prioritize a polished daily drive over vivid steering feel.

S5: quicker, with more involvement

Ars found the S5 more engaging, with better information through the steering and a supple ride, while noting that its quiet, smooth character can make its speed feel deceptive. In Car and Driver’s instrumented test, its specific 2025 S5 test car reached 60 mph in 3.9 seconds using launch control and covered the quarter-mile in 12.5 seconds at 110 mph. Car and Driver also praised its eagerness in corners, while describing the steering as light and muted. These are publication test results and impressions, not a long-term ownership assessment.

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What are the 2025 A5 and S5 prices?

Ars Technica reported June 2025 launch starting prices of $49,700 for the A5 and $62,700 for the S5. It listed Premium Plus packages at $3,600 for the A5 and $3,800 for the S5, and Prestige packages at $6,450 and $7,550, respectively. Package equipment varied by model and could include items such as adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, parking cameras, a passenger display, Nappa leather, rear sunshades or adaptive sports suspension. These are article-era figures, not current dealer quotes.

For context on how equipment affects a configured car, Cars.com reported that its tested Prestige A5 cost $58,840 and its tested Prestige S5 cost $73,940, each including a $1,295 destination fee. Those are the outlet’s specific test-car totals, not starting prices.

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What is the 2025 Audi A5 and S5 interior like?

The cabin centers on a curved digital display arrangement: an 11.9-inch instrument screen and a 14.5-inch central touchscreen. A passenger display is available on higher equipment. Cars.com praised the materials and technology overall, but found the touch-sensitive steering-wheel and driver-door controls awkward and vulnerable to accidental presses. Ars also noted the touch controls; it reported wind noise in its A5 test despite acoustic front glass on the Prestige package.

What to keep in mind about these first drives

These impressions come from short launch-event drives, not long-term ownership or reliability evaluations. Ars Technica disclosed that Audi supplied flights and accommodation for its event; Cars.com said it paid its own travel and lodging. The two accounts therefore provide useful launch-drive perspectives, but neither establishes long-run durability, current transaction prices or today’s inventory.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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