Used Audi A5 cars for sale

Audi A5 buying guide

Audi offers the A5 in a range of different engine and trim flavours. Handsome two-door coupe and convertible options are available or, if you don’t want to sacrifice too much practicality to enjoy the good looks, there’s also the five-door A5 Sportback. With a premium badge on the nose, the A5 isn’t going to be the cheapest option available, but the all-round package it offers is worth every penny.

Read on to learn more about each so you can choose the used A5 that’s best for you.

What used Audi A5 trim levels are there?

SE is the entry-level trim for A5 Sportback models only, although they’re quite rare with most buyers choosing a higher-spec version. SE includes alloy wheels, leather upholstery, heated front seats, climate control, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, keyless go, automatic emergency braking, and an infotainment system with Bluetooth, DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Sport is next up and is the entry-level trim for coupe and Cabriolet A5s. This adds slightly different alloy wheels, some subtle sporty styling details on the exterior, front sports seats, ambient interior lighting and an upgraded infotainment system with built-in sat-nav.

Black Edition is similarly equipped to Sport but includes blacked-out styling details on the exterior for a meaner look.

S Line is Audi’s sporty trim similar to Mercedes AMG Line or BMW’s M Sport. These models get larger alloy wheels and a more aggressive body kit to help them stand out, along with sports suspension, LED headlights, and front leather and Alcantara suede sports seats.

Vorsprung is a luxurious range-topping trim and gains posh matrix LED headlights and even larger alloy wheels.

Audi A5 interior and technology

Audi has earned a strong reputation for interior quality and the A5 shows why. Everything you touch and interact with in the cabin is made from premium materials and feels extremely well screwed together. The design is attractive and refreshingly minimal, and we like that the heating and air conditioning controls remain as physical switches, rather than being hidden in the infotainment system.

Speaking of which, Audi’s infotainment package is one of the best on the market, with a responsive screen and an easy-to-understand layout and menu structure. All cars across the A5 range include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allowing you to mirror third-party smartphone apps in your car including navigation and media playback.

Practicality is about as good as you can expect from a coupe, with all A5 models able to take four adults in relative comfort – although we’d recommend the five-door Sportback for buyers that regularly use the rear seats. The boot is just about big enough on all models to squeeze in two large suitcases, and the Sportback can even tackle a pedal bike if you fold the rear seats down.

Audi A5 engine range explained

Audi A5 35 TFSI

The entry-level petrol engine available for the A5 is called the 35 TFSI. This is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 150hp. It’ll hit 62mph from rest in a shade less than nine seconds so, despite being the least powerful choice, it’ll still feel relaxed at motorway speeds.

Audi A5 40 TFSI

Next up is the 40 TFSI petrol, which uses the same 2.0-litre turbocharged engine as before, but with power turned up to 190hp. This drops the 0-62mph time to a little over seven seconds, helping it feel quite a bit stronger than 35 versions.

Audi A5 40 TFSI 204

Audi opted to slightly upgrade the 40 TFSI engine later in the car’s life to 204hp, shaving a tenth off the 0-62mph sprint.

Audi A5 45 TFSI

Topping the A5 petrol engine range is the 45 TFSI engine. Again, it’s the familiar 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder but with power turned up to 245hp. The 0-62mph run drops below six seconds, meaning this engine can easily outrun all but the hottest of hot hatchbacks.

Audi A5 35 TDI

Audi’s long-legged diesels have proved to be a consistently popular choice in the lineup. The range starts with the 35 TDI engine – a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel making 163hp. This version can hit 62mph from a standstill in a little over eight seconds or, if you drive carefully, can average more than 50mpg.

Audi A5 40 TDI

Next up in the diesel lineup is the 40 TDI. Again, it’s a 2.0-litre unit but with power turned up to 190hp. This shaves a few tenths off the 0-62mph time as well as a few mpg off the average fuel economy.

Audi A5 40 TDI 204

Like the 40 TFSI, Audi updated the 40 TDI partway through the A5’s life creating the 40 TDI 204. As the name suggests, this turns power up to 204hp, which drops the 0-62mph sprint to around seven seconds.

Audi S5 TDI

For high-performance cars, Audi offers two flavours – rapid S cars and ultra-powerful RS cars. The S5 TDI is a halfway house between the A5 range and the full-fat RS5, and comes with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbodiesel engine making up to 341hp. This can hit 62mph from rest in an impressive 4.6 seconds.

Audi RS5

The mightiest of all A5s is the RS5. This muscular sports coupe is powered by a 2.9-litre turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine that’s shared with certain Porsche models. With 450hp on tap and aided by grippy quattro all-wheel drive, the RS5 leaps from 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds – comfortably into supercar territory.