The 2009 Audi A5 is one of those vehicles that shows up in your driveway and makes you smile. However, it’s not a giddy, woo-hoo kind of smile that speaks of power and fast driving ahead. Instead, it’s a sly kind of smile of one who knows she is getting ready to slide into pure luxury.
The base price of the A5 quattro is $42,825, and as you would expect it’s well stocked with most of the amenities you could possibly desire. Standard fare includes leather seats, Bluetooth connectivity, Sirius satellite radio and side-curtain airbags. Plus, there’s a fair bit of that power as well.
2009 Pontiac G3
Engine: 3.2-liter V-6
Transmissions: six-speed manual transmission; six-speed automatic with Tiptronic
Drivetrain: all-wheel drive
Horsepower: 265
Torque: 243 lb-ft.
Wheelbase: 108.3 inches
Length: 182.1 inches
Width: 73 inches
Height: 54 inches
MPG (city/hwy): 17/26
Base price: $42,825
As tested: $55,490
The A5 comes equipped with the 3.2-liter, 265-horsepower V-6 engine. And, mated to the six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic, it performed beautifully. I liked the smooth and seamless acceleration, and I was incredibly pleased with the acceleration – both from a stop and in passing maneuvers. There was even one non-trafficked day that I made it to the office in six minutes flat. That’s usually at least a 10-minute drive. Oops.
I apparently had a problem with my foot attaching itself heavily to the accelerator during the test week. And it was clearly reflected in my mileage during the test period. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates a city/highway range of 17/26 mpg with 20 mpg in combined driving. I didn’t come close. The final tally for my average fuel usage during the test week was, um, 13.8 mpg.
The test vehicle added $13,000 in options, which goes from “most of the amenities” to damn near everything else. Options included Meteor gray pearl effect paint ($475), Audi drive select ($2,950), navigation ($2,390), technology package ($2,200), premium package ($1,900), genuine Milano leather seats ($1,000), 19-inch alloy wheels with summer performance tires ($900) and Bang & Olufsen premium audio system ($850).
In breaking down the package items, I saw one that should have been standard: the premium package. Everything in it was something I’d expect to be standard at the $43,000 level: heated front seats, memory driver’s seat, Homelink, LED daytime running lights. Really? Get serious.
The Volkswagen Jetta has heated seats standard at $17,000, so I find it hard to believe that its high-end Audi brother needs to charge for this feature.
The technology package, however, is well worth the money. This package brings high-tech features that protect your luxury vehicle from the inside out. The rear park assist, rearview camera, adaptive headlights and blind spot monitoring allows the driver to monitor what’s going on surrounding the car, minimizing dents, dings and accidents.
I was particularly fond of the blind spot monitoring, which Audi calls “side assist.” This feature has a light on the side mirrors that flashes a dull amber when a vehicle enters your blind spot on either side. If you have your blinker on and appear to be moving into the lane where a vehicle is in your blind spot the amber brightens, giving the driver an additional “head up” warning. On Chicago highways were people are constantly zooming in and out of lanes, I found this to be particularly helpful on more than one occasion.
I am still frustrated by the Audi Multi Media Interface, which comes part and parcel with the optional navigation system. And it’s not because I need to read the manual or “get used to it.” After several years of driving various Audis, I am used to it. And I still don’t like it. It’s not as intuitive as it should be, and the various screens you have to scroll through to do something as simple as change your radio station is a little like brain surgery. And no one should conduct brain surgery while driving.
Options and packages aside, the interior of the A5 won’t cause any surprises. If you’ve driven one Audi, you’ll be familiar with what you see here. The glowing red gauges, the black sporty interior, the leather seats are all standard fare on the Audi lineup.
The seats are comfortable, and I particularly appreciate the power lumbar support. The optional heated seats were on nonstop during the test period – even in warmer weather – and worked beautifully.
One last frustration I had with the A5 came in the form of the moon roof. It tilted open but did not slide. Hmmm. If I’m going to have a piece of glass on my roof, it’s because I want the open air streaming through it on a nice day. Not to look at the sky through a closed window.
I have a feeling that the lack of a sliding moon roof had something to do with the exterior lines of the A5, which are quite lovely. But I still want a moon roof that opens.
I am a fan of the coupe, and the A5 does a great job of being on the large side of the spectrum but still maintaining nice sleek lines. The large trapezoidal Audi grille is steadily growing on me, and combined with the optional LED lights, it presents a mean face for the A5.
Overall, I like the exterior lines of the A5 as well as the smooth, seamless power. I also like the comfortable interior and the responsive handling. If you’re looking for something sporty yet professional, the A5 could be a winner. Especially if Audi would maintain the $43,000 price point while adding the items in the premium package as standard fare.
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