Used Audi S5 for sale: everything you need to know

The Audi S5 is effectively the coupe version of the S4 (Audi offered a four-door ‘Sportback’ variant too), and sits one rung below the potent RS5 - offering a more laid-back drive than the range-topper, but still with plenty of performance.

The most recent S5 arrived in 2017 but was updated in 2019, trading the old petrol V6 for a diesel V6 instead. We’re concentrating on the latter here, but most of what you read below remains relevant for both versions.

Not everyone will want a diesel sports coupe, certainly, so the most obvious alternative to the S5 TDI is the S5 TFSI that came before it. Mercedes-Benz didn’t offer a direct equivalent, the petrol-powered C43 Coupe being closest, but from the BMW range, the older 435d and more recent M440d xDrive are both powerful diesel coupes worth considering.

Should you buy an Audi S5?

Audi’s S models are popular for good reason. They have all the usual Audi qualities, such as understated styling, high standards of build quality, and a strong image, and then pair them with high performance and the reassurance of quattro all-wheel drive, which makes that performance eminently usable even in poor weather.

That’s exactly what you get with the S5. If you don’t need the practicality of the S4 and especially S4 Avant, the two-door coupe is a stylish alternative. Audi also gave it a very different kind of appeal in 2019 when it made the S4 and S5 ranges diesel-only, installing a powerful V6 that traded a high-revving howl for low-down torque.

It actually suits the S5’s character, with effortless performance without the usual shouty exhaust note of sports coupes. It’s not as tuneful as a petrol of course, but the V6 still sounds decent enough, and the tradeoff is 40mpg economy. Diesel might have been going out of fashion by 2019 but it still makes a lot of sense as a long-distance cruiser.

A pliant ride helps here too, and the S5 even handles well - with this generation, Audi had started to get to grips with making its cars agile and involving as well as simply fast and secure, though it’d be a stretch to call it exciting. The cabin is as handsome as the exterior, and Audi’s touchscreen tech at the time wasn’t too bad either - it’s less distracting than some models higher up the range.

The closest contemporary competition for the S5 was the Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe, though that continued with petrol power throughout its run. BMW’s 435d was less overtly sporty but still made more than 300PS, and is more fun to drive overall than the Audi.

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What’s the best used Audi S5 model to buy?

If you’re shopping for post-2019 S5s then all get the same engine. Going diesel gave the S5 a very different feel to the older 3.0 TFSI petrol, though Audi still offered the RS5 for drivers who weren’t keen to dabble in diesel. It leaves choice down to trim level, and Audi offered three, as you can read about below. Most people will be happy enough with the regular S5, but unsurprisingly a lot of customers upgraded all the way to the Vorsprung - and with a locking rear differential and adaptive suspension, it’s definitely the most dynamic of the bunch.

Used Audi S5 fuel economy and performance

• Audi S5 TDI: Since 2019 the S5 was solely offered in diesel form, with a turbocharged 3-litre V6 diesel making 341PS. The gearbox was an eight-speed automatic, and all-wheel drive was standard. Audi claimed 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds, with combined economy of up to 40.4mpg.

What used Audi S5 trim levels are available?

The 2019-on S5 TDI was offered in three trim levels, with Vorsprung topping the range as ever and a special Edition 1 model between it and the standard version. No S5 is poorly equipped but the Edition 1 and Vorsprung did add some quite desirable equipment, with the adaptive sports suspension and Sport differential of the Vorsprung bringing out the best in the S5’s chassis.

• The Audi S5 came with 19-inch alloy wheels, Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit Plus display, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, Nappa leather upholstery, a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, Super Sport seats, privacy glass, a rear view camera, uprated brakes and suspension, an S body styling kit, and four tailpipes.
• The Audi S5 Edition 1 upgraded to 20-inch alloys, and added matrix LED headlights, and black exterior and interior trim elements.
• The Audi S5 Vorsprung included adaptive sports suspension, Bang & Olufsen audio, massaging front seats, a head-up display, a parking assistance pack with a 360-degree camera, and a standard Sport differential.

Used Audi S5 dimensions and boot size

The Audi S5’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4705mm
• Width: 1846mm (without mirrors)
• Height: 1368mm

The Audi S5’s boot size is:

• 410 litres

Used Audi S5 road tax

With the TDI S5s being built from 2019 onwards, all are subject to a flat rate of annual VED, but also subject to a surcharge thanks to costing more than £40,000 brand new. That means a yearly bill of £570 for the second to sixth years of registration. The earliest 2019 models will then drop to a lower rate from 2026, with subsequent years following that.

How much is it to insure an Audi S5?

The S5 is, unsurprisingly, more expensive to insure than other A5s, and sits in group 40 (out of 50). That’s a little lower than the group 43 of a Mercedes-AMG C43, while the BMW 435d sits in between the Audi and Mercedes, in groups 41 and 42.