The A5 Coupe is a car many boy racers like to "provoke" because it used to be slower than the equivalent 2-liter powered rival of both diesel and gasoline variety. Weight and the CVT auto were the biggest problems, but this all-new generation isn't perfect either.
Mat Watson from Carwow did one of the first UK market reviews on YouTube, and he had some surprisingly negative things to say about the car. Nobody has criticized the 2017 A5 all year, but the romance might be over. aAudis are known for their comfortable suspension, but because the A5 is lower than the A4 with which it shares its platform, it doesn't glide over bumps as well.
The S line pack would lower the suspension even further, which is something customers might want to avoid that. It might all be done on purpose by Audi, as the company stands to make a lot of money on optional adaptive shocks.
Another issue is handling, as the A5 most people will buy is front-wheel drive and powered by the 2.0 TDI 190 (like in the video). This configuration isn't as fun as the RWD rivals from BMW or Mercedes, plus the car isn't as fast as suggested by the manufacturer when the conditions aren't in its favor.
There was a rumor about Audi no longer being allowed to develop its platforms due to the Dieselgate scandal. I didn't believe it at the time, but if 90% of A4 and A5 models are FWD, what's the point of having a longitudinal engine? Weirdly, Audi has become a company that's more concerned with digital dashboards than handling.
But we don't want to be keyboard warriors here, as the reality is BMW 420d models aren't exactly drift machines either. The rest of the review is peppered with little niggles and flaws that can be forgiven. For instance, there isn't enough room in the back seats. Thankfully, the A5 Sportback costs the same, has two extra doors and a longer wheelbase.
We cannot, however, forgive that the A5 doesn't come with lumbar support adjustment as standard. If you're wealthy enough to buy such a car, you probably put your back out on a couple of occasions. The variable rate steering being bad is kind of weird, because on some VW models like the GTI it makes a positive impact.
It's not all bad news, as the A5 has one of the most impressive interiors and smooth new engines. It's also classy from the outside, though the evolutionary styling won't blow people away.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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