New out, Old in...
If I love the way the A5 presents itself on the outside, the cabin doesn’t quite do it for me. Gone are the textures, the soft-touch switchgear and the original yet less-than-ideal ergonomics. Somehow, by Audi having done this, the dashboard gives me the impression that everything is mass-produced and not assembled with care and pride. Well, don’t get me wrong; Audi fit and finish is still top-dog, I just don’t get the warm and fuzzy feeling I used to get. Maybe that was the heated seats that were acting up...
What has not changed are the great seats up front; supportive, sizeable and comforting, they are ideal for long road trips. User interface with HVAC controls remains complex at first but it is possible, in time, to remember to hit one of the four buttons surrounding the wheels before making modifications to your well-being. Next, I found the shifter too long or tall, tough to properly manipulate from the lowest seating (my favourite) position. Regardless, these piddly quibbles will never tarnish the star that is the A5.
The replacement for displacement
New for 2010 is the arrival of the much used and revered turbocharged 2.0L inline-4 cylinder engine. In its latest manifestation, it puts out 211 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Other powertrain choices are the 3.2L V6 and lusty 4.2L V8. If the 2.0T is down on power (more torque than the V6 though), it more than makes up for this handicap with considerable weight savings.
If you ask me, get the 2.0T, save the $15,000 required to get the S5, chip the ECU and get a cat-back exhaust system. This way, not only will you have at least 300 hp but you’ll have more than enough coin left over for some aftermarket wheels and a trip to Cuba for a week. How’s about that for a deal?
This engine does provide plenty of grunt off the line and if you can manage the light and poorly progressive clutch pedal, you will be able to reach 100 km/h in about 6.5 seconds. Passing manoeuvres are the surprising ones as the engine feels as though it’s always on-boost and ready to pounce. Steering also feels light however it weighs up nicely as speed piles on. The A5 handles very nicely but its 1,600+ kg (3,520+ lb) are hard to completely camouflage.
If I love the way the A5 presents itself on the outside, the cabin doesn’t quite do it for me. Gone are the textures, the soft-touch switchgear and the original yet less-than-ideal ergonomics. Somehow, by Audi having done this, the dashboard gives me the impression that everything is mass-produced and not assembled with care and pride. Well, don’t get me wrong; Audi fit and finish is still top-dog, I just don’t get the warm and fuzzy feeling I used to get. Maybe that was the heated seats that were acting up...
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| New for 2010 is the arrival of the much used and revered turbocharged 2.0L inline-4 cylinder engine. |
What has not changed are the great seats up front; supportive, sizeable and comforting, they are ideal for long road trips. User interface with HVAC controls remains complex at first but it is possible, in time, to remember to hit one of the four buttons surrounding the wheels before making modifications to your well-being. Next, I found the shifter too long or tall, tough to properly manipulate from the lowest seating (my favourite) position. Regardless, these piddly quibbles will never tarnish the star that is the A5.
The replacement for displacement
New for 2010 is the arrival of the much used and revered turbocharged 2.0L inline-4 cylinder engine. In its latest manifestation, it puts out 211 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Other powertrain choices are the 3.2L V6 and lusty 4.2L V8. If the 2.0T is down on power (more torque than the V6 though), it more than makes up for this handicap with considerable weight savings.
If you ask me, get the 2.0T, save the $15,000 required to get the S5, chip the ECU and get a cat-back exhaust system. This way, not only will you have at least 300 hp but you’ll have more than enough coin left over for some aftermarket wheels and a trip to Cuba for a week. How’s about that for a deal?
This engine does provide plenty of grunt off the line and if you can manage the light and poorly progressive clutch pedal, you will be able to reach 100 km/h in about 6.5 seconds. Passing manoeuvres are the surprising ones as the engine feels as though it’s always on-boost and ready to pounce. Steering also feels light however it weighs up nicely as speed piles on. The A5 handles very nicely but its 1,600+ kg (3,520+ lb) are hard to completely camouflage.
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| The Audi is more of a grand touring cruiser with poised reflexes but without the paranoid anger that consumes the BMW. |