Audi S5: Is An All-New Model Enough In This SUV Market?

In this video, I take a closer look at the new 2025 Audi S5, reviewing its performance, features, and design to see if it can hold its own against the competition. From the audi s5 exhaust note to the sleek lines of the audi s5 sportback, I cover it all.

With its impressive acceleration and stunning sportback design, this car is sure to turn heads. But is it enough to sway buyers away from the SUV craze? Watch as I put the 2025 Audi s5 to the test and see if it's the right choice for those looking for a high-performance vehicle.

Also check out Drive Culture on YouTube. Drive Culture is detailed car review YouTube channel hosted by the ultimate car enthusiast, Jonathon Rivers.

Who is Jonathon Rivers?

Well, he's a +15 year Auto Industry veteran, born and raised in the Motor City!

He lived several years in Japan, speaks & reads Japanese, and now works for American Honda Motor. (Although this channel is his own & not affiliated)

He's owned several fun cars including a Evo IV, multiple Civic Si, Focus RS, and most recently the Integra Type S (which he lead planning for Acura)!

He's also been lucky enough to drive just about every key new product in the market from compact cars, to SUVs, EVs and super cars!

If that isn't enough to prove his "car guy" status, Jonathon has also been featured in Motor Trend, Car and Driver, AutoBlog, Jay Leno's Garage, Raiti's Rides and the SavageGeese channels! He's on Instagram   here and Facebook  here.

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A transcript, cleaned up by AI and edited by a staffer, is below.

[Image: YouTube Screenshot]

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A transcript:

The transmission goes into S mode. There’s also a DS setting. I pressed the traction control button once to prepare for launch control. With my left foot on the brake and the throttle wide open, the system activated—“Launch control program activated.” I let go, and the car took off.

Welcome to Drive Culture, I’m Jonathan Rivers. Today we have the 2025 Audi S5, and I’m going to walk you through why this kind of sport sedan still matters in today’s market. We’ll cover the exterior, interior, powertrain, and, of course, take it for a drive. If you’re new here, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future reviews.

This is the second Audi I’ve featured on the channel. I also reviewed the latest S3, which was a great car. Now we’ve got its bigger sibling, the S5. If you’re not familiar with Audi’s lineup: “A” models are standard sedans, “Q” models are SUVs, and “E” is for electric vehicles. Performance versions are labeled “S,” and the highest-performance tier is “RS.” So, the A5 becomes the S5, and above it sits the RS5.

That puts the S5 in the middle of Audi’s performance range, competing with cars like the Mercedes-AMG C43, BMW M340i, Acura TLX Type S, and Genesis G70 3.3T. It’s a shrinking segment as more people buy SUVs, but for enthusiasts, cars like this are important.

This S5 is part of the B10 generation, a full redesign launched in 2024. The previous B9 generation introduced the Sportback’s liftback design back in 2017. Pricing starts at $62,700, but this particular car has over $10,000 in options, bringing the total to just under $74,000. It’s finished in Oscari Blue Metallic with the Black Optic package, which adds darker trim accents.

On the exterior, the S5 features sharp character lines on the hood, full LED headlights with animated daytime running lights, and Audi’s signature grille finished in dark gray “anthracite” rings. Functional air curtains and parking sensors are integrated into the fascia. Audi has also brought back the S badges, now in a new font, after briefly removing them from recent models.

This car rides on optional 20-inch wheels wrapped in Goodyear summer tires, with large brakes and red calipers behind them. The Black Optic package also adds gloss black trim around the windows, black side mirrors with integrated turn signals, and black door handles. Along the side, subtle badging highlights the S5’s performance credentials.

At the rear, the S5 has OLED taillights, quad exhaust tips finished in dark chrome, and a gloss black diffuser. The new font S5 badge and anthracite Audi rings complete the design.

Inside, the S5 delivers Audi’s hallmark premium interior. Nearly every surface is wrapped in leather, Alcantara, or high-quality trim. The flat-top, flat-bottom steering wheel features haptic controls, paddle shifters, and the new S logo. The seats are sport-bolstered with quilted stitching, extendable thigh support, and full heating and ventilation.

Technology is a major highlight. An 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster pairs with a 14.5-inch central touchscreen that controls most functions, including climate. A 10.9-inch passenger display is also available. The system supports wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and voice-activated controls through “Hey Audi.”

The Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system includes 20 speakers, with four embedded in the front headrests for immersive sound. The panoramic glass roof stretches over both rows and can switch from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button.

Rear passengers benefit from the same premium materials, manual sunshades, heated seats, and USB-C ports, though the middle seat is best for short trips. Despite the sloping roofline, headroom is good, and the liftback design improves cargo access compared to a traditional sedan.

Overall, the 2025 Audi S5 blends performance, luxury, and technology in a package that continues to stand out in the shrinking sports sedan market.