What We Like
Cabin build quality
Snappy MMI system
Features Google Maps and Google Street View
Reasonable 11.1km/L fuel economy
What We Dislike
$206,500 leans towards the pricey side
Audi prefers the term 'premium' over 'luxury' when referring to its cars, especially when it comes to the second generation A5 Coupe.
What's the difference? Well, 'luxury' tends to be associated with comfort while 'premium' refers to an object of exceptional quality.
So… what's 'premium' about this coupe?
The A5 Coupe's understated styling is attributed to the German marque's attention to detail, evident through design elements like an uninterrupted line, which runs from the clamshell bonnet to the taillights. Up front, a chrome radiator grille with black accents accentuates a sleeker looking face.
The same level of craftsmanship holds true in the A5 Coupe's cabin. Bits and pieces fit together nicely and everything feels well-built.
Controls feel robust and are easy to reach from comfortable electric seats wrapped in soft leather, which offer plenty of space for driver and front passenger. Surprisingly for a coupe, rear seats in the A5 are spacious, too, for two Asian adults.
All tech-ed out
A snappy, intuitive and easy-to-use 8.3-inch Audi MMI navigation plus centre console takes centre stage in the A5 Coupe.
It is controlled by a round rotary push button, which doubles up as a touchpad capable of capturing handwriting inputs for entering destinations into the system's navigational function.
What's the difference? Well, 'luxury' tends to be associated with comfort while 'premium' refers to an object of exceptional quality.
So… what's 'premium' about this coupe?
The A5 Coupe's understated styling is attributed to the German marque's attention to detail, evident through design elements like an uninterrupted line, which runs from the clamshell bonnet to the taillights. Up front, a chrome radiator grille with black accents accentuates a sleeker looking face.
The same level of craftsmanship holds true in the A5 Coupe's cabin. Bits and pieces fit together nicely and everything feels well-built.
Controls feel robust and are easy to reach from comfortable electric seats wrapped in soft leather, which offer plenty of space for driver and front passenger. Surprisingly for a coupe, rear seats in the A5 are spacious, too, for two Asian adults.
All tech-ed out
A snappy, intuitive and easy-to-use 8.3-inch Audi MMI navigation plus centre console takes centre stage in the A5 Coupe.
It is controlled by a round rotary push button, which doubles up as a touchpad capable of capturing handwriting inputs for entering destinations into the system's navigational function.
One feature that stands out in the A5 Coupe, and is seldom found in in-car navigation systems, is Google Maps - which is only available when you have a SIM card installed. Audi has overlaid the app onto its native maps, which are stored in a local hard drive located somewhere near the glovebox.
Searching for a new location or entering a new destination into Google Maps is convenient and quick, thanks to the MMI's round rotary push button.
Efficiency is key
Getting more power out of the 2.0-litre TFSI, which puts out 190bhp and 320Nm of torque, wasn't the main goal with the A5 Coupe.
Instead, Audi went with what it calls a B-cycle engine, which utilises a higher compression ratio. This results in a higher level of pressure during combustion and further increases the engine's efficiency. A shortened compression phase also means the 2.0 TFSI only has to compress as much fuel as a 1.4 TFSI.
Searching for a new location or entering a new destination into Google Maps is convenient and quick, thanks to the MMI's round rotary push button.
Efficiency is key
Getting more power out of the 2.0-litre TFSI, which puts out 190bhp and 320Nm of torque, wasn't the main goal with the A5 Coupe.
Instead, Audi went with what it calls a B-cycle engine, which utilises a higher compression ratio. This results in a higher level of pressure during combustion and further increases the engine's efficiency. A shortened compression phase also means the 2.0 TFSI only has to compress as much fuel as a 1.4 TFSI.
The A5 Coupe has also managed to shave off 60kg, and according to Audi, it is the most aerodynamic in its class. This may seem irrelevant but it all boils down to this - a more efficient engine that doesn't sacrifice performance.
We managed an average of 11.1km/L during our time with the test car, which is far from Audi's claimed 18.2km/L but still a reasonable figure for the A5.
No quattro, no problemo
The test car we drove was the 190bhp variant with front-wheel drive, which might not seem like much. But with all 320Nm of torque available from as low as 1,450rpm, and a 0-100km/h time of 7.3 seconds, the A5 Coupe will smoke any road hoggers without batting an eyelid; all while doing it in style and comfort.
Point the A5 in the direction you want to go and it obeys with nary a complaint. A stiffer suspension also makes the A5 feel sportier as it's capable of tackling bends with ample confidence.
It does, however, lack feedback at the helm, which takes some of the fun out of the twisties.
There's always a first time for everything
The A5 Coupe is the first model in Audi's A series to have the option to adjust its exhaust note, which can be done through the Audi Drive Select.
We managed an average of 11.1km/L during our time with the test car, which is far from Audi's claimed 18.2km/L but still a reasonable figure for the A5.
No quattro, no problemo
The test car we drove was the 190bhp variant with front-wheel drive, which might not seem like much. But with all 320Nm of torque available from as low as 1,450rpm, and a 0-100km/h time of 7.3 seconds, the A5 Coupe will smoke any road hoggers without batting an eyelid; all while doing it in style and comfort.
Point the A5 in the direction you want to go and it obeys with nary a complaint. A stiffer suspension also makes the A5 feel sportier as it's capable of tackling bends with ample confidence.
It does, however, lack feedback at the helm, which takes some of the fun out of the twisties.
There's always a first time for everything
The A5 Coupe is the first model in Audi's A series to have the option to adjust its exhaust note, which can be done through the Audi Drive Select.
The A5 Coupe now features the Audi virtual cockpit - a fully digital 12.3-inch TFT display - which works hand in hand with the MMI navigation plus centre console to display information such as Audi Drive Select and Google Maps' directions.
It also features a digital speedometer, tachometer and other vehicle information like fuel consumption figures.
All features mentioned here come standard in the base model, which we test drove. Pricing for the A5 Coupe starts at $206,500 (including COE and after CEVS), as of 3rd April 2017.
What makes the A5 an everyday coupe?
The new A5 isn't just a comfortable, reasonably fuel efficient and easy-to-drive coupe. It also boasts a decent-sized 465-litre boot, an automatic seat belt extender and plenty of storage compartments throughout the cabin.
Add to that Audi's MMI navigation plus system, virtual cockpit and the Google Maps overlay, and you get a coupe that is easy to live with day-to-day.
It also features a digital speedometer, tachometer and other vehicle information like fuel consumption figures.
All features mentioned here come standard in the base model, which we test drove. Pricing for the A5 Coupe starts at $206,500 (including COE and after CEVS), as of 3rd April 2017.
What makes the A5 an everyday coupe?
The new A5 isn't just a comfortable, reasonably fuel efficient and easy-to-drive coupe. It also boasts a decent-sized 465-litre boot, an automatic seat belt extender and plenty of storage compartments throughout the cabin.
Add to that Audi's MMI navigation plus system, virtual cockpit and the Google Maps overlay, and you get a coupe that is easy to live with day-to-day.
