2025 Audi A5 Sportback

2025 is the final year of the B9 A5 Sportback in the US, and the volume 40 TFSI Premium quattro carries the 201-hp 2.0T with a 12V mild-hybrid — modest output that sits low against the item's 130–520 hp hatchback band. The optional S line 45 TFSI lifts it to 261 hp.

236 lb-ft on a broad turbo plateau makes the base car feel stronger than its horsepower suggests in everyday driving, though it still trails the 45 TFSI and the six-cylinder rivals in this segment.

The base 40 TFSI quattro Sportback runs 0–60 in about 6.4 seconds — adequately brisk for a luxury liftback but a full second behind the S line 45 TFSI, and mid-pack rather than quick by 2025 standards.

The mature EA888 2.0T with 12V mild-hybrid start-stop is quiet and well-isolated at cruise and largely free of turbo lag once moving, but the 201-hp tune sounds strained under hard load and off-the-line response is softer than the 45 TFSI's.

The 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch shifts quickly and decisively at speed with good paddle response, but shares the family's low-speed manners — occasional hesitation pulling away from a stop and a slightly abrupt 1–2 engagement in traffic.

quattro all-wheel drive is standard on every 2025 A5 Sportback trim — there is no FWD version sold in the US — and Audi's system is among the more sophisticated in the compact-luxury field. It stops short of the top band only because there is no low range or dedicated terrain hardware.

Two distinct A5 tunes (40 TFSI 201 hp and S line 45 TFSI 261 hp) plus the S5 Sportback's 3.0T V6 and the RS 5 Sportback's twin-turbo V6 give the nameplate real mainstream-to-performance spread, but everything is gasoline — no hybrid, PHEV or EV variant, where rivals like the BMW 3 Series offer a 330e plug-in.

29 MPG combined is a genuinely good figure for a standard-AWD luxury liftback, helped by the 201-hp tune and 12V mild-hybrid start-stop, though it is unremarkable against the wider gas hatchback field where lighter FWD compacts do better.

26 MPG city is respectable for a quattro-equipped premium car — the 12V mild hybrid enables smooth stop-start — but without full hybrid regeneration it stays well short of the electrified hatchbacks in this segment.

36 MPG highway is the car's strongest efficiency figure — the fastback roofline and tall top gear suit steady cruising, and it beats most AWD luxury rivals on the highway cycle.

A 15.3-gallon tank at the 29 MPG combined rating gives roughly 444 miles of mixed-driving range, stretching to about 551 miles at the highway figure — comfortable for road trips but limited by a modest tank rather than by efficiency.

The EPA's own estimate is $2,600 a year — high for a hatchback despite the decent 29 MPG, because the required premium grade adds roughly 40–60¢ per gallon over regular. The S line 45 TFSI costs $300/yr more.

Both 2.0T tunes require 91-octane premium unleaded, not merely recommend it, which is a permanent cost premium on every fill. There is no plug, no flex-fuel capability and no regular-grade option anywhere in the range.

NHTSA tested the 2025 A5 Sportback (final year of the B9 generation in the US) at 5 stars overall. The only blemish is a 4-star frontal result for both driver and passenger; side barrier, side pole and rollover are all 5 stars.

The aging B9 platform holds no 2025 IIHS award. Its only current crashworthiness rating is a Good small-overlap front carried over from a 2017 A4 test; it was never run through the updated moderate-overlap (rear-passenger) or updated side tests that 2025 awards require, so crash performance under current protocols is unproven.

Every trim gets forward-collision warning with AEB (pre sense city), lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist (active lane assist), and adaptive cruise. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are not standard on the volume Premium trim, though. They come with the Convenience package or as standard from Premium Plus up, which keeps the car out of the top band.

The standard pre sense city system earned IIHS's top Superior rating in the daytime pedestrian test. It was never evaluated under the newer nighttime-pedestrian or updated vehicle-to-vehicle protocols, so the top-band criterion (nighttime pedestrian detection) is unverified.

Audi side assist (blind-spot) with pre sense rear and rear cross-traffic assist is standard on Premium Plus and Prestige, and a package option on Premium. Where fitted, it adds exit warning and rear braking, but it is not standard on the volume trim.

Active lane assist (LDW plus corrective steering) is standard and works unobtrusively. True lane centering (adaptive cruise assist with lane guidance) is tied to upper-trim driver-assistance equipment, and on the base setup the system nudges back from the markings rather than centering.

Adaptive cruise with stop-and-go and traffic jam assist comes on every 2025 A5 Sportback, and reviewers find the distance management smooth. The fully integrated lane-guidance highway assist of newer Audis is limited to upper trims.

No trim of the 2025 A5 Sportback offers hands-free highway driving. All of Audi's US systems require the driver's hands on the wheel, with no BlueCruise or Super Cruise equivalent.

IIHS rates the LED headlights on the volume Premium and Premium Plus trims Good, with high-beam assist standard. The other headlight variant (the upper-trim lamps) rates only Acceptable, and the low beams create some glare on curves.

The low cowl gives a good forward view, but the Sportback's fastback roofline, shallow rear glass and thick C-pillars create rear-three-quarter blind zones. A rear camera and parking sensors are standard, with a top-view camera on upper trims.

