2020 Audi S5 Coupe

Access to the S5 Coupe range begins with the Premium trim at $51,900. The mid-range Premium Plus costs $54,400 and the Prestige will cost $60,300. All of these prices exclude Audi's destination charge of $995, along with options, tax, licensing, and registration. The BMW 440i Coupe starts at a similar $51,350 and the Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe costs $58,500.

What Audi needs to be commended for is its understanding that just because a car fits the "sporty" description, that doesn't mean it should be a chore to drive. As a result, although the S5 has a much more powerful engine and a sport suspension that you won't find in the regular A5, it's all still cloaked in a layer of refinement that makes it pleasant to drive at all times. The standard steering is precise and the effort required is conveniently light in Comfort mode, and with just enough heft when you switch over to Dynamic. You can carry high speeds into tight turns and still come out on the other side unscathed, with the S5's superb grip levels and poise always on full display. We'd avoid the optional dynamic steering system (as you turn, the steering speeds up) as it doesn't feel natural or progressive enough in its workings.

在舒适模式下,S5邮轮的权威we've come to expect from an Audi. Outside noises are well suppressed and there is a compliance and smoothness to the ride that some M-badged vehicles from Munich could learn from. Is it exciting enough, though? At the limit, the rear-wheel-drive 440i is likely to leave you more breathless, and the Mercedes-AMG C43 has tons of character, too. But once again, the S5 is just so effective within the confines of real-world commuting that you'll rarely be behind the wheel of it wishing you were somewhere else. Confidence-inspiring brakes that are easy to modulate add to the polished overall impression.

The Audi S5 Coupe does everything almost flawlessly and provides the perfect middle ground between the regular A5 and the fire-breathing RS5. The turbocharged V6 engine combines well with the quattro system to offer smooth, rapid progress under a variety of conditions. As usual, the cabin is a masterclass of logical ergonomics and upscale materials, although rear-seat space leaves a lot to be desired. For Audi fans, the S5 coupe is everything you'd want in a sports coupe. However, more impartial shoppers may be won over by the BMW 4 Series Coupe or the Mercedes-AMG C43 - the BMW is a more exciting steer and the C43 has showroom appeal and charisma in spades. Unlike these rivals, though, Audi offers V6 power in three distinct trims, providing buyers with more choice. Once again, the German trio is almost impossible to separate, but credit must go to Audi for imbuing the S5 with a driving experience that will please both the novice and the boy racer.

The mid-range Premium Plus seems like the sweet spot in the range, offering worthwhile extras like wireless charging and the Audi virtual cockpit while being more customizable than the Premium. We wouldn't go crazy with the options, because then you may as well get the Prestige, so we'd restrict the upgrades to metallic paint, 19-inch wheels (the standard 18-inch wheels look a bit underwhelming), and the Driver Assistance Package, adding a combined $2,895 to the price.

At $58,500, the more powerful C43 is priced between the top two S5 trims. Although the Mercedes' 385 hp and 384 lb-ft outputs are better than the S5's, it is also 121 lbs heavier than the Audi, which helps to explain why the C43 isn't quicker. On the road, the two coupes put in an equally impressive performance with potent power delivery and brawny engine notes, but the S5 is more comfortable than the C43, which can feel too harsh over bumps that the Audi would deal with more serenely. Neither car is especially spacious at the back, but the Mercedes has nearly three inches of extra rear legroom. Its cabin is also more dramatic to look at than the Audi's, but this is purely subjective. Audi's infotainment feels a step ahead, with a larger central screen and the excellent virtual cockpit on the top two trims, whereas Mercedes charges extra for its 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. This titanic battle is extremely close, but for its superior abilities as a daily driver, we'd give the slight edge to the S5.

For exactly the same price as the S5 Coupe, you could get the S5 Sportback. It adds on two extra doors along with a trunk that is double the size of the coupe's cargo area. Performance doesn't suffer as a result of the Sportback's different body style, and it shares the coupe's three trims and feature availability. Unlike some other four-door coupes, the Sportback cuts a cohesive figure and the rear doors don't diminish its appeal. The 2020 improvements to the S5 Coupe's infotainment system also apply to the Sportback model. At the back, the Sportback has 2.4 inches of additional legroom and just under an inch of extra headroom. It can also accommodate five passengers at a pinch. Unless you believe that a sports coupe should have just two doors, we'd easily recommend going for the more practical Sportback.