Audi A5 Coupe

Overview:

If sharp lines, fine engineering , sporty looks and sticking to the basics is your thing, then the first car that comes to mind is an Audi. Through out the years since its overtaking by the Volkswagen group in 1966, this German giant has displayed pure class, elegance and German engineering to the world. The Audi A5 adds another feather in their cap. This car as it appears has been made keeping in mind sharp and sporty driving which also reflects in the sharp body lines flowing through out the car. The headlights resembles the eyes of a panther and the front grille gives it a commanding appearance over other vehicles on road.

Audi A5 in the Malaysian market comes packing as a permanent all wheel drive (quattro) 4 door compact executive Coupe variant and a dedicated 4 door Sportback variant, both of these luxuries sport the same engine credentials of 2-litre 4 cylinder in-line turbocharged petrol engine with direct fuel injection, that churns out a juicy 225 HP maximum power output at 4500-6250 rpm, with such a powerful engine embedded, Audi A4 races 100 kmph mark in a very impressive 6.4 seconds. The top speed Audi A5 is 250kmph, which is also another 5kmph faster than the Sportback variant. This 2.0-litre petrol engine is mounted longitudinally in the front. The 7-speed S tronic paddle shift transmission changes gears in a blink, ensuring appropriate power transmitted across all the wheels. For a luxury car with a power measuring 225 horses, it has a pretty good fuel economy too measuring 15 kmpl. Audi A4 also comes equipped all sorts of slick safety features you would expect from a high-end luxury drive. The interiors are the segment that particularly steal the show and quite certainly lift up your mood. All in all, the Audi A5 is a pleasure to drive and a pleasure to watch, a drive that justifies the "Audi" tag.

Mileage and Fuel Economy:

Although, the Sedan comes in your grasp with a heavy fix investment. The variable cost for running A4 isn't really too high. Despite sporting a large 2.0-litre TFSI engine alongside a huge body body structure, Audi A4 still offers a pretty decent 15 kmpl fuel economy, which is amongst the best in class of vehicles offering 225 horse power. The CO2 emissions stand at a moderate 155g/km, ensuring less particulate emission lost in the environment.

Power:

The 2.0 TFSI engine with a 4-cylinder, exhaust gas turbocharging and Audi valvelift system configuration churns out a juicy 225 hp maximum power output between 4500 to 6250 rpm which is more than enough to race past the fellow drivers on the tarmac. Alongside this massive output power, the maximum starting torque stands at 350 Nm between 1,500 to 4500 rpm.

Acceleration and Pick up:

The 2.0 TFSI engine with the trademark Audi quattro technology makes the both the variants of Audi A5 reach 0-100kmph in just 6.5 sec which is may be termed as an achievement for a 2.0-litre engine driving the huge dimensions of the luxury A5. The top speed of the coupe stands at 250 kmph, a tad bit (5 kmph) faster than the Sportback.

Exterior:

The exteriors of Audi A5 are built to make the sedan look like nothing else but a car in its most seductive and elegant form. Its no non sense design gives it a look of confidence, straight forwardness and absolute panache. The sharp line flowing from the hood to the rear door possess a certain appeal to it which are bound to make many heads turn. The panther like Xenon plus headlights with adaptive lights comes with the LED daytime running lights which makes it stand out of the crowd even under the sun. Talking about the all luxury features, Audi A5 also comes equipped with a headlight washer to ensure proper lighting on the road even in bad weathers. The tale lamps are also LED. The exterior mirrors are electrically adjustable as well as heated to keep the mist out of bay. The headlight range is also automatically adjustable. The large air inhaling front grille gives it a dominating road presence, not forgetting the absolute elegance, "Audi" insignia in the middle.