IIHS rates the LATCH hardware Good overall, with two complete outboard LATCH positions and a center tether. The sloping rear door aperture and a compact rear bench make installs somewhat awkward and three-across impractical.

Five-seat liftback; the rear center seat is a narrow, tunnel-humped perch, as in most compact luxury cars.

Premium trims ship the panoramic sunroof as standard, which trims front headroom to 37.7 in — middle of the band.

Adequate front legroom, a touch below compact-luxury rivals.

The fastback roof leaves rear headroom surprisingly close to the A4 sedan's; taller adults brush the roof over the rear hatch opening.

Rear legroom is tight for adults behind a tall driver, in line with the B9 A4/A5 platform.

The liftback hatch gives far more usable cargo room than the A4 sedan's trunk and a wide opening.

Competitive but ordinary storage: modest door pockets and console bin, a 40/20/40 split rear seat with pass-through, and the big hatch opening as the main practical asset.

Front seats are supportive and widely adjustable, praised on long drives; the rear bench is comfortable for two but short on thigh support and legroom.

The standard suspension balances control and compliance well; sharper impacts come through on S line 19-in wheels and sport suspension.

Quiet at highway speed for the class, with some tire roar on coarse surfaces and a little wind noise from the frameless doors.

Heated front seats, heated steering wheel, three-zone climate and a panoramic roof come standard even on the base Premium; ventilated seats need the top Prestige trim.

2025 is the final model year of the B9 A5 Sportback (the new A5 replacing both A4 and A5 arrives later), and the entry 40 TFSI Premium with standard quattro starts near $47.6K, high for the hatchback band.

The S line 45 TFSI (261 hp) in Premium Plus is the typical dealer-stock configuration, adding the Premium Plus package content on top of the stronger engine.

German turbocharged compact luxury with no included scheduled maintenance for 2025; KBB's model-year-specific estimate is used. CarEdge's much lower $3,092 figure appears to exclude later-year costs.

Two industry projections disagree; the midpoint is used. Being the last year of a replaced generation is a further headwind on residuals.

Audi's standard New Vehicle Limited Warranty — typical luxury-class coverage, a year longer than mainstream brands.

Audi USA has no longer powertrain warranty; the drivetrain is covered only under the 4/50k limited warranty, well short of the 5–10 yr terms some rivals offer.

For 2025 Audi included no scheduled maintenance; Audi Care was a prepaid extra. Free maintenance (Audi Signature Care, 3 yr/30k) only started with the 2026 model year. Perks are 4-year roadside assistance plus connected-service and SiriusXM trials.

$55,495 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (44% retained, or about $24,418) leaves about $31,077 in depreciation. Add the projected $7,621 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $38,698 in total.

2025 is the first model year of the all-new B10 A5 (PPC platform), which in the US replaces both the A4 sedan and the old A5 Sportback, so no model-specific track record exists yet. Consumer Reports predicts only about average reliability, extrapolated from the prior generation and Audi's brand score, and its own test car logged early electronics faults.

Audi's multi-year dependability standing is below average and has weakened: bottom of the German luxury trio in recent J.D. Power VDS results and last in the 2025 Initial Quality Study. Same brand baseline as other 2025 Audis.

Two NHTSA recalls cover the 2025 A5 in its first year on sale, both seat-belt retractor compliance defects (front and rear) fixed by assembly replacement at the dealer. Neither involves the powertrain or fire risk, but two restraint recalls in the launch year is typical-to-slightly-busy activity for a new platform, and CR's test car showed electronics glitches.

The 268-hp 2.0 TFSI is the latest EA888 evo5 four-cylinder, a family with a long high-mileage history, paired with the familiar seven-speed S tronic wet-clutch DCT and quattro. The B10 revision and new PPC electrical architecture are new, and EA888 carries known wear items (water pump/thermostat housing leaks, carbon buildup), so it sits mid-band.

Reviewers call the new cabin upscale and well-crafted with real wood and leather, though the B10 relies more on screens and some hidden hard plastics than the outgoing car, and owners note less wood trim. Competitive with the BMW 3/4 Series rather than class-leading.

Assembly itself is reported solid, with tight panels and a solid door thunk, but it is a launch-year body with first-year electronics complaints and Audi placed last in J.D. Power's 2025 initial quality study.

About 314 US Audi dealers give adequate metro coverage but the thinnest network of the German luxury three, with rural gaps. Service satisfaction is mid-pack among luxury brands.

The EA888 and S tronic have deep VW Group parts supply and independent-shop support, but the new PPC electronics, lighting and screens are effectively dealer-only for now, and Audi repair costs run above the average vehicle.

A single 10.1-in MMI touchscreen on every trim; the B9 never got the bigger panoramic displays of the successor.

MIB 3 is fast and graphically crisp, but the move to touch-only (the rotary knob was dropped in 2020) and a screen set low on the dash make it more distracting than the older layout; physical climate controls remain.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across all trims.

Natural-language voice control and MMI navigation plus with Google Earth-style imagery are solid, though navigation and connected services sit on higher trims/subscriptions.

