Audi A5 vs Audi S5: Performance, Tuning, and Reliability
Meet Trey
Trey is an automotive enthusiast and has a huge passion for Volkswagen and Audi vehicles of all kinds. His enthusiasm started with the MK5 GTI, and he has massively expanded his knowledge over the years. When Trey is not delivering high-quality and in-depth content, we can usually find him working in his garage on his modified Genesis coupe. Trey created VW Tuning several years ago, and he is the primary visionary behind the content.
We’ve written about the Audi A3 vs S3 and the Audi A4 vs S4, so we figured we would tackle the Audi A5 vs S5. To be honest, there isn’t much of a difference between these models, but we will go more in-depth on those below. In this article, we’ll be covering price, size, performance, reliability, and more for both the A5 and S5 to assist any consumer in their purchasing decision. The A5 and S5 are Audi’s compact executive cars.
Audi A5 vs S5 – The Basics
The A5 was first introduced in 2008 and is still being produced today. In 2008, Audi spun the A5 coupe/convertible off of the A4. Therefore, the A5s are built on the same platform as the A4. Unlike other Audi’s, the A5 offers many body styles: coupe (2-door), sportback (4-door), and cabriolet (2-door). It also offers two other sport variants: the S5, which we will be comparing, and RS 5. The first generation A5 was built on the Volkswagen Group’s MLB platform, while the second generation is built on MLB Evo platform.
The S5 was introduced at the same time as A5 and is still being produced today. It features a few different exterior aesthetics such as LED DRLs and a vertically striped chrome grille with multiple S badges on the front and rear of the vehicle. The S5 was also built on the same platforms as the B8/B8.5 and B9 generations. The S5 is positioned between the A5 and RS 5.
Audi A5 Generations
- B8/B8.5 A5 (2008-2017)
- B9 A5 (2018-Present)
Audi S5 Generations
- B8/B8.5 S5 (2008-2016)
- B9 S5 (2018-Present)
Audi A5 vs S5 Price
In this portion, we will be going over brand new 2022, as of this writing, model prices and used prices for the A5 and S5.
New Audi A5 Price
In this section, we will be going over the new A5 2022 model year prices. There is only one engine option for the A5 coupe: a 2.0T TFSI. This engine can be found in all the Audi trims. A Premium A5 coupe quattro® starts at $46,000, a Premium Plus A5 coupe quattro® starts at $50,900, and lastly, a Prestige A5 coupe quattro® starts at $55,450. Unlike the coupe, the A5 Sportback features two engines: a 40 TFSI (2.0 TFSI) and a 45 TFSI (2.0 TFSI). A Premium A5 Sportback 40 TFSI starts at $43,900, A Premium Plus A5 Sportback 40 TFSI starts at $48,800, and, lastly, A Prestige A5 Sportback 40 TFSI starts at $54,500. A Premium A5 Sportback 45 TFSI starts at $46,000, A Premium Plus A5 Sportback 45 TFSI starts at $50,900, and, lastly, A Prestige A5 Sportback 45 TFSI starts at $55,750.
Like the A5 coupe, the A5 cabriolet only features one engine: 2.0T TFSI. A Premium A5 Cabriolet starts at $52,200, a Premium Plus starts at $57,100, and a Prestige A5 Cabriolet starts at $62,950.
New Audi S5 Price
In this section, we will be going over the new sport variant of the A5, the S5 2022 model year prices. Like the A5, the S5 also offers three different body styles, but they all have the same 3.0T TFSI engine. A Premium Audi S5 Coupe starts at $55,300, a Premium Plus Audi S5 Coupe starts at $58,900, and, lastly, a Prestige Audi S5 Coupe starts at $63,400. A Premium Audi S5 Sportback starts at $55,300, a Premium Plus Audi S5 Sportback starts at $58,900, and, lastly, a Prestige Audi S5 Sportback starts at $63,700.Finally, a Premium Audi S5 Cabriolet starts at $63,400, a Premium Plus Audi S5 Cabriolet starts at $67,000, and, lastly, a Prestige Audi S5 Cabriolet starts at $71,500.
If you’re someone that wants more performance out of your whip, the RS 5 Coupe starts at a cool $75,900. While a RS 5 Sportback, starts at $76,200.
If you are curious about the trim differences with Audi’s, here is an article we wrote about the different Audi trims.
Used Audi A5 & S5 Price’s
When it comes to used Audi A5s vs S5s, pricing is pretty much consistent with new prices. With that, we mean that since the S5 is a sport variant of the A5, it tends to be more expensive. Since the A5 and S5 have only been around for a decade and a half, we will be basing prices on both generations. Therefore, a used A5s price ranges from $6,795 – $63,990* with an average price overall of $35,395, depending on model year and mileage. A used S5s price ranges from $9,995 – $78,993* with an average price overall of $44,495, depending on model year and mileage. To no surprise, the S5 is more expensive on the new side and used side. So, is the Audi S5 worth the extra money? Let’s go into more detail.
*At the time of writing this article, we believe we are in a market where used vehicles are inflated, so consider that when seeing the used prices above.Â
General A5 & S5 Topics
A5 vs S5 Size
Below are some basic details about the size and weight differences seen between the 2022 Audi A5 Coupe, 2022 Audi A5 Sportback, 2022 Audi S5 Coupe, and 2022 Audi S5 Sportback.
Audi A5 vs S5
Since the S5 was built off of the A5, there aren’t very many differences when it comes to the two. However, it is worth mentioning that the coupe for both only seats 4 and the Sportback can seat 5. Also, the curb weight for both a different because of the different engines and upgraded sports package for the S5.
