Audi S5 Part 2: Interior & User Experience

It's difficult to find a review of an automotive interior without Audi being mentioned as a benchmark - and for good reason. Audi puts together some of the best-built interiors in the industry. Audi's interiors - even on their least expensive cars - continue to raise the bar.

No longer content with just being the best in terms of fit and finish, Audi is now gunning to have the best-designed interiors as well. Enter the new S5 with its beautiful exterior design and an interior to match.

The S5's exterior sheet-metal design adds a heavy dose of Italian flair to the Teutonic brand - not surprising since the car's designer hails from Lombardy, the epicenter of fashion and high-end industrial design in Italy.

That Italian flair is also evident inside the S5. We know that Audi has been making some of the best interiors in the world in terms of materials and fit and finish. But to that we can also add design, as the interior of the S5 is just sensational.

The first impression you get of the S5 is the very solid feel of the door handle - something fewer automakers seem to be paying attention to. You can also feel quality when you shut the door. The quality continues with the feel and smell of the rich leather that covers the sculpted seats. The steering wheel has just the right thickness to it, as does the shifter. It's apparent that the guys and gals at Audi really sweat the details because there's not a single flaw in the interior.

It not only looks and smells great, it is also quite comfortable - at least in the front. Being a coupe, the emphasis clearly isn't on back seat comfort, but you'd still expect to have a little more legroom than there is. At least you can distract the rear passengers with the sound of the Audi's powerful stereo.

The S5's 14 speaker Bang & Olufsen system with 505 watts of surround sound is fantastic, giving you a second audio choice if you choose not to enjoy the aural delights the car's V8 engine.

Another great feature of the S5 that we're finding in more and more cars these days is the back-up camera. I know this seems frivolous in a coupe and it's probably more appropriate in an SUV, but after you live with it for a little while, you really start to appreciate how easy it makes backing up or parking.

Lastly, we can't sum up the interior without commenting on Audi's MMI system. While BMW has caught a ton of underserved flak for its iDrive system - it works well once you've lived with it a bit - Audi's system is more intuitive and therefore easier to master.

However, the dial that controls the MMI system is the only misplaced control in the car, as it's positioned a bit too far rearward to be used comfortably.

In Audi's S5 we find all the best of this German brand - great materials and build quality, solid performance, and reliability, plus some unexpected flair in its exceptional and emotionally inspiring design - inside and out.

Watch the video
Read Part 1: Design
Read Part 3: Performance

Audi S5

Performance
- Acceleration: Difficult to launch due to all that grip - pulls strongly from anywhere on the tach
- Handling: THE best handling Audi (excluding the R8) by a mile - finally more options than just understeer
- Braking: Excellent feel, stability, and effectiveness

Design
- Exterior: A candidate for world's most beautiful coupe, just stunning
- Interior: Typical Audi levels of quality now, with great design as well

Utility
- Comfort: Good ride/handling compromise - solid, vault-like structure
- Space: Great in the front, not so much in the rear

Safety
- Dynamics: Definitely leans toward safety with its moves, but still fun and adjustable
- Technology: All the airbags - excellent stability control that can be defeated - and of course, Quattro

Value
- Price: Sits in an interesting valley between 335i and M3 in both performance and price - a lot of car for the money
- Mileage: Direct injection does its part to keep the thirst of the V8 at acceptable levels given its performance

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: Just looking at it gets your pulse racing, driving it is a bonus - stunning car
- Fun to spank: It's reluctant to rotate, and with Quattro, it's difficult to break traction, so not the most fun car to spank

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / all-wheel drive
Engine: 4.2 liter, DOHC V8
Power (SAE): 354 hp @ 6800 rpm
Torque: 325 lbs-ft @ 3500 rpm
Redline: 7000 rpm
Gearbox: 6 speed manual
Curb Weight: 3891 lbs.
0-60 mph: 4.9 sec.
1/4 mile: 13.3 sec.
Top Speed: 155 mph (electronically limited)
Mileage: 14 city / 21 highway
Base Price: $50,500
Competitors: BMW 335i, Mercedes-Benz CLK550