Wait…the Audi A4 is now the A5?
Hot on the heels of Audi discontinuing all coupe variants of its A5 range, including the two-door S5 and RS5, the automaker revealed the new A5 sedans. In the process, though, the Audi A4 is going away, at least as we currently know it. The 2025 Audi A5 picks up the torch for both the sedan and the wagon, and will be the brand’s main rival to the BMW series.
Confused? Well, Audi outlined its reasoning behind the decision, and it comes down to EVs. Rather than adding “e-tron” to the end of its alphanumeric models, as it’s done with past hybrids and EVs, the number itself will determine the powertrain. So, even-numbered models will represent EVs, while odd numbers will signify internal combustion. For the moment, we don’t know with certainty what the change means for future coupes, but it’s possible we’ll see more restructuring as time goes on and Audi launches its next generation of electric cars.
The 2025 Audi A5 lineup rides on the company’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) platform, that should underpin the updated gasoline models, as they continue to roll out. Even though it’s fundamentally an A4 replacement, this car is actually a bit larger than the A4. Rather than your conventional three-box design, the updated “sedan” also adopts a liftback design.
Apart from the styling changes, Audi also promises major chassis updates, as well as optional adaptive suspension with a wider difference between comfort and sport settings.
Inside, the 2025 Audi A5 lineup gets a thorough rehash, from the new three-spoke steering wheel to the toggle-style gear selector and redesigned HVAC vents. As we’ve come to expect from the industry these days, there’s also more screen for the both the driver and passenger — with the latter even getting their own (optional) 10.9-inch display. The 14.5-inch center touchscreen houses most of the primary controls, while the driver gets an 11.9-inch gauge cluster.
As before, buyers will have the option to pick up either the standard A5 (shown here in gray) or the S5 (shown above in dark blue). Gasoline powertrains start with a 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder. Audi mentions two power outputs, with the first putting out 148 horsepower and the latter bumping that output up to 201 horsepower. European buyers still get a TDI turbo-diesel version, but don’t expect that to make its way over here. Regardless, you get a 7-speed “S tronic” dual-clutch transmission. Front-wheel drive still comes by default on the 2.0-liter models, with Quattro all-wheel drive available as an option.
With the 2025 Audi S5, you get a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 under the hood. It’s a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup packing 362 horsepower, and also mates up to a revised dual-clutch transmission. Even with the significant power bump over the four-pot versions, Audi still promises around 30 to 32 mpg, at least using the European WLTP test. When we get more specifics on the U.S. models (including EPA ratings), that number may fall a bit.
In Europe, the 2025 Audi A5 lineup will go on sale this November. The North American market launch will follow, probably sometime in early 2025. Pricing in Germany starts at €45,200 (or about $49,400, at current exchange rates). Considering the outgoing A5 Sportback’s $47,890 starting point, that sounds about right, but that would mean a significant price hike over the old A4. As ever, we’ll have to wait and see.
For the moment, news on a new, electric Audi A4 is still on the horizon, but we should hopefully have more details on that front in the next several months.
