Verdict: All of the A5 style with attractive running costs
Audi A5 SE 2.0 TDI Ultra
What is it?
LOOKING as sharp now as it did the day it came out, which, rather surprisingly, was seven years ago, the Audi A5 offers you a stylish alternative to the everyday four-door saloons that dominate the segment.
What is Ultra?
- It’s the connection of hundreds of Audi innovations to deliver better fuel efficiency
- The result is greater agility with lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
- Ultra models are available in A4, A5 and A6 ranges
Don’t be thinking the A5 is a sportier variant of the A4 though, as it’s very much a car built in the grand tourer mould, unlike its harder, firmer BMW 4-Series rival.
The suspension has been lowered slightly though, lending it a sportier stance, but this is actually to improve airflow and increase efficiency.
It also gets the revised diesel engine from the A4 and A6 Ultra, which means it’s reasonably powerful, adequately smooth and surprisingly efficient.
With 163bhp on tap, that translates in to a 0-60mph time of 8.3 seconds and a top speed of 139mph.
This kind of performance isn’t at the expense of economy, officially it’ll manage 67.3mpg and emit just 109g/km of CO2, which puts it in to a pleasingly low BIK band of 17%.
The net result is that it’ll cost you close to £400 less a year in tax than the equivalent BMW 420d, and you won’t feel like you’re taking the cheap option if you chose the Audi offering thanks to its understated by stylish looks and glorious interior.
