If you’re a Generation X car enthusiast, you probably grew up surrounded by the glitz of sedans and wagons. SUV in sight – exclude the occasional wild-eyed outlier Lamborghini LM002. While crossovers and sport utility vehicles have since turned the automotive world upside down, climbing to best-selling status, coupes and sedans appear to be going the way of the VHS tape.

While some brands have given up on non-SUV models, others still stick to the three-box format. AudiThe newly updated S5 is among the few proud unicorns: after 2025, the A5/S5 will replace the A4 with a single, four-door coupe-like body style. For those keeping score at home Mercedes-Benz it has also combined the C-class and E-class into one model, and other brands are similarly modernizing their portfolios to meet the insatiable demand for sports cars.

“Market share of Sedan sales has been declining steadily for decades since SUVs took off in the 1990s,” says Ed Kim, AutoPacific president and principal analyst. “Crossover SUVs are the dominant vehicle type in North America, so sedans are now a minority in new vehicle sales.” However, the new S5 is now a slightly larger, more premium version that does away with the sedan option and is only available in Sportback configuration, which uses the rear hatchback. Nearly three inches longer and 0.5 inches wider, this S5 feels noticeably roomier inside than previous models, especially for front-seat passengers. Also noteworthy are luxury cues such as the addition of suede-like Dinamica veneer panels across the dashboard; The normally buttoned-down Teutonic adds some texture and depth to the cabin.

The new S5 also feels more tech-focused, thanks to 11.9-inch and 14.5-inch screens for the driver and another 10.9-inch screen in front of the passenger. The good news: This expansive digital footprint means most of what the driver needs can be easily viewed anywhere on the display collection. Bad news: Climate controls have moved from physical switches to touchscreen menu items, and not a single driver display carries a graphically bold representation of engine speed that’s easy to read at a glance. (We miss the tachometer’s circular motion against the bold, red background.) There’s also the annoying tendency of the touch-sensitive steering wheel button to play music when unintentionally pressed.

With a 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 tuned to 362 hp and a dual-clutch configuration replacing the conventional gearbox, the S5 accelerates solidly and comes with a subtle but present exhaust note. The vehicle accelerates from zero to 60 mph in just over 4.0 seconds; fast but no super car. Audi has also stiffened the suspension and steering feel on the new platform, bringing a greater sense of connectedness to the road below.

Although the adaptive suspension system can be tuned for a smoother ride, St. The time we spent traversing challenging mountain passes near Paul de Vence never put us out of our depth. The S5 corners flat and predictably, and is capable of clinging tenaciously to corners with plenty of grip and very little whiff of understeer. Thanks to the standard sport differential, the S5 steers nicely when turning in and further aids the cornering effort by selectively braking the inside wheels as it approaches the apex. These playful tendencies are reinforced by visual elements such as the flat top and bottom of the steering wheel and the large quad tailpipes at the rear. But the S5 also sticks to practicalities, like a hatchback-style rear with 26 cubic feet of storage and enough rear cabin space for full-grown adults.

Ed Kim suggests: “In today’s market, the people who actually want a sedan are often ‘car enthusiasts’. “These are often contrarians who want to sit low in the car and avoid the high seating positions that many of today’s new vehicle customers want.” We can dig deeper and say that the S5 is not just a mainstay for naysayers who would rather be caught dead than drive a crossover or SUV. Audi ominously calls its underpinnings “Premium Platform Combustion”, a reminder of its status as the last gasoline-powered model of its kind before going electric.

Holding the title of most powerful internal combustion Audi RS S8 crossover, this low-slung S5 deserves to be considered a practical, usable motor vehicle that doesn’t ride high on stilts. Purists will argue that the pinnacle of the S5 model came with older, simpler versions. But as a 21st-century answer to sport-utility giants, the 2025 Audi S5 is a satisfying and approachable solution to the current status quo SUVs.

click Here For more photos of the 2025 Audi S5 Sportback.