The base 10-speaker system is decent; the Bang & Olufsen 3D premium system (Premium Plus and up) is a genuine upgrade.

Audi virtual cockpit plus — a 12.3-in fully configurable digital cluster with map view — is one of the best in the class.

The B9 supports over-the-air map and some infotainment data updates only; vehicle-software and feature updates still need a dealer visit.

The myAudi app covers remote lock/unlock, vehicle status and location, but remote start is not offered on US B9 cars and full functionality needs an Audi connect subscription after the trial.

USB-C ports front and rear and wireless phone charging on Premium Plus and above; no household outlet.

Push-button start is standard, with proximity entry and hands-free power liftgate on Premium Plus and up; no phone-as-key or US remote start.

Rear camera and front/rear parking sensors are widely available; the top-view camera is reserved for the Prestige trim.

A color head-up display is available but only on upper trims, not the volume 40 TFSI Premium.

IIHS rates the LATCH hardware Good and the hatch swallows a stroller easily, but the low roofline and tight 35-in rear legroom make rear-facing seats and loading toddlers awkward.

NHTSA 5-star overall and standard AEB help, but no current IIHS award (older-protocol tests) and blind-spot monitoring costs extra on the Premium.

Fine for two adults and two kids with luggage thanks to the hatch, three-zone climate and rear vents; rear legroom and headroom cap comfort for teens and adults.

Smooth, quiet and easy to drive, with standard adaptive cruise with traffic jam assist; the dual-clutch can hesitate from a stop and the stop/start is noticeable.

29 MPG combined is respectable, but premium fuel pushes EPA annual fuel cost to $2,600 — average for a luxury compact, not cheap.

Compact footprint and a ~38-ft turning circle are city-friendly; the sloped rear window limits rearward view, and the top-view camera is Prestige-only.

Not a work vehicle: Audi does not publish a US tow rating for the A5 Sportback and the payload is car-sized; the hatch helps with bulky boxes only.

A luxury liftback with light-colored leather options and frameless doors; the 2.0T is proven but nothing about it is built for abuse.

Cargo tie-down hooks and a hatch are the only work-adjacent provisions; no outlets, bed or upfit ecosystem.

Quiet, supportive front seats, standard adaptive cruise and roughly 440 miles of combined range make it an excellent tourer for two; rear-seat space limits it with four adults.

Standard quattro AWD handles snowy trailheads and gravel roads, but low ground clearance, no roof rails and no US tow rating keep it pavement-focused.

The liftback and 40/20/40 folding rear seat make it far more flexible than sedan rivals — skis through the middle, 35 cu ft folded — but the tapering roof limits tall items.

Quick reflexes, well-controlled body roll and secure quattro grip; composed and confidence-inspiring rather than as playful as a BMW 3 Series.

Quick and precise, progressive in weight, but typically Audi in its lack of genuine feedback.

Strong, progressive brakes with a natural pedal; no instrumented 2025 test found, but B9 test cars stopped competitively for the class.

The 2.0T with mild-hybrid assist is smooth and refined once moving, but the seven-speed dual-clutch can hesitate off the line and in parking maneuvers.

The four-cylinder is hushed at cruise and inoffensive under load, though it lacks any appealing sound.

Average turning diameter for a compact luxury car; the B9 chassis was unchanged through 2025.

Wide seat and wheel adjustment and a well-judged low driving position; the low-mounted touchscreen and sloped rear window are the main demerits.

Pleasant and polished on a back road, but the 201-hp base engine is merely adequate; the S line 45 TFSI and S5 are where the fun is.

Base Premium includes quattro AWD, a 7-speed S tronic, LED headlights, leatherette, a 10.1-in MMI touchscreen and wireless smartphone integration. The virtual cockpit, adaptive cruise and much of the driver-assist kit are Premium Plus or package items, and the interior tech is a generation older than rivals'.

About $47.6K for a 201-hp AWD liftback is fair among compact luxury rivals, and its hatch practicality adds utility. But the typical 45 TFSI Premium Plus at ~$55.5K costs well above hatchback peers, and the platform and tech are aging.

Two engines (40 TFSI 201 hp, S line 45 TFSI 261 hp) each in Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige, plus the S5 and RS 5 Sportback above them. It is well spaced, but AWD-only with a single transmission.

A5-family US volume has declined alongside the whole compact-luxury car segment, and in its final year before the B10 replacement it was a run-out model, well behind the 3 Series and C-Class.

Audi is an aspirational luxury brand with strong design and interior credibility, just behind BMW and Mercedes in US prestige.

As a run-out model the 2025 carried meaningful factory money: a $3,000 customer bonus, Costco member incentives and heavily advertised leases.

It is the eighth and final model year of a generation launched for 2018 (facelifted for 2020), with an all-new A5 already announced as its replacement — the classic imminent-replacement case. Note: the registry's generation list dates 2025 to the new generation, but the US 2025 A5 Sportback is the B9 run-out.

Reviewers consistently praise its styling, refined 2.0T, AWD composure and hatch practicality, but it rarely wins comparisons against the 3 Series or the newer C-Class, and its tech now reads as dated.