{"id":479,"date":"2025-12-29T13:20:56","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T13:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wesuki.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/29\/the-2026-audi-s5-sedan-is-better-than-ever-but-one-detail-spoils-it-review\/"},"modified":"2025-12-29T13:20:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T13:20:56","slug":"the-2026-audi-s5-sedan-is-better-than-ever-but-one-detail-spoils-it-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.wesuki.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/29\/the-2026-audi-s5-sedan-is-better-than-ever-but-one-detail-spoils-it-review\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2026 Audi S5 Sedan Is Better Than Ever, But One Detail Spoils It | Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PROS ›› <\/span> Great design, hides its weight, handles well <\/span>CONS ›› <\/span> Cheap cabin, V6 sounds muted, harsh shifts <\/span> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The Audi S5<\/a> has spent nearly two decades refining its identity, evolving from a burly V8 coupe into a tech-savvy, hybrid-powered grand tourer. Along the way, it has picked up a few new shapes, swapped engines more than once, and taken on a broader role within Audi’s lineup.<\/p>\n

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Originally launched in 2007 with a 4.2-liter naturally aspirated V8, the first S5 made its debut as a coupe before branching out into Sportback and Convertible forms. Those variants briefly shared the same V8, until Audi replaced it with a supercharged 3.0-liter V6.<\/p>\n

Review: The 2026 LBX Morizo RR Is A GR Corolla Disguised As A Lexus SUV<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The second-generation S5 arrived in 2017. Once again offered as a Coupe, Sportback, and Convertible, it adopted a new 3.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged V6 across the board, retiring the supercharger in the process.<\/p>\n

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QUICK FACTS<\/h5>\n
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› Model:<\/td>\n2026 Audi S5 Sedan Edition One<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
› Starting Price:<\/td>\nAU$99,900 (US$66,500)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
› Dimensions:<\/td>\n4,835 mm (190.4 in.) Length<\/p>\n

1,860 mm (73.2 in.) Width<\/p>\n

1,436 mm (56.5 in.) Height<\/p>\n

2,902 mm (114.3 in.) Wheelbasee<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

› Curb Weight:<\/td>\n2,025 kg (4,464 lbs)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
› Powertrain:<\/td>\n3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with 48V mild-hybrid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
› Output:<\/td>\n362 hp (270 kW) \/ 406 lb-ft (550 Nm)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
› 0-62 mph<\/td>\n4.3 seconds (0-100 km\/h) as tested<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
› Transmission:<\/td>\nSeven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
› Efficiency:<\/td>\n13.1 l\/100 km (17.9 US mpg) as tested<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
› On Sale:<\/td>\nNow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n
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SWIPE<\/span> <\/p>\n

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Fast forward to last year, and the S5 entered its third generation with another engine revision, now enhanced by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. It also steps into the space once occupied by the A4, offered in Sedan, Sportback, and Avant body styles. The Coupe and Convertible, for now at least, have been left behind.<\/p>\n

It’s a complicated history, but the modus operandi for the S5 remains the same: provide strong performance with excellent grand touring abilities, everyday manners, and a comfortable cabin. Does it achieve these things? Let’s find out.<\/p>\n

Opening the Door to S5 Ownership<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Photos Brad Anderson\/Carscoops<\/h4>\n

The new Audi<\/a> S5 touched down on Australian<\/a> shores earlier this year, available in Sedan and Avant guises. We tested it in Edition One sedan guise, a cut-price version Audi used to launch the model locally. It’s priced from AU$99,900 ($66,000) in sedan guise, and AU$102,900 ($68,000) for the Avant version.<\/p>\n

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By comparison, the regular S5 Sedan and Avant models are priced from AU$114,900 ($75,900) and AU$117,900 ($77,900), respectively, so the Edition One variant sounds like a good option for those with a tighter budget.<\/p>\n

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All versions<\/a> share the same engine. It’s a 3.0-liter turbocharged petrol V6 with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, including an 18 kW electric motor and a 1.7 kWh battery pack. All up, the new S5 delivers 362 hp (270 kW) and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft of torque), marginal gains over the 349 hp (260 kW) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of the previous-generation model.<\/p>\n

A Modern Audi Cabin, Sadly<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Photos Brad Anderson\/Carscoops<\/h4>\n

To my eyes, the exterior of the new S5, and the rest of the A5 family, is just about perfect. Whereas the previous-generation model looked a little bloated, the new one is smoother, more refined, and should age much more gracefully. There’s plenty to like about the latest interior of the S5, too, even if it doesn’t feel as premium as some older Audi models.<\/p>\n

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As with several other new Audis, the S5’s interior is dominated by three screens on the dashboard. The first is an 11.9-inch digital gauge cluster, the second is a 14.5-inch infotainment display, and the third is a 10.9-inch passenger display.<\/p>\n

All three of these screens are superb, and it’s nice to see Audi sticking with a curved display, rather than the tacky tablet-like displays becoming more commonplace across the industry. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included as standard. <\/p>\n

There’s plenty to like about the passenger screen as well, although I remain unconvinced that many passengers will actually use it. It’s standard on the normal S5 range, and a AU$1,950 ($1,300) option on the Edition One that we tested.<\/p>\n

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Photos Brad Anderson\/Carscoops<\/h4>\n

