Why The New Diesel Audi A5 Makes Way More Sense Than The Petrol S5
I am a petrolhead. I like power. I like speed. I like big engines that run on unleaded.
At least, that’s what I’ve been telling myself repeatedly, because after sampling two Audi coupes this week - the new A5 3.0-litre TDI and 3.0-litre V6 S5 - I reckon I’d have the former, rather than the latter. Cause for concern, perhaps?
But it’s OK - after a little pondering I’ve sussed it: the big diesel just makes more sense.
I’m not talking about making more sense in terms of lower running costs and a cheaper purchase price (the V6 TDI A5 in S Line trim comes in at £41,240, while the S5 will set you back £47,000). No, the trouble with the S5 is its 3.0-litre six-pot. It’s a new, lighter twin-turbo lump with a hot V layout - hooked up to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic ‘box - but it doesn’t really suit the car.
The new A5 may be 60kg lighter than the old one and packing new five-link suspension, but even in top line S5 trim, it’s emphatically not a sports car. It’s at its happiest when you’re cruising around, enjoying the typically Audi (read: jolly nice) interior and the sort of refinement that’s like a big warm cuddle shielding you from the nasty outside world.
On the other hand, when you’re pressing on, the S5 is competent, surefooted and safe, but not that exciting. It’s not a car that eggs you on to go faster, with its numb steering, relatively soft setup and tied down all-wheel drive system.
Like I said, this is a car for cruising so that’s not necessarily an issue, but the engine under the bonnet feels like it’s much more up for the sort of backroad shenanigans the S5 isn’t interested in. It has a punchy mid-range and a surprisingly zingy attitude, accompanied by a pleasant exhaust note.
It’s fast too: with a 0-62mph time of 4.7 seconds, it’s just a couple of tenths off the benchmark time of the old RS5. More importantly though, it actually feels properly quick, and quite urgent.
While I’m yet to drive the previous generation, pre-facelift S5, I’m sure it makes a much better case for itself as a cruisey coupe with its big, rumbly V8. But this V6? It just feels a little muddled. And that’s where the big diesel comes in.
No, it can’t manage any sub-5sec 0-62mph heroics, but with 215bhp and 295lb ft of torque on tap it’s not exactly sluggish. It’ll do the same sprint in just over six seconds, which is plenty fast enough, but most importantly the V6 oil burner (which is admittedly slightly grumbly) is a much better fit for the A5.
It’s an effortlessly quick and relaxed motor, and the slick seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox it’s hooked up to does a good job of always keeping you within the powerband.
But should you buy an A5 in the first place? Well, it all depends what you’re after. A BMW 435d will be much sharper and more entertaining to drive, but if that’s not high up your agenda, the considerably nicer cabin and festooning of tech of the Audi make it a tempting alternative. And hey, I’m pretty fond of the looks, even if it hasn’t changed much compared to the old one.
If you’re the sort of person that simply wants to get the fastest, most expensive version of a car, I’m sure you’ll like the S5 very much. But for now, and for me, it’s not the A5 I’d have. The incoming RS5, on the other hand…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Imagine if you have the diesel and you meet someone who has a petrol, how embarrassing
That last line is all i needed
In the real world, diesels feel faster. Especially once the boost hits. Without being all that maniacal, I can make my B5.5 TDI feel as fast as a Golf GTI with the pedal to the metal.
They can do. My humble Golf GT TDi has 180bhp and nearly 300 lb ft, with not too much fettling. Add some Bridgestones Potenzas and it’s good fun.
It’s not massively quick on paper, but i don’t drive on paper.
#DieselMasterRace
Diesel feel faster, but when you check your speedometer its not very impressive. My friend have a same horsepower diesel car compared with mine. When he drives me, his car feels way faster than mine, but in drag i beat him with 2 cars leight. And even on the road he can’t catch me.
Said it before, I’ll say it again.. those who put down the big TDI’s with the tired excuse ‘it’s a diesel’ have either never tried to daily a car in the UK/Ireland/most of Europe, or have never owned one long-term at all.
It’s simply the best compromise a realistic every day car can be, the build quality is superb, they come in all sorts of good-looking packages, and they feel real-world fast. Not internet-based, top-trumps, closed race circuit fast, but driving on smaller roads with oceans of torque and decent bhp, and able to use all of it because it’ll take a good beating for years and you’ll be getting 40mpg+ anyway?
Yes please.
Do I still want an Evo? Yes. But not as a daily while I have my good old Golf.
I don’t like diesels but have many
Couldn’t have said it better. After driving an A4 TDI and now being the owner of a 320d. I love it.
Totally agree with, I’m looking for a good mk6 Golf R, but I’m driving a Golf mk5 1.9 TDI remapped to 150hp/340nm, feels like a 1 year old car even after 12 years (it’s a 2004 model), especially with almost full options like auto headlights/wipers, auto dimming mirror , cruise control, electric and heated side mirrors, touch screen navigation, radar and reverse camera, multi function wheel and display on the cluster, climatronic bi-zone, electric and heated seats and much more.
The cool thing about all those options is they never failed, nor did the engine, and the peak torque starting from 1800rpm always feels nice, never had to change any part because it failed just regular servicing.
Most of those internet people don’t know what they’re talking about.
“If youre the person that simply wants to get the fastest, most expensive version of a car, I’m sure you’ll like the S5 very much”
Mandems
You need the front of the last A5 and the rear of the new A5 and it woule be superb.
Matt “Never quite pleased” Robinson!
P.S. Jokes aside, great article! I think that if you want fun, you need to look at smaller and lighter cars (e.g. TTS / TT RS for Audi, M240i / M2 for BMW, SLC43 for Merc etc), whereas for A5/4-series/C-class a Diesel engine would much better suit the car’s GT character and add to everyday usability. That’s not to say I don’t like RS5/M4/C63 though.
Petrolheads be like:
Au-die S5
But will it run coal?
So TDI can’t smoke petrol?