Audi A5 vs S5 Performance
For consistencies sake, we will be using the 2022 A5 and 2022 S5 performance specs. This is going to be the biggest difference between the A5 vs S5.
Engines, Drivetrain, & Fuel Economy
A5 Performance
The A5 has two available engine options: a 40 TFSI (2.0T TFSI), and a 45 TFSI hybrid (2.0T TFSI). Quattro®, Audi’s AWD system, and a 7-speed dual-clutch S Tronic automatic transmission come standard on a new A5. The S Tronic transmission is regarded to be smoother than the 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission that is found in the S5. The 40 TFSI quattro® engine puts out 201hp and 236 lb-ft of torque and puts up a 0-60 time of 6.4 seconds with a top speed of 130mph. The 45 TFSI quattro® engine puts out 261hp and 273 lb-ft of torque and puts up a 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds with a top speed of 130mph. The 40 TFSI can only be found on the A5 Sportback, while the 45 TFSI can be found on all A5 body styles.
The 40 TFSI engine gets 26mpg in the city and 34mpg on the highway for a combined mpg of 29 with a 15.3gal fuel tank. Lastly, the 45 TFSI engine gets 24mpg in the city and 31mpg on the highway for a combined mpg of 27 with a 15.3gal fuel tank.
S5 Performance
The S5 only has one engine option: a 3.0T V6 TFSI. This impressive engine puts out 349hp and 369lb-ft of torque and boasts a speedy 4.4 second 0-60 time with a top speed of 155mph. Now you understand why we say this is the biggest difference between the two. The S7 puts out 100 hp more than the A5, but also costs an extra $9,000. The 3.0T TFSI engine gets 21mpg in the city and 30mpg on the highway for a combined mpg of 24 with a 15.3gal fuel tank. Not only does the S5 have a bigger, more powerful engine, but it is also equipped with Audi’s upgraded suspension and bigger brakes. Quattro®, Audi’s AWD system, and an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission come standard on a new S5.
A5 & S5 Reliability and Common Problems
Audi A5
Is the Audi A5 reliable? The Audi A5s overall reliability is slightly below average, according to RepairPal. They rated it 3 out of 5 for its reliability rating, which is below the average luxury midsize vehicle rating of 3.5 out of 5. This places the Audi A5 23rd out of 31 luxury midsize vehicles. The B8 and B9 generations of the A5 have their own common issues, but we would avoid the first couple of years of the first generation. If you happen to be in the market for a used A5, we would advise going with 2018-2021 model years. The average annual ownership cost of an Audi A5 is $887, which is slightly above the average luxury midsize car of $739.
Common problems seen in A5s are as followed: Excessive oil consumption, Start-stop system malfunctioning, control arm issues, timing chain tensioner failure, and premature ignition coil and spark plug failure. If maintained properly, we’ve seen Audi A5s last up to 200,000. Once it hits that 100,000-mile mark, it is crucial to perform preventative maintenance to ensure longevity.
The 7 Most Common Audi A5 B8 Engine Problems
Audi S5
Is the Audi S5 reliable? The S5s overall reliability is similar to the A5 and it is way below average, according to RepairPal. They rated it 2 out of 5 for its reliability rating, which is way below the average luxury midsize car reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5. This places the S5 30th out of 31 luxury midsize cars, lower than the A5 in the same category. If you happen to be in the market for a used S5, we highly advise avoiding the 2013-2015 model years. Unfortunately, the average annual maintenance cost for an Audi S5 is $1,164, which is above the average cost of $739 for other luxury midsize vehicles.
Common problems seen in S5s are as followed: transmission issues, carbon build-up, defective intake manifold, ignition coil or speak plug failure, water pump or thermostat failure, PCV valve failure, and premature engine mount failure. Like the A5, if an S5 is properly maintained, especially after 100,000 miles, we’ve seen them last up to 150,000 miles.
A5 vs S5 – Which is Better?
So, which is better, the Audi A5 or the S5? We can give our personal opinion on this debate, and it would be the S5 coupe. However, that is because we have the need for speed and love the modern coupe S5 with the sport accents. If you are someone that doesn’t want to spend as much on a luxury vehicle and are looking for a practical sedan, then the A5 would best suit your needs. Also, if you are needing a sedan with 5 seats, the Sportback would be best suited for you. The A5 gets better gas mileage and is cheaper in general. But if you are a speed junkie, the S5 definitely packs enough punch. With a few upgrades and a thousand dollars, it could be pushing 500hp.
Both vehicles have similar 5-star safety ratings and both have similar tech and safety features. For interior quality, we give it to the S5. The A5 seems to be more reliable. So when it comes down to which is better, it all depends on consumer lifestyle and their vehicle needs. We always suggest getting first-hand experience with both. So, schedule a test drive with your local Audi dealer for the A5 and S5. This will give you the best feel for both models and eventually lead you to the decision of which model is best.
Audi A5 vs S5 Conclusion
In conclusion, we hope the information above assists anyone on the fence between the Audi A5 and S5. We know that purchasing a luxury sedan is not a cheap endeavor, so we’re wanting to provide the proper research to make your decision easier. Again, there aren’t very many differences between the two models. But in short, the A5 is a more cost-efficient sedan, while the S5 provides a sportier look and feel for $9,000 more. If you are a consumer that happens to have first-hand experience with either model, please let us know your experience with them in the comments below. This will help us out with our research and also help future readers in their purchasing decisions.
