AUDI'S CONQUEST OF SPACE (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Audi reinvents the old station wagon A4 as this A5 Avant. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 63

This Audi A5 Avant is the Ingolstadt maker's new offering to the mid-sized executive estate market that used to be served by the long-running A4 Avant model line. It's luxurious, well engineered but, unlike its rear-driven premium station wagon rivals, still front-driven in its most affordable forms. If you like the Audi brand and want a car of this kind, you'll be tempted.

Backgroundword count: 210

It's hard to be successful in the compact executive market sector without a credible estate body style - ask Jaguar or Lexus. That is, after all, what a huge proportion of customers in this segment want. Since 1994, Audi reckons to have nailed exactly what they need with their A4 Avant, sold across five generations and three decades until it was replaced in mid-2024 by this car, the A5 Avant. We've never before had an A5 Avant; previously, the A5 badge was limited to Sportback, Coupe and Cabriolet models. But all that's now changed, Audi having rebadged the A4 model range 'A5' in line with its new policy of keeping even-numbered monikers for its EVs. Aside from the new bodywork, much might seem familiar here if you previously had some sort of A4 Avant on your driveway. Even maybe the evolved look, which remains very 'Audi'. As before, the core engines are 2.0 TFSI and 2.0 TDI petrol and diesel units, mated to the usual Stronic dual clutch auto, with quattro 4WD if your chosen variant has more power. But as we're going to see, much else is different, making this a useful step forward to build on thirty years of A4 Avant sales success. Let's take a closer look.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 377

The engine redevelopment here applies almost completely to a cleverer 'MHEV plus' upgraded mild hybrid system, added to the V6 petrol and four cylinder diesel variants that only a relatively small proportion of customers will choose. But the 'PPC' ('Premium Platform Combustion') architecture which replaces the 17-year-old MLB chassis of the old A4 Avant model really is new from the ground up; almost revolutionary in an era where many other volume brands stopped developing combustion platforms some time ago. Audi thinks that was premature. And feels the same about the deletion of diesel from so many competing model line-ups. So the VW Group's familiar 2.0 TDI unit (which can be had paired with front-wheel or quattro drive) continues here with 204PS; aided by the aforementioned 'MHEV plus' mild hybrid system, which is different from the old MHEV set-up in that in addition to the usual system-integrated starter-generator, there's also a second centrally-mounted powertrain generator. The result is dramatically increased levels of regenerative braking - and consequently, a bit more of a positive impact on efficiency. The frugality benefits though, are still relatively marginal. As is also the case with the 'MHEV plus' system that features on the top S5 variants, where the 3.0-litre V6 powerplant in use has now switched from diesel to TFSI petrol power and develops 367PS. So you might feel the need to wait for the pair of TFSI e PHEV powertrains Audi has planned for this car - with 299PS and 365PS, both with quattro 4WD and over 62 miles of EV range. Disappointingly, there's no sign of electrification for the volume engine that for the time being most A5 customers are likely to choose, Audi's familiar 2.0 TFSI petrol unit. This props up the range in 150PS front-driven form. And is also available in 204PS guise, also with a front-driven format. That front-driven format continues to set this Audi apart from its key segment rivals, the Mercedes C-Class and the BMW 3 Series (both rear-driven). But Audi says it's worked to make this car more driver-focused, with stiffer suspension mounts, a more rigid front axle and more connected, progressive steering. Plus, there's a wider 'Audi Drive Select' mode spread between 'Comfort' and 'Sport'. The S5 gets an electronic differential and torque vectoring.

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