2014 Audi A5 2.0T Coupe quattro Review By John Heilig

THE AUTO PAGE
By John Heilig

Specs Of Reviewed 2014 Audi A5 2.0T Coupe Quattro

Engine: 2.0-liter TSFI 4

Horsepower/Torque: 220 hp @ 1,450-6,000 rpm/258 lb.-ft. @ 1,500-4,300 rpm

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Wheelbase: 108.3 in.

Length x Width x Height: 182.1 x 73.0 x 54.0 in.

Tires: P225/35R19

Cargo: 12.2 cu. ft.

Economy: 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway/23.5 mpg test

Fuel capacity: 16.1 gal. (Premium)

Curb Weight: 3,583 lbs.

Sticker: $51,345 (includes $895 destination, $11,450 in options)

The Bottom Line: The Audi A5 is a very nice coupe, with very good performance and ride quality.

There are several manufacturers who offer “coupe/sedans,” four-door sedans that look like coupes, with coupe-like profiles.

Audi’s A5 coupe is one of the few coupes that actually masquerade as a sedan, although probably not officially. At first glance, you are tempted to look for the extra pair of doors, bt you don’t find them. The temptation is so great that you open the front door looking for a hatch to open a rear access door. Again, you won’t find one.

The A5 Coupe is a real coupe, with very nice lines overall. And while it looks good on the road or in your driveway, it also has very good ride quality, despite the narrow section 19-inch tires. We drove the A5 on Interstates and on local roads, especially enjoying frequent right-left-right turns.

To fire up the A5 you can use the push button to start or stop the engine. You can also plug the key fob in to a receptacle in the dash and push it to start or stop. This seems more convenient because it also provides a place to put the key fob.

The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine has enough power, at 220 horsepower, to do anything sane on the highway. If you want to get a little insane, opt for the R5 or RS5 with a 6-cylinder engine offering more than 300 hp. The car has very good acceleration that allows you not only to merge into traffic without angst, but also get out of trouble when you’re on the highway.

Audi’s blind spot monitor is great. It consists of three rather large round lights on the exterior mirror mount. They light up when there is traffic in the blind spot, but turn the signal on when there’s a vehicle there and they flash bright.

A necessary factor to a car that has more than adequate power is good brakes, and the four-wheel discs on the A5 do their job well.

Audi uses a master control knob, called MMI for Multi Media Interface, that gets you through all the infotainment options easily. There is a learning curve, but it isn’t objectionable. Using MMI, the navigation system is easy to program. Instructions are clear, and you end up with a Google Earth view on the screen rather than a plain map. It proved convenient when I was looking for a certain building and could anticipate it on the screen.

MMI controls the audio as well. In addition to the MMI knob, there are four buttons at each corner, plus seven labeled buttons. Sometimes you can get lost going through the screen, but you can always hit “Back” to get home and start all over again.

Front seats are comfortable, heated, with decent side support. They are S Line labeled, which means that the A5 is equipped with the S Line package ($4,300) which includes 19-inch wheels, sport suspension, S Line exterior, black exterior moldings and side mirrors, the Alcantara leather sport seats, fouir0-way lumbar support for the front seats, S Line flat-bottomed steering wheel, aluminum optic pedals and a black headliner. Even with the sport suspension, ride quality was still very good.

Audi doesn’t pretend that the A5 Coupe is a five-seater. There are two bucket seats in the rear with a hard console between them. There are no assist handles at either door. Where do you hang dry cleaning?

The instrument panel is clear with a tachometer and 160-mile analog speedometer and an information panel that includes a digital speedometer in between.

The flat-bottomed steering wheel seems odd at first, but then you appreciate the extra room is offers, not only when driving but also on entry and exit.

I thought the shifter was well located, but felt the gears were spaced far apart, so you can’t cheat by skipping gears, like from 3 to 5. Sixth gear is best only on highways.

There’s a decent trunk in the A5 coupe, with rear seatback releases located in the trunk. Under the trunk floor is a space-saver spare.

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