I have been a growing fan of Audi for years and I really liked the A5 coupe when it was released. The four rings have kept the hype going, releasing one great car after another for the past few years. This could be the best-looking car in the stable besides the R8.
I can't say enough about this engine with its power and fuel economy. I'd bet you could keep it over 30 mpg for a long trip if you're driving normally. But if you want to get going from a stop, there's plenty of power for that.
This should be the inexpensive model, but when you add the Premium package, MMI and Sports package you tack on about $6,000. Knock a few of those off and you could be out of the dealership at less than $40,000. The base BMW 3-series lines right up with it at $38,700 before destination.
I noticed a few things on the interior that I particularly liked. The armrest that covers the cupholders is one. I like hiding cubbies when they're not in use, and the visor mirror. I flipped it down and over on the way to work this morning.
I did have a little trouble getting comfortable in the seat. The clutch pedal has a long way to go so you need to scoot up towards the wheel. But even when it's pushed all the way in my arms still feel a little cramped. I think I remember people complaining of the same thing in our long-term S4. With a little more seat time it might get better.
NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: The 2012 Audi A5 is one of the better combinations of personal luxury and sport on the market. The reflexes and the looks are excellent, and the price is reasonable.
The view from the driver's seat is pitch-perfect for a man of my size, which is average. The seats are supportive, comfy and well-designed. Everything on the dash is within reasonable reach and the long-throwing stick shift is nicely positioned. The gauges are clear, handsome and easy to read, and the materials throughout are classy, albeit a bit bland. That's my one main quibble with the car: cabins have gotten so good, this lair seems a little pedestrian. Simple, nice and there's nothing wrong with it. Yet I've been in range of cars lately with more memorable interiors than this at a variety of price points.
The A5 drives briskly thanks to the manual which allows the operator to wring every last drop out of the 211-hp turbo four-banger. The throws are true, clutch is mostly good, and the feedback and interactive feeling are precisely what an enthusiast seeks. The power is adequate. The torque makes a difference, but a touch more power would be fine with me. Guess that's why they make an S5.
The chassis is well-sorted, comfy and sporty enough to keep you on your toes. Being a coupe, it has excellent proportions and handles smartly through maneuvers.
Perhaps my favorite part of this machine is its elegant fashion sense. Stem to stern it's laid out in a curvy, sleek manner that looks athletic and artistic, and still oozes a sophisticated form of sex appeal.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: I doubt the A5 was designed with baseball team transport in mind, but that's the task which I assigned it. I enjoyed a brisk commute home from the office, which allowed plenty of time to sample the car's sporty flavor, flawless powertrain (love that stick and turbo boosted engine) and perfect driving position.
Once home, the A5 took on workhorse duty, consuming baseball team gear, ball buckets and bat bags into the trunk while absorbing three players and one dad/coach in the driver's seat. Surprisingly, even though these are high school-aged players, everyone fit without any complaint for the short trip to the local ball field. Powering the front seats forward made for easy access to the back seats, at least for the nimble teenagers.
With a full load on board, the A5 remained a strong runner and didn't exhibit any significant change in body control.
ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: The Audi A5/S5 has been one of my favorite vehicles to come out over the past few years. It delivers on all the important fronts for me with clean, attractive looks, a comfortable interior, good handling reflexes and sufficient power.
However, the arrival of the Mercedes-Benz C-class coupe has made things interesting because both entry-level models used turbocharged four-cylinder engines, and both are handsome little things. Since BMW hasn't released the redone 3-series coupe, I'll just stick with talking about the Audi and Benz.
If you compare the base prices for the 2012 models, they are real close with the Audi beginning at $37,975 and the Benz starting at $38,125. The A5 has a 2.0-liter turbo four with 211-hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the C250 uses a 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder with 201-hp and 229 lb-ft of torque. So the four rings hold a small advantage over the three-pointed star in the output columns and pricing.
Another big win for the Audi to me is that the A5 is available with a six-speed manual transmission, while the only gearbox you can get in the C250 is the seven-speed automatic. For the record, the seven-speed auto is a good box, but it's no manual. In a sporty coupe I'm always going to want a manual for a more involving experience. And the Audi's manual is a good one with fluid shift action with a tad longish throws. The clutch is light and easy to work, which is also appreciated.
There's good power from the turbocharged four that we see in a ton of Volkswagen products. Peak torque is available from just 1,500 rpm and there is consistent pull throughout the revs. Throttle response is decent for easy rev matching for downshifts and pedal placement is excellent for how I drive.
Audi seats are among my favorites with generous side support, and cabin surroundings are all top-notch. All the materials look nice and feel nice, and controls for radio and climate functions are intuitive. Mercedes did a great job on the C-class' interior redo, but I still prefer the Audi's cabin.
Throw the A5 around and the chassis handles nicely. There're 19-inch performance tires on our test car that surely helps matters, but even still the body is well controlled around turns with a healthy dose of grip available. When really going for it, the front end will push but for street use the A5 is all you'll need. Cornering composure doesn't come at the expense of ride quality even on these lower profile tires. It's not too stiffly sprung, so the suspension still damps out ruts just fine and the interior is well insulated from road and wind noise. The only change I would make is to the steering: It's responsive, but could use a bit more weight tuned into it.
With all that, I would still take the Audi A5 over the newer Mercedes C250 coupe. The Benz is a strong car, too, but the four-cylinder isn't very responsive from a stop, doesn't offer a manual transmission and doesn't look quite as good as the Audi. It's been a few months since I've been in the C250, though. I think we would be well served doing a back-to-back between the two.
Base price: $37,975
As-tested price: $47,680
Drivetrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged I4; AWD, six-speed manual
Output: 211 hp @ 4,300 rpm, 258 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm
Curb weight: 3,583 lb
Fuel economy (EPA/AW): 25/21.3 mpg
Options: Premium Plus package including Audi xenon plus front lighting, LED daytime running lights and taillights, auto-dimming interior mirror with compass, auto-dimming heated exterior mirrors, convenience package, heated front seats with driver memory, three-zone climate control ($3,900), Audi MMI navigation plus including MMI “high” control panel, CD/DVD player and HD radio, color driver information system, HDD Navi with voice control ($2,000); Sport package including front sport seats with 4-way power lumbar, 18-inch 10-spoke design wheels, sport suspension, 3-spoke steering wheel ($1,000), Bang & Olufsen sound system ($850), 19-inch 5-arm Y-design with summer tires ($800), Audi advanced key ($550), Monsoon gray metallic paint ($475), polished exhaust tips ($130)
Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20121022/carreviews/121019812#ixzz2CZWClZT0
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