2018 Audi S5 Review

Name: 2018 Audi S5 Review
Brand: Audi
Price: 26562 USD

2018 Audi S5 Prestige quattro Coupe Exterior

+51

Used S5 for sale

$26,562 - $34,990

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Audi S5 model years

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byMark Takahashi^{Correspondent
Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the Edmunds YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.}

Pros

Acceleration is very strong and smooth
Superb grip around turns
inspires driver confidence
Interior is modern, classy and packed with high-tech features
A comfortable ride and seats for all-day trips

Cons

Interior storage is adequate but not generous

What’s new

The Audi S5 has been completely redesigned for 2018 with improvements across the board.

Vehicle overview

After a decade, the Audi S5 has finally received a full redesign and the wait was well worth it. This new model builds on its predecessor's best traits, including sleek styling, a refined interior and spirited driving dynamics, and takes them to all-new levels.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 Audi S5 Premium Plus quattro 4dr Hatchback AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$222/mo

$181/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

In almost every metric, this latest coupe is a prime example of how to do it right. It's a blast to drive, yet it doesn't sacrifice luxury and comfort in the process. We're also impressed with the S5's latest batch of technology features. Compared to rival sport coupes such as the BMW 4 Series and Mercedes C-Class, the 2018 Audi S5 rises to the top.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

8.3 / 10

The redesigned 2018 Audi S5 is our top pick among other luxury sport coupes. It expertly balances luxury and comfort with stirring performance, with little to no sacrifice in either direction. There's also an abundance of new technology that is very easy to operate.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our First Drive of the 2018 Audi S5 Prestige Coupe (turbo 3.0L V6 | 8-speed automatic | AWD).

Scorecard

Overall	8.3 / 10
Driving	9.5
Interior	7.0
Utility	6.5
Technology	8.5

Driving

9.5

The 2018 Audi S5 is at the top of the class when it comes to driver engagement and performance. It's a blast to drive on a twisty road yet well-mannered in everyday situations.

Acceleration

9.0

There's a brief hesitation when you hit the gas from a stop. But after that acceleration is incredibly smooth. Upshifts are almost imperceptible. It's deceptive how quickly this car gets up to speed, requiring the driver to show high levels of restraint.

Braking

9.0

The pedal is appropriately firm for a performance vehicle like this. After flogging it repeatedly on a challenging mountain pass, we never experienced any fade or softening of the pedal. Under normal conditions, the brakes are easy to modulate and bring the car to a smooth stop.

Steering

9.0

Steering effort feels right in each drive mode (lighter in Comfort, heavier in Dynamic), but there's little feedback to tell the driver when grip is at the limit. The optional adaptive steering feels awkward when accelerating and turning from a stop.

Handling

10.0

The S5 has impressive roadholding capabilities. It easily navigates through sharp turns at speeds that would overwhelm lesser vehicles. The all-wheel-drive system deftly supplies power to specific wheels to aid the car's handling balance around turns.

Drivability

9.5

The initial hesitation is a bit of a letdown, but it's nowhere close to being a deal breaker. The same holds true for the automatic engine stop-start function, but this is typical in most competitors. Otherwise, the S5 is a joy to drive in any condition.

Interior

7.0

The S5's cabin is a wonderful expression of modern, understated luxury. The materials quality is high, and the smart layout of controls makes operation easy and distraction-free.

Ease of use

6.0

There are only buttons for essential controls. You operate everything else through the MMI infotainment system. The simple design and logical placement and grouping of buttons mean you'll rarely have to look down to use them. This is an example of how it's done right.

Getting in/getting out

6.0

The long doors make front-seat access effortless, and the seat-belt presenter eliminates the need to reach back. Access to the rear seats is typical for the class, which means it requires an inelegant crouch and side shimmy to get past the roof and front seat.

Driving position

The driver's seat has numerous power adjustments and a wide range of movement. There's extendable thigh support, too. Drivers of just about any size and shape should be able to find their optimal position.

Roominess

7.0

As you'd expect from a performance coupe, the S5's cockpit has a sporty wraparound feel, but it never feels tight or confining. Backseat space is cramped for adults, but smaller passengers should be fine back there.

Visibility

7.0

The roof pillars are moderately thick, which is typical for any car today. But they don't obstruct your outward view much, and the optional top-down camera system takes away any guesswork in tight parking spaces. Mirrors offer good coverage, too.

Quality

9.0

Even among other great luxury sport coupes, the Audi S5 stands out. All materials are high-quality, and buttons have an identical and precise click. At the same time, interior components have a durable heft.

Utility

6.5

The S5 is about average for interior storage but gets better marks when it comes to trunk space and the convenience items associated with it. The trunk is bigger than the exterior size suggests, though it's not much bigger than average for the class.

Small-item storage

6.5

There's not an abundance of bins or pockets, and they are not particularly large. They offer just enough space for your personal items and not much more.

Cargo space

6.5

The trunk has a 11.6-cubic-foot capacity. That's not great, but it's roomy enough for most daily cargo-hauling tasks. A flat load floor, remote seatback releases, anchor points and retractable bag hangers garner it more points for convenience.

Technology

8.5

The Audi S5 has a lot of high-tech features and makes them easy to use. The virtual instrument panel is particularly good with configurable sections and clear graphics in any light. The MMI infotainment system's evolution keeps it among our favorites.

