Audi has reshuffled its numbers, not its ambitions. The new A5 is what we used to call the A4 – the mid-size saloon and estate. The result is bigger, slicker and packed with tech, squaring up to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class with OLED lighting, a wall of screens and a plug-in hybrid with a genuinely useful electric range.

Design and cabin: a saloon that thinks it’s a hatchback

The A5 sits on the new Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) and comes as a Sedan and an Avant. It measures 4,829 mm long (+67 mm over its predecessor) on a 2,897 mm wheelbase (+68 mm), and 1,860 mm wide. The clever bit on the saloon is a tailgate that lifts with the rear window, making it far more usable than a traditional four-door. Boot space is 445 litres (1,299 litres seats folded) in the Sedan and 476 litres (1,424 litres) in the Avant.

Outside, the flatter, wider Singleframe grille and second-generation digital OLED rear lights – around 60 segments per panel, capable of flashing warning symbols to following traffic – set the tone. Inside, the MMI Panoramic Display combines an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit and a 14.5-inch central touchscreen in one curved OLED panel, with an optional 10.9-inch passenger display. The 2026 model year added a new steering wheel with physical buttons, a reworked interface and a voice assistant with ChatGPT integration.

Audi A5 Avant in Glacier White, driving — Photo: Audi AG (Audi MediaCenter)

Engines: from 150 hp to plug-in hybrid

The petrol range opens with a 2.0 TFSI making 150 PS, front-wheel drive and a seven-speed S tronic. Next up is a 204 PS 2.0 TFSI, also available with quattro ultra. The 2.0 TDI produces 204 PS and 400 Nm and uses the 48-volt MHEV plus system, whose powertrain generator can add up to 18 kW (24 PS) and recuperate up to 25 kW. At the top sits the S5, with a 367 PS 3.0 V6 TFSI, MHEV plus and quattro with a sport differential.

Most intriguing on paper are the A5 e-hybrid quattro models: 299 PS (450 Nm) or 367 PS (500 Nm) of system output, a 20.7 kWh net battery and up to 110 km of WLTP electric range. AC charging runs at up to 11 kW (0-100% in around 2.5 hours), and the stronger version hits 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds. For anyone who can charge at home or at work, that’s a compelling case.

Audi A5 Avant in Horizon Blue with panoramic glass roof — Photo: Audi AG (Audi MediaCenter)

Prices and who it’s for

In Germany, the A5 Sedan with the 150 PS TFSI starts at €45,200, with the A5 Avant from €46,850. The S5 Sedan costs from €78,500 and the S5 Avant from €80,150. The plug-in hybrids start at €62,500 for the 299 PS Sedan and top out at €72,550 for the 367 PS Avant.

Who should look at one? High-mileage drivers who want a traditional premium saloon or estate with diesel or PHEV power, without going fully electric. If you do want an EV, Audi will point you towards the A6 e-tron and Q4 e-tron. The A5 is Audi’s answer for those who still want the fuel station as an option.

Key figures

Platform: PPC (Premium Platform Combustion); Sedan and Avant
Engines: 2.0 TFSI 150/204 PS; 2.0 TDI 204 PS, 400 Nm (MHEV plus); S5 3.0 V6 TFSI 367 PS
e-hybrid quattro: 299 PS/450 Nm or 367 PS/500 Nm; 20.7 kWh net; up to 110 km EV range (WLTP); 0-100 km/h from 5.1 s
Length / wheelbase: 4,829 mm / 2,897 mm
Boot: Sedan 445 / 1,299 l; Avant 476 / 1,424 l
Screens: 11.9in + 14.5in OLED, optional 10.9in passenger display
Price (Germany): from €45,200 (A5 Sedan), €46,850 (Avant)

Sources: Audi – The new Audi A5 models: modern sportiness meets premium proportions, Audi – The facts, Audi – Market launch and price, Audi – New Audi A5 e-hybrids, Audi – Updates for five Audi model series (MY2026)

Photos: Audi AG (Audi MediaCenter)