Used Audi A5 for sale: everything you need to know
The Audi A5 didn’t quite have the impact on its 2008 launch that the smaller TT did back in the 1990s, but it’s still one of Audi’s most desirable models if you have an eye for style. It’s one of the most handsome coupes on sale, with great proportions and understated styling - and being based on the Audi A4 means it also drives well and is actually fairly simple under its svelte skin.
There’s a wide range of engines and trim levels available so even used buyers should be able to find a car that suits them, while if the two-door body doesn’t quite meet your needs, there’s also an A5 Cabriolet and a four-door A5 Sportback, which drive broadly the same as the coupe but have their own appeal. Read on to find out more about the Audi A5.
Should you buy an Audi A5?
They might be outsold in huge volumes by SUVs, but some manufacturers can still see the value of an attractive and aspirational coupe - and Audi is one of those companies. It launched the original A5 in 2008 and followed it up with a sequel in 2017, and if anything these cars stand out even more today than they did at launch, being relatively low-slung and sleek as most other cars grow upwards.
The two-door body and sloping roofline don’t make the A5 impractical either, though naturally you don’t get Q5-style rear seat space. If you do need more practicality, there’s always the four-door A5 Sportback, but if you’re considering an A5 to begin with, then the chances are that you don’t need oodles of space (though the 450-litre boot is still pretty useful).
It’s better being up front anyway, thanks to the usual classy Audi dashboard, excellent build quality, and high equipment levels - even the basic SE and Sport versions pack plenty of kit. The A5 drives well too, feeling much less ponderous than any SUV but still riding well, at least on the smaller wheel options. Go for one of the performance models, like the S5 or RS5, and you can add real pace and even some driver interaction into the mix.
Admittedly, a BMW 4-Series is even better to drive, though given the latest versions of that car feature BMW’s large, tooth-like grille, its styling is more polarising than it used to be. The Mercedes C-Class Coupe is another fine choice, trading some of the Audi and BMW’s sportiness for a smoother feel. Both have RS5-rivalling performance models too, in the shape of the BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C63.
What’s the best used Audi A5 model to buy?
It’s no surprise that a lot of customers went for S Line trim when new - the bodykit and larger wheels really make the most of the A5’s shape. That said, it’s a handsome car in any guise, so S Line trim certainly isn’t essential, and all models are well-equipped. There are no weak engines, and opting for one of the lower-end petrol or diesels certainly doesn’t compromise the styling. Still, if you can get yourself into one of the V6 models, and even better an S5 or RS5, you’ll be experiencing the A5 range at its best.
Used Audi A5 fuel economy and performance
- Audi A5 35 TFSI: The range starts with a 2-litre turbocharged petrol making 150PS, and sending its power only to the front wheels. 0-62mph takes 8.9 seconds, while the combined economy is impressive for a petrol at 45.6mpg.
- Audi A5 40 TFSI: Tuned to 204PS, the same 2-litre engine sprints to 62mph in 7.1 seconds, while economy doesn’t fall off too badly, at 42.8mpg.
- Audi A5 45 TFSI quattro: Another variant of the 2-litre petrol, this one gets quattro all-wheel drive as standard, and a 265PS output - cutting the 0-62mph time down to 5.5 seconds. Audi claims up to 37.7mpg combined.
- Audi A5 35 TDI: The first of the diesels has a 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, producing 163PS. It’s quicker than the 35 TFSI petrol, with 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds, and it’ll do 58.9mpg combined too.
- Audi A5 40 TDI quattro: The second of the 2-litre diesels gets standard all-wheel drive for its 204PS, sprinting from 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds, and managing 50.4mpg combined.
- Audi S5 TDI: Later S5s used a 3-litre V6 turbodiesel with 341PS, for 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds. Economy was still pretty good for such a quick car, at 40.4mpg.
- Audi S5 TFSI: The earlier S5 also used a 3-litre V6, but petrol this time. Performance was similar to the diesel at 4.7 seconds from 0-62mph, and while its 36.7mpg economy seems close to the TDI, bear in mind it was recorded on the less accurate NEDC test.
- Audi RS5: In RS5 form you get a 2.9-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine with 450PS, and a 3.9-second 0-62mph time.
What used Audi A5 trim levels are available?
- The Audi A5 SE was where the A5 range started at launch, but was later phased out. Equipment included 17-inch alloy wheels and Xenon headlights, with leather seats (heated in the front) and three-zone climate control, with an electric boot lid.
- The Audi A5 Sport has a sharper appearance, partly courtesy of 18-inch alloys, with other kit including leather sports seats.
- The Audi A5 S Line gets a sportier appearance still, with an S-specific body kit and wheels, more prominently bolstered sports seats, and a black headlining.
- The Audi A5 Black Edition is largely as per the S Line but adds 20-inch alloy wheels and a black exterior styling pack, replacing some of the brightwork on other models.
- The Audi S5 is the first of the performance models, getting unique styling, sports suspension, and uprated brakes for its higher power figures.
- The Audi S5 Black Edition once again trades brighter details (such as Audi’s silver mirror caps from the S5) for darker equivalents.
- The Audi S5 Vorsprung is effectively an S5 with all the option boxes ticked, including adaptive suspension, a Sport differential, head-up display, and Bang & Olufsen audio.
- The Audi RS5 tops the range with its 450PS V6 and several features specific to this performance model, from suspension and brakes to styling.
Used Audi A5 dimensions and boot size
The Audi A5’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4697mm
- Width: 2029mm (including door mirrors)
- Height: 1371mm
- Ground clearance: 117mm
The Audi A5’s boot size is:
- 450 litres (S5: 410 litres)
Used Audi A5 road tax
The current generation Audi A5 was launched in 2017, so the majority on sale will be taxed according to a flat rate, currently £190 per year if the car cost less than £40,000 new, or £600 per year if it cost more than that - though the earliest cars will soon drop back down to a lower rate, since the surcharge no longer applies from the car’s seventh year on the road. Some early A5s may be much cheaper to tax though, as cars registered prior to April 2017 are taxed according to CO2.
How much is it to insure an Audi A5?
The Audi A5 starts in insurance group 28 - that’s for a 35 TFSI in Sport trim. Opt for S Line and you go up to group 31, while the more powerful 40 TFSI lifts it to group 37 and the 40 TFSI to group 40. S5s start in group 45, and the RS5 goes up to group 48 - so expect these models to cost a fair bit more at renewal time.
