2012 Audi A5 Review
The Audi A5 is offered as both coupe and convertible (Cabriolet) with 3 trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. The A5 is powered by a 2.0 liter inline-4 engine producing 211hp and 258lb-ft of torque. The Cabriolet comes equipped standard with FWD and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT); however, buyers can choose AWD and coupes come standard with AWD. Premium trim standard features include auto headlights/ wipers/climate control, leather upholstery, CD player/satellite radio, dash-mounted Multi Media Interface controller and much more. The coupe is equipped with a sunroof, and the cabriolet receives a power-retractable soft top with wind blocker. There are many other convenience features available in higher trims, as well as optional packages.
The BuyingAdvice Team Says:
The 2012 Audi A5 will provide you with a smooth, comfortable ride while encased in a high-class cabin with all of life’s creature comforts. The A5 will give you secure, confident handling and excellent fuel economy with the option of driving either a coupe or convertible.
What’s New For 2012:
For 2012, the Audi A5 essentially remained unchanged.
What is the Predicted Reliability:
The Audi A5 scored high for reliability only 4 points off the top score and a full 23 points higher than the lowest scoring vehicle in its category. Strong marks were given for its transmission, agile handling, taut and compliant suspension as well as fit and finish. The results from a recent survey of current A5 owners was impressive, with 80% of current owners saying they would buy their A5 convertible AWD again and 82% of owners of the Audi A5 coupe non-turbo responded if they had it to do all over again, they would definitely buy their A5.
Analysis Of Safety Ratings And Features:
The 2012 Audi A5 comes equipped with standard safety features such as anti-lock brakes with brake assist, stability control, front-seat side airbags/side curtain airbags and the Prestige can be equipped with a blind-spot warning system, with adaptive cruise control alerting the driver and primeing the brakes for full stopping ability if a collision appears impending.
Pros and Cons:
Pros
+Controlled, confident handling
+Elegant styling
+Excellent fuel economy
Cons
-Doesn’t accelerate quite as quick some competitors
-Lack of head and leg room in backseat
-Standard dash-mounted MMI not as user friendly as optional version
Head-To-Head Competition:
The Audi A5 has a starting price that’s slightly less than the BMW 3 Series but is over $10k less than the Infiniti G starting price, offering buyers a lot of value. While the Audi A5 has a 211hp engine compared to the BMW 3 Series with a 230hp and the Infiniti G’s 348hp engine, the Audi A5 offers much better fuel economy ratings than either competitor; the Audi offers 21MPG City/31MPG Highway compared to the BMW at 18/28MPG and the Infiniti way back at 17/25MPG. The Audi A5 also offers more cargo capacity with all seats in place than either the BMW 3 Series or Infiniti G.
What Others Are Saying:
“If you’re looking to reward yourself with a luxury coupe or convertible, you’d be hard-pressed to beat the stylish lines of Audi’s A5.” – Motor Authority
“The A5’s six-speed manual might not be quite as slick as what you’ll find in a BMW 328i, but it still provides nice, light shift action and short throws. As a bonus, the six-speed stick gets better gas mileage than the automatic, despite the latter transmission’s two extra gears. At 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, the A5 is as economical as some compacts.” – Automobile Magazine
If you would like to read more about the 2012 Audi A5 please visit the Audi manufacturer web site.
