2009 Audi A5

Vehicles come and go in life. Some are remembered fondly, others are simply cast aside after a few years for something different, never to be thought of again. But those rare cars, ones that make people smile when they’re remembered, never leave the mind.

For me, the 2009 Audi S5 will be one of them.

Arriving late to this shindig in 2007, the A4-based two-door comes in two flavors, V6 “mild” and V8 “wild”.

The coupe competes against the perennial segment heavyweights such as the BMW 3-series and Mercedes CLK-class. It may not have the total sharpness of the BMW, nor does it have whatever made the Mercedes as popular as it is. What the S5 does have is style, panache and power.

There are no wrong angles on this car. The S5 is a long car, at just over 15 feet in length, but it is very well-proportioned. The long hood with the wheels pushed to the corners creating short overhangs and the long, sloping rear windshield make this Audi exceptionally pretty.
The front end slopes down to a signature Audi split grill while the headlamps house these elegant high-intensity lights and attention-grabbing LED daytime running lights. The S5 gets a more aggressive chin spoiler up front and chrome-rimmed driving lights.

Moving along the side, eyes will fall first on a set of gorgeous 10-spoke 19-inch wheels wrapped in Dunlop Sport Max SP rubber. Between those wheels are more aggressive side skirts and a subtle body crease. Above the door handle is another subtle crease leading from headlight to taillight and gives the car a lovely line to followthe body. The trunk lid has a small lip on it and quad exhaust tips down below a more aggressive rear bumper. The rear extends beyond where the bumper should be, but it works well in this application.

The high-style on the outside carries into the inside, where riders are greeted by a high-quality interior and a driver-oriented cockpit. Slide into the ultra-supportive 10-way sport seats and the car instantly wraps around the driver position. All controls in the dashboard and center console are contoured toward the driver, which make for a user-friendly interior. Don’t worry, if the driver is too busy, it’s easy for the navigator to take over control.

Occupants sit low in the car with the driver holding onto a plump three-spoke steering wheel in front of them. Behind the wheel are twin gauges housing the tachometer and speedometer. I’m not a fan of the gray background, but the white numbering helps make seeing how fast you are breaking the law. Directly next to the gauges is Audi’s Multi-Media Interface screen which houses everything from the audio choices to the optional navigation screen.

The MMI system is simple to use considering it’s not a touch screen system. Four buttons take you to the navigation screen, radio screen, Bluetooth telephone and on-board computer. A few twists of the knob and you can be chatting hands-free with a friend or following the map to your destination. Also, when backing up, an optional rearview camera comes to life to make sure you don’t dent that pretty rear end.

The interior of the S5 is quite spacious, even with the small backseats, where two people can spend time riding semi-comfortably. I wouldn’t suggest a long road trip unless the front occupants relinquish a few inches of legroom. The trunk is also roomy at 12 cubic feet, and can hold several golf bags with ease.

On the highway, the S5 has a firm ride, but it was very compliant on the less than stellar road surface making Interstate 70. The Dunlops do produce a bit of drone, but a quick tap on the accelerator brings the V8 alive to cover the noise.

Speaking of the engine, Audi builds a superb little monster. Also found in other Audi vehicles such as the S4 and S6, the S5’s small 4.2 liters (the lesser A5 comes with Audi’s venerable 3.2 liter V6) produces and impressive 354 horsepower and 326 lb. ft of torque putting power down through Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system.

This car is nothing to scoff at, and even though the car is a hair under two tons, the direct-injected engine hustles the car with sensational acceleration blanketed in an subdued Michigan-based exhaust note. And somehow, it gets almost 25 miles per gallon on the highway, three more than the EPA lists.

This particular S5 came with a six-speed manual transmission. It is a slick unit, with direct shifts in all gears but third, which gets hung up usually between gates if rushed (a six-speed automatic is available). The clutch does have a high engagement point, but it’s deceptively light it is action.

What I loved about this combination is I could leave the car in any gear and there’s no bog. The engine will pull from anywhere in the rev range, the manual will happily let you chose the right gear (unless it’s third gear), and you will leave.

Handling is distinctly Audi. The S5 can handle any road, with plenty of grip and almost zero body roll. The firm ride does transmit energy into your seat, but it’s muted. This is where Audi’s optional Drive Select system comes into play. With the press of a button, the car can be changed from Comfort to Dynamic mode, and the S5 transforms from a comfortable cruiser to a more hardcore sports car. The suspension damping and Servotronic steering stiffen noticeably, and the throttle response is sharpen.

For the most part, I love the system. The stiffen suspension keeps the car hunkered to the road. Roll is all but extinct. The steering becomes heavier and quicker. The gas pedal is much more apt to pick up on your throttle inputs. The S5 had no problem keeping up with a cherry Chevrolet C6 Corvette with temporary tags trying to lose me. (If you are reading this, I am sorry to disappoint you.)

The S5 ate the corners with such a massive amount of grip and power. There seems to be an unendless supply of stick. You can tell this is a front-wheel drive vehicle with the 4.2 liter sitting far forward and the understeer popping up in tight turns, but the Quattro system seamlessly passes power front and back to make sure the S5 feels more balanced and sure-footed. Point the car wherever you want and it will follow with great enthusiasm, and if you want to be daring, lift-off oversteer is possible.

It is a very good car, except for a few minor setbacks. I am not a fan of the Dynamic steering setting in the Drive Select system. The setting may make the system more responsive, but it makes it also incredibly overboosted.

Another big negative for me is the price. Sure, it may start at $51,400 with those leather seats, on-board computer, Bluetooth, CD changer, 19-inch wheels and S5 sport-tuned suspension. Seems loaded, but it’s not.

Start adding luxuries such as the aforementioned navigation system and the Drive Select, and couple those with the gorgeous red leather, Technology package (consisting of parking system with rear camera, adjusting headlights, keyless entry/start and a blind-spot monitoring system), and a Bang & Olufsen sound system, and the price jumps to over $63,000. They are all worth it, especially the wonderful stereo system, but for the entry price, things like the navigation, and parts of the Technology package should be standard.

Audi’s got a real winner on its hands, and if the price sounds reasonable enough, I guarantee it will not disappoint.