2008 Audi S5 Review | Buyer Guide
Audi Challenges BMW With S5
With the introduction of its high-performance S5 coupe, Audi has announced that it is ready to take on the BMW M3. Like the M3, the S5 offers outstanding power, superb handling and a muscular body.
The S5 is the kind of car that turns heads. The week that I had it, other drivers were craning their necks to get a good look at my test car. The most striking feature is its bold nose. The signature single-frame grille is more elaborate than what you find on your average Audi. It’s painted platinum gray with vertical chrome inlays. High-tech daytime running lights, which consist of string of small LEDs, located beneath the headlamps, add a dramatic, if somewhat unusual, touch. A set of 19-inch, split-spoke alloy wheels highlight the profile view.
Opening the driver’s door of my test car, I was struck by the contrast provided by the red leather seats on an otherwise black interior. Standard brushed aluminum trim offers a third element of color on most models, but my car had optional carbon fiber accents, which were nearly invisible. The cockpit architecture focuses on the driver. The audio and climate controls, as well as the navigation screen, cant toward the left. The Multi Media Interface (MMI) that controls the audio, telephone and navigation functions sits conveniently behind the shifter. A large tilting moonroof adds a feeling of airiness to the cabin.
The S5 (and its sibling, the A5) feature “2 +2” seating. The driver and front passenger sit in well-contoured, sport bucket seats with plenty of room. Those unlucky enough to sit in back will find nice seats, but very little legroom. However, the seatbacks in the rear do fold down to enlarge the 16.1 cu.-ft. storage area of the trunk.
The S5 sports high-tech features, like the MMI controller, Bluetooth connectivity and Bi-Xenon headlights, which are all standard. A navigation unit, a rearview camera, adaptive headlights and a keyless entry and start system were options on my test car. I really enjoyed having the keyless entry and start. I didn’t need to fumble for a key—as long as it was in my pocket, I could get in the car and get it running.
Audi powers the S5 with its 4.2-liter V-8 that cranks out 354 horsepower. This is a quick revving engine that delivers excellent pulling power throughout the rev range. It never sounds strained, and you never feel that you’re in the wrong gear with it. The V-8 is mated to a standard six-speed manual gearbox or an optional six-speed automatic. My test car with the manual was a slick performer. The clutch engaged smoothly and the shift throws were short and direct. With this power train, the S5 can hit 60 in less than five seconds.
On the road, the S5 driver always fells in complete control. The Quattro all-wheel-drive system provides ample traction to the tires. The basic Quattro setting delivers 60-percent of the torque to the rear wheels, so that the S5 feels like a rear-wheel-drive car. This Audi handles whatever you throw at it with agility and poise. It breezes through twists and turns effortlessly, and has so much grip in the corners, that it almost feels like its running on rails. You might expect that a car with this much handling capability would deliver a harsh ride. This is not the case—the ride is firm, but comfortable.
Like its competitor, the BMW M3, the Audi S5 does not come cheap. The base price is $52,575, and on top of that, there’s a $1300 gas-guzzler tax. (I averaged just 16.5 mpg.) With the optional navigation system, the Technology package, premium sound and carbon-fiber trim, the total price of my test car came to $58,490.
Snapshot Review
Head-Turning Styling
More Than Ample Power
Smooth Transmission
Effortless Handling