Exterior Measurements:

The A5 has a long hood that improves aerodynamics as well as aesthetics. The overall dimensions of the coupe are 4625mm x 1854mm x 1372mm . However, the sportback is a little longer and taller with the overall dimensions of 4712mm x 1854mm x 1391mm. The wheelbase of the sportback is also a little longer at 2811mm than the coupe which stands at 2751mm. With a huge wheelbase like such, there is absolutely no question mark in the comfort quotient of the cabin inside. (L x W x H)

Interior:

The superfluous use of leather all along its upholstery gives this Audi a fine rich feel. The suave interiors are bound to cheer you up, the moment you step inside the car. The front sport seats are covered in Fine Nappa Leather with an S line logo embossed in it, to give you the sporty rush. The 3 spoked steering also covered in leather along with paddle shifts also has an embossed S emblem on it that makes you want to rev it to high speeds. The steering also has a nice grip to it and is of just the right size, this steering wheel is embedded with audio-video, Bluetooth handsfree and Cruise control features. The gear knob is also covered in leather and the aluminum used inside is mat finished which again looks upmarket. The headlining is done in black cloth imparting a sense of charming mystery to the vehicle. Up top, on the center of the dashboard a huge touchscreen sits pretty that controls all the audio-video, reverse camera and navigation-link systems.

Interior Comfort:

The front sports seats of the A5 are very supportive and comfortable and will hold you firmly on the corners. However, the rear seat lack the required headroom which might make it a little difficult for slightly taller passengers. The automatic air conditioner does a decent job at maintaining the temperature. Facilities like cup-holders and rear window blinds come as standard. The rear seat also gets a rear window blind for sunlight protection. A panoramic roof is optional in the coupe, whereas for the sportsback, sun roof comes as optional. MMI navigation (with touchscreen functionality) also comes as optional. The side and rear windows also get a nice in-heat insulating glass.

Interior Measurements:

The front seats get a sufficient legroom of 952.5mm, the rear seats don't really lag behind and also sport a decent legroom of 914mm. The boot space however, is a good 480 litres, more than enough to meet our daily requirements.

Engine and Performance:

Both the variants, Sportsback and Coupe sport the same 2-litre 4 cylinder TFSI engine embedded with Audi quattro technology. This petrol engine churns out a cool 225 hp at 4500-6200 rpm with a maximum torque measuring 350 Nm at 1500-4500 rpm. It is complimented with a 7 speed pedal shift S tronic transmission which does a fine job in transmitting all those 225 horses to the wheels. The engine is mounted longitudinally which provides some extra stability to the car and results in an elongated hood. The elite saloon car is capable of reaching 0-100kmph in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 250kmph. The engine can also be termed as efficient since it offers a fuel economy of 15 kmpl and a carbon emission of 155g/km. It is overall an efficient engine that produces a humming sound which compliments it nicely.

Stereo and accessories:

A5 comes with an Audi music interface offering Ipod and USB connectivity with a 6 CD changer and an SD card reader. The centre audio video controls is basically a huge touch screen mounted on the top of dashboard. As such, the sound system is the prestigious Bang& Olufsen 10 channel amplifier with 14 loudspeakers and 505 watts total output. It also offers Bluetooth connectivity and enables handsfree calling. The driver information display also comes in handy and offers details like fuel available, average fuel consumption, average driving time and service interval display with break recommendation.

Wheels:

The A5 comes with an Audi exclusive cast aluminum 18" wheels with 5-twin spoke design, that make its identity clear from a distance. The tyre size with these rims employed measures 245/40 R 18.

Braking and Handling:

Both the front and rear wheels of the A5 get hold of ceramic disc brakes ensure maximum comfort while braking. These are also supported by the ABS, EBD, Brake Assist(BA), Traction Control (ASR) and Electronic Differential Lock(EDL) which helps the ride to be stable and jerk free. The Auto drive select with damping control system allows you to select from 4 modes including Auto, Comfort, Dynamic and Efficiency mode which sets the dampers according to the road you are driving on.

Safety and Security:

For the safety of the passengers, the coupe comes with 6 dedicated SRS airbags including 2 airbags for driver and front passenger, 2 head airbags and 2 side airbags. The Sportsback takes this tally up a notch with a total of 8 airbags with the rear passengers getting 2 extra rear side airbags. Apart from this, the electronic stabilization program (ESP) which includes the features like ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System), EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution), BA (Brake Assist) , ASR and EDL makes the ride amazingly safe and secure. The cruise control feature also prevents the driver from fatigue, thereby preventing fatal events.

Pros:

Efficient and green Engine
Impressive Interiors
Handling at high speeds

Cons:

Low headroom for rear seat
An optional diesel motor can also be considered
The BMW 4 series can offer more fun and efficient drive