Some areas of the cabin are not so great. Audi is continuing to use piano-black plastic across the transmission tunnel for its new generation of cars. It’s a fingerprint magnet and looks a little cheap. <\/p>\n

Additionally, the steering wheel has Audi’s daft gloss black haptic buttons, which are a pain to use. Thankfully, Audi has updated its wheel controls for 2026<\/a> in Europe, re-introducing physical volume and menu switches.<\/p>\n

There are also a few too many areas of the cabin trimmed in cheap black plastic<\/a>, somewhat detracting from the overall premium feel of the interior. On the flip side, I did like the soft-touch leather across the dashboard, door panels, and the areas of Alcantara found throughout.<\/p>\n

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Photos Brad Anderson\/Carscoops<\/h4>\n

A head-up display is a notable exclusion in the Edition One, but is available as an option, and comes standard on the rest of the S5 range.<\/p>\n

Space in the front row is excellent, and the driver’s seat can be set nice and low, perfect for taller drivers. However, the sexy sloping roof does eat into headroom at the rear, which is a shame. Cargo space is respectable, but nothing amazing, offering up 417 liters (14.7 cubic feet) of space. All told, the cabin is a charming place to spend time, even if it could feel a little more premium with some simple upgrades and nicer materials.<\/p>\n

What’s It Like To Drive?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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It may not have an RS badge, but don’t, for a second, be fooled into thinking the new S5 isn’t quick or fun to drive. It delivers excellent performance in abundance and is the best-handling S5 built to date.<\/p>\n

Let’s start with the engine, shall we? Driving the new S5 for the first time, I was surprised at just how active the mild-hybrid system is. At low speed, including when parking, the S5 will happily roll around on electric power alone. It takes a little getting used to, particularly to those familiar with more traditional S and RS models from Audi.<\/p>\n

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When you’re on the move, the V6 fires into life, working seamlessly with the battery pack and electric motor to deliver a very engaging driving experience. However, I do think Audi could have worked harder to add some extra intake and exhaust noise, as the S5 is surprisingly quiet, even when you’re really hustling it. It also takes some getting used to the whine of the electric motor under hard acceleration.<\/p>\n

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Photos Brad Anderson\/Carscoops<\/h4>\n

According to Audi, the new S5 sedan needs 4.5 seconds to hit 100 km\/h (62 mph). We managed to beat this, recording a GPS-verified time of 4.3 seconds, while a run from 60-120 km\/h (37-74 mph) is done in 4 seconds flat.<\/p>\n

Drivers who use launch control would be wise to inform their passengers in advance. The S5 launches off the line just as rapidly as you’d expect, given its power and all-wheel drive system. However, it’s the way that the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission slams into 2nd and 3rd gears that’s quite shocking. We’ve launched plenty of Audis, but none quite like this. On the up changes, the new S5 really kicks you in the back. Some may like the feeling, but I didn’t.<\/p>\n

A look at the spec sheet reveals the new S5 sedan weighs in at a hefty 2,025 kg (4,464 lbs), making it more than 200 kg (440 lbs) heavier than the old model. That sounds like a recipe for disaster, right? Wrong.<\/p>\n

Goodbye Understeer<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Plenty of all-wheel-drive Audis over the years have had a horrible tendency to understeer at the limit. This is not the case with the new S5. Audi’s engineers<\/a> have worked their magic on the car’s quattro system, giving the S5 a beautifully neutral feel. <\/p>\n

If you do overstep the limits, it’s not the front end that will push and lose traction. Instead, it’s the rear-end that gets loose first, and when it does, all it takes is a quick prod of the throttle to get the rear wheels back in line with the fronts. No doubt, the excellent handling is due in part to the Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tires, fitted as standard on the Edition One models.<\/p>\n

Standard Audi S5 models also feature adaptive suspension, but the Edition One doesn’t. While that’s a shame, we found the ride of the standard model to be excellent. It’s on the firmer side of things, but it does a good job of handling harsh bumps and is definitely up to the rigors of daily driving.<\/p>\n

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As mentioned, the gear changes when using launch control are harsh, but the rest of the time, the dual-clutch works brilliantly. Not only is it smooth and precise at speed, but unlike many other dual-clutches, it doesn’t suffer from any unwanted jerkiness at low speeds.<\/p>\n

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Audi says the new S5 sedan sips a combined 7.2 l\/100 km (32.6 US mpg) over the combined cycle, but that’s only a figure we ever saw while cruising on the highway. After our week with the new S5 sedan, we averaged 13.1 l\/100 km (17.9 US mpg).<\/p>\n

Verdict<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The 2025 Audi S5 sedan may be a dramatic departure from previous iterations, but that doesn’t mean it is any less appealing. The hybrid powertrain takes some getting used to, but there’s no denying that it’s effective, providing the car with excellent levels of performance that make it enjoyable to drive at any speed.<\/p>\n

However, it’s not the engine that’s the highlight of this model, but rather how graceful and engaging the handling is. While some aspects of the new S5’s interior leave a little too be desired, it ticks the boxes that any S5 should.<\/p>\n

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Photos Brad Anderson\/Carscoops<\/h4>\n

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A refined new chassis and quick hybrid V6 make the 2026 S5 worth a look, even if its cabin leaves room for improvement<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wesuki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/479"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wesuki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wesuki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wesuki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=479"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.wesuki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/479\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.wesuki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wesuki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.wesuki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}