The first question people may well ask about the S5 Avant is why is this an S5 when there is still an RS4 Avant.
To which I would answer: I have no freakin’ idea. Audi recently went through a crisis of confidence when it came to its naming conventions, switching things up several times over the last few years.
The S5 got caught up in all this and launched after Audi had decreed that even numbers would represent electric vehicles and odd numbers ICE vehicles, but before it did a complete backflip on that and went back to the numbers representing the size and segment of the vehicle like they used to.
But here’s the thing: as long as they keep making cars as good as the S5 Avant, they can call them whatever they like and I couldn’t care less.
I will admit that a lot of the appreciation I have for the S5 Avant comes from the fact that it combines two of my favourite things: a slick and silky turbo-charged six-cylinder engine and a sleek, sexy wagon body shape.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that Audi has morphed the S5 into a very BMW-like experience that BMW itself has largely moved away from in these days of wild colours, massive gaping grilles and a rock-hard ride.
The S5 has a degree of subtlety to it that cars like the RS4 and RS6 definitively lack these days, with a sleek profile unadorned by excessive bulges and vents and a subdued, but fiercely insistent engine note to match its significant performance.
In fact, that refined but insistent engine note also has a remarkably BMW-esque straight six texture to it, adding even more to that feeling that Audi has made the exact sort of car BMW used to be so ridiculously good at making.
Tts sheer precision is a delight to behold on a winding back road, where the S5’s superb quattro drivetrain also comes sharply to life.
Subdued and almost silent at normal speeds, the engine’s tone rises to a silky howl as the revs increase, tailing off into a belligerent bark up the top of the tachometer. This is accompanied by surprisingly aggressive acceleration as the 270kW/550Nm 3.0-litre turbo V6 propels it to the open road speed limit in a brisk 4.5 seconds.
Instead of pretending to be an RS4 but with less power, the S5 nails its brief as a mid-level performance wagon that is equally refined and comfortable as it is sporty and agile.
The steering is typically Germanic, being precise and accurate, but largely lacking in much in the way of feel or feedback with the weighting in Dynamic mode feeling a tad artificial as well. But its sheer precision is a delight to behold on a winding back road, where the S5’s superb quattro drivetrain also comes sharply to life.
The S5 Avant is confident and unflustered on the open road, and smashing it though a series of corners is a supremely satisfying experience. It is effortlessly easy to fall into a deliciously flowing rhythm through a series of corners, and the precise blend of just enough power without going silly with it and the responsive nature of the quattro AWD system all comes together brilliantly.
Of course, the S5 is a modern Audi, so it features a beautifully made interior bristling with the latest tech, including a touchscreen just for the passenger. While this does feel a bit like screen overkill, it is integrated into the design well and even displays a subtle screensaver when not in use that makes it look like a bit of feature trim on the dash.
It's a wagon, baby! So, yeah, you can play the 'but it's a practical, sensible family car' card when you are really buying a sexy, sleek missile on wheels
Unlike BMW, which is going ever-more granular in the amount of parameters that you can adjust in its cars, Audi has kept the number of drive modes to admirable minimum in the S5, with just Dynamic, Automatic and Comfort to select from, as well as the expected Individual mode that allows you to set comfort suspension and dynamic everything else, which is scientifically proven to be the best settings for New Zealand roads.
But while I may consider the S5 Avant damn near the perfect car for my tastes, it isn’t quite perfect. That aforementioned artificial feel to the weight of the steering in Dynamic mode is a small blemish, but the bigger one is the small but significant delay that occurs when you push on the throttle.
While the 48-volt mild hybrid system is very good indeed at filling in the gaps due to turbo lag, the S5 has an approach to power delivery that sees nothing happening when you initially jump on the pedal, then everything happening once it has gathered its wits.
It’s certainly not terrible and you do get used to it, but it does make for a few unnecessarily aggressive launches until you do.
Throttle-related quirks aside, however, as a whole the S5 Avant is a quick, comfortable and dynamically satisfying mid-size wagon with deeply enjoyable performance, lots of tech and a layer of luxury.
Personally, I will happily overlook a slightly recalcitrant throttle pedal for that sort of package.
How much is the Audi S5 Avant?
A range of one at the moment, the S5 Avant lands at $147,990. Our car came equipped with a number of optional extras, however, including a $1000 Bang & Olufsen premium audio system (complete with speakers in the front seat's headrests), the $2500 black exterior pack and the spectacular "switchable transparency" electrochromic panoramic sunroof that costs an additional $5000 but is well worth it for the wow factor alone...
What are the key statistics for the Audi S5 Avant?
The S5 Avant is powered by Audi's 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 that is now augmented by a 48-volt mild hybrid system (that even allows some limited low-speed electric-only running) driving all four wheels through a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. The engine pumps out a healthy 270kW and 550Nm.
Is the Audi S5 Avant efficient?
For the performance on offer, the S5 comes across as relatively frugal during daily driving, with Audi's claim of 8.0l/100km being relatively easy to achieve. Access that performance enthusiastically, however, and it will climb, but still not much beyond 12 or so.
Is the Audi S5 Avant good to drive?
With its belligerent, yet refined (and slightly subdued) bellow and deeply satisfying (but not exc essive) acceleration, the S5 Avant is very reminiscent of a six-cylinder BMW from about a decade back, when they made brilliant cars with normal sized grilles that rode well, handled magnificently and looked great. So, yes, the S5 Avant is excellent to drive.
Is the Audi S5 Avant practical?
It's a wagon, baby! So, yeah, you can play the "but it's a practical, sensible family car" card when you are really buying a sexy, sleek missile on wheels that is supremely satisfying to drive. But, yeah - 40/20/40 split rear seat, 476-litres of cargo space and all that...
What do we like about the Audi S5 Avant?
A slickly capable cruiser that is also a satisfying corner carver, the S5's muscular performance and sexy wagon looks just seal the deal.
What don’t we like about the Audi S5 Avant?
There is a weird hesitation from the powertrain at low speeds that largely the dual clutch transmission's doing and takes the edge off the overall slick refinement of the package. And the artificial weight of the steering in Dynamic mode is both distracting and totally unnecessary.
What kind of person would the Audi S5 Avant suit?
Anyone who wants a sexy, yet subtle performance car that is both supremely capable and engaging. Oh, and is absolutely packed with tech that works properly.
