► New Audi A5 Avant driven
► Is on a new platform
► Also available in Sportback version

Chic, upscale station wagons like the new Audi A5 Avant, seem to hang around in fashion like white marble kitchen counters – they never really go out of style. The offering you’re looking at here is an all-new car, built on a new platform specifically designed for the future of Audi’s combustion engine program.

Known as Premium Platform Combustion (PPC)The platform will provide the basis for Audi’s future mid-size combustion engine cars, but all of them will feature some sort of partial electrification. And this A5 Avant? Well, it is available in a few petrol configurations, with a diesel or in a hotter version. S5 Avant, which we reviewed separately. If you don’t like the wagon version, Audi has also launched a A5 SportbackAlso.

To discover the performance of this A5 Avant, we drove it in the south of France. Read on for CAR’s full review, or head to our How We Test Cars page to find out how we arrived at our verdict.

At a glance

Benefits: Lots of technology, decent trunk space, wide engine range

Disadvantages: Cluttered dashboard, weak cheaper engines, not very agile

What’s new?

The 2024 Audi A5 Avant is essentially an update of the old A4 Avant, only now on a new platform. Audi recently changed its naming policy so that electric cars now end with an even number while combustion cars end with an odd number. Of course, some aesthetic modifications were to be expected. The A5 now features a flatter, wider grille, as well as sleeker headlights with customizable light signatures inside.

On the back, a light bar has been introduced, made up of several OLED pixels that flicker when turned on. Overall, I think it’s an interesting update, but I’ll leave the verdict up to you. The interior has also been updated – I’ll go into more detail on that later – while new mild-hybrid electric technology can now be specified, depending on which engine you choose.

What are the specifications?

The 2024 Audi A5 Avant is available with a handful of different engines for buyers to choose from. See below for a full overview of their specifications. All send power to the wheels via a seven-speed S tronic gearbox with a dual-clutch transmission.

TFSI 147 hp petroll – Produces 147 hp and 206 ft-lb of torque. 0 to 100 km/h in 9.8 seconds and a top speed of 134 km/h. Combined fuel economy of 37.7 to 41.5 mpg and 170 to 155 g/km CO2 (figures supplied by WLTP). Curb weight 1,710 kg, front-wheel drive. Boot space is 476 liters with the seats up and 1,424 liters with the seats folded.

TFSI 201 hp petrol – Produces 201 hp and 250 foot-pounds of torque. 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 152 km/h. Combined fuel economy of 37.2 to 41.5 mpg and 174 to 155 g/km CO2 (figures supplied by WLTP). Curb weight 1,710 kg, front-wheel drive. Boot space is 476 liters with the seats up and 1,424 liters with the seats folded.

TDI 201 hp diesel – Produces 201 hp and 295 foot-pounds of torque. 0 to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and a top speed of 149 km/h. Combined fuel economy of 50.4 to 57.6 mpg and 146 to 129 g/km CO2 (figures supplied by WLTP). Curb weight 1,835 kg, front-wheel drive. Boot space is 448 liters with seats up, or 1,396 liters with seats folded.

TDI 201 hp diesel Quattro – Produces 201 hp and 295 foot-pounds of torque. 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 147 km/h. Combined fuel economy of 49.6 to 54.3 mpg and 149 to 135 g/km CO2 (figures supplied by WLTP). Empty weight of 1,900 kg, all-wheel drive. Boot space is 448 liters with seats up, or 1,396 liters with seats folded.

What’s it like to drive?

The A5 Avant I drove was a 201 hp Quattro TDI model. With help from the all-wheel drive system and auxiliary power from an MHEV unit fitted on the TDIs, the car felt capable of pulling out of corners with some urgency. The A5 Avant didn’t feel particularly nimble, but the extra torque at least gave it a useful spring when navigating the tight climb of our mountain road.

I haven’t had the chance to test a front-wheel drive Avant, but the comparable Sportback I was able to get into seemed a little weaker, and that was the 201 hp version. In all honesty, I’d stay away from the Avant’s 147hp TFSI engine, as the more powerful petrol was already struggling to carry its weight.

In town and on the highway, the A5 Avant has maintained a cool and calm character. Even at full throttle, the engine had a subdued note, while the suspension tuning promoted a relaxed ride. Even at high speeds, the car felt supportive and comfortable, but it didn’t handle my impatient kicks well when things got twisty.

I found the steering to be well-balanced and responsive, but the rest of the chassis didn’t lend itself to excitable, dynamic driving. Even the A5 Sportback seemed to have a little more dynamism in its nature, but the Avant is a car that likes to be respected and will reward you for that with comfort and composure.

How is the interior?

The A5 Avant has received a major interior refresh, with new upholstery options, new dashboards and a completely revised dashboard. The latter now includes a huge curved screen that houses your driving instrument cluster as well as the infotainment screen. On the other side, a passenger display can be offered as an option as part of the Edition 1 trim package.

I drove an Edition 1 car with all three screens and I have to admit I found the whole dashboard a bit cluttered. The screens are all surrounded by an excessive amount of piano black plastic, which only serves to fill space and removes most of the sense of harmony. This may be to your liking, but I found it hard to relax with so much going on in front of me.

I couldn’t get into a car that didn’t meet Edition 1 specifications, so each test subject had a third screen. I’d like to try one without the passenger screen, just to see if the brighter space brings a little more calm to the cabin.

Dashboard aside, I was pleased with the interior refresh. Build quality inside is excellent, with plenty of varied but high-quality materials, including a strip of Dinamica microfiber along the dash to break up surfaces.

There was plenty of room for me, a six-foot-plus adult, to get comfortable in the back while the trunk was also incredibly large. It can’t quite match the 500 liters offered by the non-hybrid 3 Series Tourings, but the A5 Avant’s loading lip is at least usefully low, allowing easy access.

Before buying

The A5 Avant trim range is split into three different levels: Sport, S Line and Edition 1. Prices start at £43,850, £1,900 more than the base Sportback version – Sport version includes wheels 18-inch screen, heated front sports seats, two larger OLED screens (instrument cluster and infotainment) as well as three-zone climate control as standard. Additionally, Audi adds its Park Assistance Plus system for free with a rearview camera, as well as adaptive cruise control, front emergency braking assist and lane departure warning.

Compared to the Sport model, the S Line features 20mm lower suspension, 19-inch wheels, sportier styling with more black paint around the exterior, and an upgraded steering wheel with shift paddles. Edition 1 completes the range starting at £51,000 and includes Matrix LED headlights, Dinamica microfibre around the dashboard and a third passenger screen. It also includes proactive passenger protection and a top view camera throughout.

As for the rivals, they are strong and varied. You can check out our list of the best station wagons, but the main competition includes the BMW 3 Series Touringthe Class C station wagon or the VW Passat Estateif your budget is tighter. There are plenty of options in this category, but the A5 Avant should still be high on your list.

Verdict

As a complete package, the A5 Avant is a solid offering. It’s also well-built, stylish and well-equipped. Starting at just over £40,000, I think it represents good value for money. However, I don’t think it drives as well as a BMW 3 Series, nor is the cabin as special as a comparable Merc. With its sensitive flavors, the A5 might be to your taste, but I recommend trying the competition before buying, just to be sure.