Used 2014 Audi A5

In the great tradition of high-performance luxury coupes, Audi builds one for the coffee-table art-appreciation books. Open a door and you’ll find the same level of artistic expression stretching across a beautiful interior. With all that, the 2014 Audi A5 is a wonder to drive. Engines range from the surprisingly strong turbocharged 4-cylinder, increased to 220 horsepower, to the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 of the S5 with 333 horsepower, to the 4.2-liter V8 of the RS 5 with 450 horsepower. Ride, handling, braking, steering and over-the-road manners are everything you might expect. The detail finish is flawless. Open-air enthusiasts can choose the Cabriolet, available in all three power levels. Live where the weather gets bad? Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive (AWD) will deal with it. All this and more is why we named the Audi A5 one of the 10 Best Luxury Cars Under $40,000 for 2014.

Audi has led luxury automakers in the utilization of weight-saving aluminum chassis structures, and that pays huge dividends in how the 2013 A5 performs on the road. The A5 Coupe offers terrific balance above all else, with excellent poise and a comfortable ride in just about any reasonable situation. The S5 Coupe, meanwhile, delivers blistering speed and over-the-road competence, courtesy of its supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine and the quattro all-wheel-drive system. Even with its remarkable power, the S5 Coupe can easily and precisely be manipulated through your favorite corners, and you don’t have to be an expert driver with a racing background to appreciate its handling prowess and refinement. Want still more? The RS 5, with 450 horsepower, will get and hold your attention.

Just as the 2014 A5’s exterior shines as one of its strongest attributes, so does the interior. Clearly, outside and in, if any modern car is rolling sculpture, this one is. Front occupants are treated to leather seats that offer excellent support without sacrificing accessibility, and the driver-oriented gauge cluster and center-stack help lend the cabin a sporty feel. The S5, meanwhile, goes even further with a spread of Nappa leather and a variety of unique dash inlays. Buyers may choose among carbon fiber, brushed aluminum, stainless steel or gray birch. But what really sets it apart are the stunning good looks and exquisite attention to detail.

Audi has done an excellent job of crafting a corporate design language that doesn’t feel forced or overbearing, and the 2014 A5 Coupe is a beautiful poster child for the company’s efforts. Audi’s trademark single-frame grille, LED accent lighting, finely-tailored sheetmetal, expressive fenders and sleek profile give the A5 an undeniable distinction, while the lovely flowing curves along the sides, precise creases and crisp detailing finish it off perfectly.

3.0-LITER SUPERCHARGED V6
All the engines in the A5 lineup are terrific, but we really like the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 in the S5, with 333 horsepower, 325 lb-ft of torque, snappy response, silky smoothness and commendable fuel economy. Matched with either the 6-speed manual transmission or 8-speed Tiptronic automatic, it suits the S5 perfectly.

SUPERMODEL EXTERIOR
We don’t mind saying it: We think the A5 is drop-dead gorgeous, and its stunning good looks have to be one of the major reasons for considering the purchase.

What more could anyone want? The 2014 A5 Coupe’s Premium trim level includes 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seating, automatic climate control, Audi concert radio (10 speakers, Sirius satellite radio and 180 watts), power front seats with driver memory, a panorama sunroof and auto-dimming mirrors. For 2014, the Convenience package – Bluetooth, HomeLink and Audi Music Interface with an iPod cable – is standard. On the S5, the standard Premium Plus trim includes 19-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth touch-free interface, sport seats covered in Silk Nappa leather, sport suspension and 3-zone automatic climate control. Audi drive select, which changes the car’s driving character with the push of a button, is now standard on the S5.

The A5 Premium package includes power front seats with a driver memory function and auto-dimming mirrors. Audi drive select is included in the optional A5 Sport package. Navigation is a standalone option, which many buyers may appreciate. Audi Connect allows searches using Google Earth providing realistic terrain imagery, as well as the ability to send destinations from any browser directly to the car. The Black Optic Package is available on A5 and S5 Coupes and the 19-inch Titanium Rotor wheel package is available on A5 and S5 Cabriolet models. The Comfort seat package with ventilated seats is optional on the RS 5 Coupe.

As a base powerplant, Audi’s superb 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged 4-cylinder is almost perfect for the application, and for 2014 receives an increase in horsepower from 211 to 220, with an ample 258 lb-ft of torque. The 3.0-liter supercharged V6 may be the sweet spot, with 333 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. The RS 5’s 4.2-liter normally-aspirated V8 may seem old school but, behind the wheel of a car with 450 horsepower, who cares?

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
220 horsepower @ 4,450-6,000 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/32 mpg (front-wheel drive, automatic), 22/32 mpg (AWD, manual), 20/29 mpg (AWD, automatic)

3.0-liter supercharged V6
333 horsepower @ 5,500-6,500 rpm
325 lb-ft of torque @ 2,900-5,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/26 mpg (manual), 18/28 mpg (Coupe, S tronic automatic), 18/26 (Cabriolet, S tronic automatic)

4.2-liter V8
450 horsepower @ 8,250 rpm
317 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000-6,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/23 mpg (Coupe), 16/22 (Cabriolet)

Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.

We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.

Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.

Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)

We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.