Audi A5 Sedan Black Edition

The Audi A5 Sedan was launched into the SA market towards the latter part of last year. We finally got our hands on one to experience if the newcomer is any good.

Audi rose to prominence over the late 1970s and early 1980s with a slew of sedans. Models such as the 80 and 200 helped the brand to gain market share, and develop a loyal following around the world, South Africa included. It was the A4 that grabbed the baton towards the latter part of the last century. This compact exec took the fight to the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The A4 was a staple of the brand for nearly three decades. Now, Audi has replaced its mid-size saloon with the A5, more specifically, the A5 Sedan.

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New Name, For Now…

Audi management had a plan, or so it seemed. The intention was to use even-numbered alphanumerics (A4, A6, etc) for electric models, while those with odd numbers (A3, A5, etc) would use combustion engines. However, Audi boss Gernot Dollner has since walked back that idea. So this A5 sedan, will, in all likelihood, revert to being an A4 when the model undergoes its midlife refresh. So, with all that out of the way, what is the A4, err, A5 sedan all about.

A Sleek New Look

Well, the new model picks up where the older left off, serving the role as a mid-size exec sedan. It slots in between the smaller A3 and larger A6. The latest in its line has a look that we have come to expect of this sedan. There is a sleek nose with Audi’s, now traditional, single-frame grille. The current range boasts LED headlamps as standard across the range. The slim items look modern and can be configured to display in various ways, as chosen by the driver.

The overall shape is akin to an elongated coupe. There is a low, arched roofline and small-ish greenhouse section. That arc of the roof ends in a heavily sloped rear windscreen and short boot ‘lid’. In fact, the A5 has a tailgate (electrically operated as standard) instead of a traditional sedan boot. This gives one easy access to the deep luggage store. At the rear there is a body-wide taillamp strip that has a 3D effect as it bulges out of the body. It reminded is very much of the E-tron EV models.

As our test unit was a Black Edition derivative, so it also had a number of bespoke touches. These include darkened Audi badges, black mirror housings, 19-inch black alloys, red brake calipers and darkened rear windows. It all adds up to present a shape that is sleek and, in the contrasting finish of our test unit, quite menacing. More than one onlooker, included a young lady in traffic, commented on the car’s snazzy appearance.

Top Notch

The appearance outside is almost overshadowed by the high-tech look and feel of the interior. Audi has installed the latest version of its ‘digital cockpit’ in the A5. That means it has a screen ahead of the driver to relay important info. That screen can be configured as desired. There is also a heads-up display. A set of buttons on the squared-off leather-clad steering allows the driver to control pretty much every aspect of the cabin.

In addition there is a large infotainment touchscreen in the centre of the facia and a third, optional, item ahead of the front passenger. The bulk of the facia is tilted towards the driver, hence the third screen, which allows the co-pilot to take control of certain functions without any awkward stretching. The entire layout works well and doesn’t come across as an afterthought. Standard fitment across the range is Bang & Olufsen audio equipment – NICE!

The quality and feel of the materials used is, as now expected of Audi, typically high. The sports seats are comfortable and cosseting. Oh, and they feature heating and cooling functionality. Audi has released the A5 with a comprehensive list of standard items which includes adaptive cruise control, a rear view camera, MMI Navigation plus with Audi connect and tri-zone automatic air-conditioning. One of the A5’s party tricks is it’s switchable panoramic roof (a R38 000 option). At the prod of a button the roof can be opaque or transparent, or with sections of both. It’s a pretty good use of the tech.

Two Flavours

Audi SA offers the A5 Sedan with two powertrains and in two trim levels, which makes for a four-derivative line up. Both powertrain versions are powered by 2,0-litre turbocharged engines. The lower-power version, as with our test car, delivers 146 kW solely to its front axle. The more powerful variant has 200 kW on tap which is fed to all four wheels. Regardless of the power output, a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is the only option.

With 340 N.m of torque on offer, the A5 hardly struggles for pace. The engine and transmission working well as a cohesive unit to deliver power as and when it is needed. Although there are shift paddles on the steering wheel, we used them less than half a dozen times in a week. And then, too, only to prime the transmission for a quick overtake or fast merge. We did note that the inline-four isn’t a pleasant sounding engine, particularly at high engine revs, coming across as strained.

Road Manners

All Audi A5 derivatives come standard with the S-line package. Styling bits aside, this package includes 19-inch alloys. On our test unit these were finished in gloss black, which was a nice contrast to the stark white paint finish of the body. The multi-spoke alloys are shod with 40-profile rubber. While the primary ride feels good, ie the suspension deals with normal road undulations and larger bumps well, the smaller imperfections tend to filter through to the cabin. It’s not overly harsh, but the suspension isn’t ideal for those who prefer their ride quality ‘sofa-like’.

Summary

Audi, like its compatriots continues to offer sedans of various sizes in the local market. It is, after all, a segment that helped propel the brand into the mainstream. However, the trend towards buying SUVs does not seem to be slowing. As a result, good products, such as the Audi A5 Sedan, tend to be overlooked in favour of something higher-riding. Of course, Audi offers many of those in its Q family of SUVs.

As for the A5, it will be a rarity on our roads. We didn’t spot a single other new A5 on the roads during our review period, and we looked. It is a really good example of a sedan, the kind that families flocked to in years gone by. There is also the price to consider. At a shade under R1,2m the list price made us do a double take. Add in the lovely mod-cons of this test unit and don’t expect much change from R1,5m…

Model: Audi A5 Sedan Black Edition S-Tronic
Price: R1 166 800 (R1 473 800 as tested)
Engine: 2,0-litre inline-four, turbocharged
Transmission: seven-speed automatic, FWD
Max power: 146 kW
Max torque: 340 N.m
Top speed: 246 km/h
0-100 km/h: 7,8 sec
Fuel consumption: 7,5 L/100 km