8:00am Monday 24th August 2009
IF you are seeking one of the best driving coupes, the Audi A5 is right up there with the best.
A brilliant chassis and precise, accurate steering lie at the heart of its appeal and there are few cars in its class to match its balance and control at speed.
Of course, vehicles with these talents don’t come cheap and the A5 is no exception with prices going from £26,380 to £39,650.
But when you examine the quality of construction, finish, comfort, equipment and striking performance, the A5 starts to look good value for money.
Many motor chiefs say it is wise during these recessionary times to invest in a quality vehicle and with Audi you know you are going to get a good car and one with a sound residual value when the time comes to sell.
However you try, it is hard to fault this stunning-looking Audi.
However, as is the case with so many coupes the rakish roofline means the loss of some rear space.
With the A5, there is restricted headroom for tall adults and leg room is not plentiful when the front seats are set back. But there is an airy feeling in the rear with plenty of shoulder room and comfortable, fairly large seating.
Luggage space is excellent for a coupe with up to 455 litres’ capacity in a long and wide area and 829 with split rear seats folded.
In the front there is room to spare with clarity of purpose and appearance dominating the stylish and elegant cabin that both driver and passenger can enjoy.
There is a choice of motors - two petrol and three diesel engines - and different transmissions.
Proving one of the most popular units for its blend of performance and economy is the 2.0-litre turbo diesel which produces 170PS at 4,200 revs – an outstanding output for a diesel of this size.
The car puts its power down onto the road in an excellent fashion with the help of a smooth-acting six-speed manual gearbox which with its choice of ratios is well suited to the car.
The long-legged sixth gear is worthwhile, proving a useful tool on the motorway. Not only will the 2.0-litre reach a top speed of 143mph and accelerate from 0- 62mph in 8.3 seconds, but it will average 53.3mpg during everyday driving, 39.8mpg around town, and 67.3mph on the open road.
The 2.0TDi, together with the 2.0 TFSi petrol with manual transmissions, are the first cars in the A5 range to offer an automatic start to further boost fuel returns and reduce emissions. This system works very well and is simple to use.
Of course, you don’t have to use the start-stop system and it can be deactivated at the touch of a button.
There is further energy-saving technology on all the A5s.
They incorporate recuperation technology that provides fuel and CO2 savings by recycling a proportion of wasted kinetic energy which is generated under normal braking and normally dissipated as heat and storing this temporarily in the vehicle battery to reduce the engine load when the car accelerates again.
While the new technology is impressive, it will be the looks, performance, sharp handling and compliant ride that will appeal most to the enthusiast as well as the fashion-conscious.
Despite its fairly large size, the A5 feels light and lithe and very engaging to drive.
Being the smallest motor in the range, the 2.0-litre diesel does need to be worked to give its best but with judicious use of the gearbox the unit always seems to feel on song.
AT-A-GLANCE Audi A5 Coupe 2.0 TDi S-line.
Price: £29,575.
Top speed: 143mph.
0-62mph: 8.3 seconds.
Fuel: 53.3mpg (combined figure).
Emissions CO2 (g/km): 139.
Verdict: Eye-catching coupe is a great drive and a refined, comfortable and talented all-rounder.
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