2025 Audi S5 – Is This the Perfect Daily Driver with Power?
The 2025 Audi S5 sedan arrives as a refined evolution of Audi’s performance lineup, offering a solid mix of everyday luxury and all-season capability. Now built on the Premium Platform Combustion architecture, the same underpinnings used by the Audi Q5, the latest S5 has grown in all dimensions. It is 2.7 inches longer, 0.6 inch wider, and 2.0 inches taller than the previous generation. This stretch results in a 2.6-inch increase in wheelbase, which not only helps with rear legroom but also adds more cargo space.
Visually, Audi has merged the conventional sedan with the liftback design of the previous Sportback, giving the S5 a sleek profile while adding the practicality of a rear liftgate. The styling changes are subtle yet modern, with customizable exterior lighting signatures that let owners personalize their car’s presence on the road.
Under the hood, the 2025 S5 features a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine that delivers 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The traditional eight-speed torque converter transmission has been swapped out for a more responsive seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, providing quicker gear changes and sharper driving dynamics. All-wheel drive is standard, as is a sport rear differential that enhances cornering performance.
The U.S. model differs from the European version by omitting the mild-hybrid assistance, but the core driving experience remains sharp and engaging. Our test vehicle came equipped with the adaptive S sport suspension, which includes electronically controlled dampers. In Comfort mode, the ride felt smooth and composed. Switching to Dynamic mode tightened everything up for spirited drives through winding mountain roads without making the car feel overly stiff.
One area where the S5 shines is its steering feel. Thanks to a newly hard-mounted steering rack and a stiffer front torsion bar, the steering is more direct and confidence-inspiring. While feedback is still somewhat muted, there is enough road information transmitted to help drivers feel connected.
Inside, Audi continues to push the envelope on interior technology. The cabin is anchored by a trio of digital displays: an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.5-inch central infotainment screen, and an optional 10.9-inch passenger display included with the Prestige trim. The displays are crisp, responsive, and resistant to glare thanks to high-resolution OLED panels.
The S5 also features Audi’s artificial intelligence-backed voice assistant, which reportedly understands more than 800 commands. While it generally works well, having a cheat sheet of common commands in the glove compartment would help reduce frustration during real-world use.
Passenger space in the rear is decent, although taller occupants may find the sloping roofline eats into headroom. Still, the rear seats are suitable for short trips and everyday use. The cargo area offers 22.6 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up, expanding to 36.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down. For a performance sedan with a fastback silhouette, that is a surprisingly useful amount of room.
Opting for the Prestige package adds significant comfort upgrades. Heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats are part of the deal, along with upgraded napa leather and microsuede trim. An electrochromic panoramic roof provides customizable light patterns, which is a nice touch during long drives. Our tester also wore 20-inch wheels, a $1,800 option, that perfectly complemented the S5’s athletic proportions.
The base price for the 2025 Audi S5 Prestige starts at $63,995, with our fully optioned test vehicle ringing in at $73,940. That positions it close to rivals like the Mercedes-AMG C43 and the BMW M340i xDrive, both similarly priced. However, it also inches toward the base price of the BMW M3 and undercuts the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, which offers a manual transmission and a more visceral driving experience.
Ultimately, the Audi S5 plays its cards as a refined, capable, and luxurious sport sedan. It may not offer the razor-sharp edge of the more focused performance models in its class, but it delivers enough pace, technology, and comfort to satisfy most drivers. If year-round usability and upscale amenities matter more than hardcore track times, the S5 is a smart and stylish choice.
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