Audi S5 Review

Audi S5

The Audi A5 family comes with a good list of engine choices. For diesel fans, there are the 2.0TDI, the 2.7TDI V6 and the 3.0-litre TDI quattro, which is also in V6 format. Petrol units start with a 2.0 TFSI with two outputs of 180- and 211PS. The next size up is the 3.2 FSI V6 and topping the bill is the 4.2 TFSI V8 engine, which was in the Audi S5 test car. All but the lowest output petrol engine are available with quattro technology and the Audi S5 doesn't come any other way. I for one am not complaining and I certainly had no objection to the power output of 354PS (7,000rpm) nor the massive amount of torque, which peaks at 440Nm (3,500rpm).

Good though that is, the best part is the deep rumbling bass note from two discrete twin tailpipes as 62 mph from standstill comes up in 5.4 seconds en route to a limited top speed of 155mph. These figures are for the tiptronic version that offers mix and match gear-changes via the conventional shift or steering wheel-mounted, paddles.

The 6-speed, manual 'box is standard issue throughout the range and in the Audi S5 reduces the sprint time by just 0.3 seconds, which is neither here nor there. Having a large V8 engine under the bonnet is not conducive to good fuel consumption but Audi has done its best and the figures for the test car are posted as 18.0-, 35.8- and 26.2 mpg for the urban, extra-urban and combined cycles respectively with emissions of 256g/km. However, if you play with the different settings, especially Dynamic, you can watch the fuel gauge drop very quickly. But it is worth it.