Audio & navigation

8.5

The optional Bang & Olufsen sound system delivers powerful audio with excellent clarity. The navigation is packed with features and is easy to operate, particularly with the tracepad and voice commands. The MMI system continues to get high marks.

Smartphone integration

8.0

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard equipment on all S5 models. For audio control, Apple CarPlay is preferable to Audi's MMI, but it's awkward to control with the dial rather than a touchscreen.

Driver aids

8.0

The forward collision warning system is well tuned without being overly sensitive in traffic. The blind-spot monitoring is subtle enough to not be a distraction. Stability and traction control are also smartly tuned to give you just enough leeway to have fun but not enough to get you in trouble.

Voice control

Voice recognition is excellent whether through MMI or Apple CarPlay. Apple CarPlay is a bit easier to use with plain speech but does require an internet connection.

2018 Audi S5 models

The 2018 Audi S5 is a four-passenger luxury sport coupe that is a high-performance variant of the A5 coupe. It is available in either Premium Plus or Prestige trim levels. Both are powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (354 horsepower, 369 pound-feet of torque). All-wheel drive is standard, as is an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Standard features for the Premium Plus trim include 18-inch wheels with summer performance tires, automatic LED headlights, automatic wipers, power-folding mirrors with heating, a panoramic sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry and ignition, tri-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, power front seats (with heating and massage functions), driver-seat memory settings, 40/20/40-split folding rear seats, auto-dimming mirrors and interior ambient lighting.

On the technology front, you also get Bluetooth, a 7-inch infotainment display, a rearview camera, a Wi-Fi hotspot, remote control via a smartphone app, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, and a 10-speaker audio system with a CD player, satellite and HD radio, two USB ports and dual SD card slots. Additional safety features include low-speed forward collision warning and mitigation, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and Audi Connect Care emergency telematics.

The Prestige trim includes all of the above, along with a virtual instrument panel display, streaming internet radio apps, remote vehicle monitoring via a smartphone app, a bigger 8.3-inch infotainment display, a navigation system, a tracepad feature for infotainment input, a top-down parking camera system and a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium surround-sound system. All of these items are available as options on the Premium Plus trim.

Other options include the S Sport package (red brake calipers, adaptive suspension dampers and sport rear differential); the Warm Weather package (ventilated front seats and extended premium leather upholstery); an adaptive steering system; and a heated steering wheel. The Prestige trim is eligible for the Driver Assistance package that adds traffic-adaptive cruise control, a traffic sign reader, lane departure warning and intervention, and automatic high beams.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

2/5Average

#63 out of 68 among Luxury Midsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Audi S5 from 2008-2022.}

$849/yr

vs. $607/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

2.27x/yr

vs. 1.36x/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

20.5%

vs. 10.5%
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2018 Audi S5.

5 (69%)

4 (10%)

3 (3%)

2 (14%)

1 (4%)

4.3

29 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Screaming fast. Fantastic fun

Mark J, 01/20/2019

2018 Audi S5 Premium Plus quattro 2dr Coupe AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)

3rd update: Not change, but needing breaks at 38,000 seems too soon when virtually all the miles are highway miles. 4th update: 44000 miles. Still love this car. 2nd update: Just turned 36k miles and still love the car. Just replaced tires. I learned that Audi uses a bit of negative camber (helps with cornering) which causes the tires to wear on the inside at a faster rate than …

My First Audi. Glad it was the 2018 S5 Prestige!

Gene Simpson, 10/17/2017

2018 Audi S5 Prestige quattro 2dr Coupe AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)

This car is absolutely incredible. It drives and handles like a dream. The technology can be a bit overwhelming at first but once you get used to how things work it is great. The controls and ergonomics of the cabin are almost perfect. Great quality materials in the buttons, high-quality diamond stitched Nappa leather and a sound system that is fantastic. Everything is arranged within …

Fantastic Upgrade from 2015 S5.

Mythos, 11/11/2017

2018 Audi S5 Prestige quattro 2dr Coupe AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)

The overall feel to me is a higher level of sophistication than previous generation. Audi has made a step up in overall quality of interior design, materials and switch gear. Suspension changes are quite noticeable which provides a more sure footed feel. Gone is the under steer tendency when aggressively taking corners. It feels much quicker with surges of power more instantaneous …

One big problem made me sell after 9 mos

Bradley Steele, 06/13/2019

2018 Audi S5 Prestige quattro 4dr Hatchback AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A)

New technology for crash avoidance in this car is flawed. It was extremely intrusive and on three occasions nearly caused me to have an accident when it suddenly stopped in the middle of an intersection. If a car came opposite in a common left turn lane, for example, the Audi would anticipate having a head on collision and stop my car suddenly when I was trying to cross traffic. I had a …

See all 29 reviews of the Audi S5

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2018 S5 Highlights

Type:

Coupe

Trim:

Premium Plus quattro

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$54,600
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$222/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	11.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the S5 models:

Audi Pre Sense City: Detects if a frontal collision is likely and warns you if you don't react quickly enough. Can also apply the brakes automatically.
Audi Active Lane Assist: Warns if you begin drifting out of your lane without signaling and nudges you back in line if you don't react.
Audi Side Assist: Informs you if there are vehicles in your blind spots and audibly warns you if you attempt to change lanes.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.9%

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