2026 Audi S5 Avant review

Audi has been the pioneer of the fast wagon, but while the RS6 Avant steals all the headlines, the smaller and less potent S5 Avant (nee S4 Avant) still serves up plenty of performance for punters.

The mid-size long-roof model affords space aplenty for families, and its 270kW/550Nm 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 is potent enough to give even dedicated sports cars pause.

However, in its latest-generation guise, Audi’s entry-level go-fast wagon is facing stiff competition from the likes of the BMW 3 Series and in-vogue SUVs.

Not to mention it has the weight of expectation heaped on it from the excellent B9-generation S4 Avant.

Can the 2026 Audi S5 Avant cut the mustard or is the German brand losing touch with its roots?

Audi’s new S5 line-up can be had in either sedan or wagon form priced at $114,900 before on-road costs and $117,900 respectively.

With just $3000 separating the two, we’d easily recommend the more practical – and arguably better looking – wagon, or Avant in Audi’s language.

For that spend, the centrepiece is undoubtedly the 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6, which now includes a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, but being a premium German model, there are also other niceties to be had.

There are 20-inch wheels, matrix LED headlights, OLED tail-lights, an electric tailgate, and keyless entry, but denoting the sportier aspect of the S5, there are also red-painted brake calipers, quad exhaust tips, and a road-hugging bodykit.

 The exterior is also decked out with aluminium-look accent details around the front bumper intakes, side mirror caps, window surrounds, side skirts, and rear diffuser – adding a sportier look.

To my eye, it looks a bit cheap, and I’d have rather Audi stick to the black finish as seen with the more affordable limited-run ‘Edition One’ variant of the same car. However, this is an option for buyers too.

Inside, buyers are treated to a flat-bottom-and-top steering wheel with paddle shifters, front sports seats with electronic adjustment, heated and cooled front seats, illuminated door sills, and tri-zone climate control.

Technology is also a big focus of the latest-generation S5, as an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen are also accompanied by a head-up display and 10.9-inch front passenger screen.

In terms of options, our test car was fitted with a panoramic glass roof ($4990), carbon inlays ($950), and a Bang & Olufsen sound system with front headrest speakers ($980) amounting to $6920 – relatively affordable in terms of how Audi options go.

There isn’t much natural competition for the Audi S5 Avant as the BMW M340i (from $118,500) and Mercedes-AMG C43 ($123,800) are exclusively available in Australia as four-door sedans.

However, an argument can be made for sportier premium family SUVs like the BMW X3 M50 ($130,600), Genesis GV70 3.5T Signature Sport ($100,800), and Volvo XC60 Ultra T8 PHEV ($101,990) to be cross-shopped against the S5 Avant.

All prices expressed before on-road costs.

In terms of outputs, they respectively punch out 293kW/580Nm, 279kW/530Nm, and 311kW/670Nm, so will keep up with the S5 Avant in a straight line, but as high-riding SUVs, the Audi wins out on dynamic prowess (more on that below).

A mid-size wagon might not seem all that spacious, but what Audi has managed to achieve here means that families of four will easily have the interior room to be comfortable.

Up front, there is plenty of room for adults, of course, but storage options are just good rather than great.

It can be hard to wedge a bottle into the door pockets, while the smartphone tray that also doubles as a wireless charger found forward of the shifter isn’t deep enough for much.

It means keys will often go into one of the cupholders, so really only one coffee can be taken on the go – sorry to the front passenger.

There is an underarm storage cubby, though, good to tuck away things from prying eyes.

The rear seats afford good space for kids and adults as well – at least in the outboard positions. The middle seat is severely compromised by the transmission tunnel eating into foot room, but it will do in a pinch.

And with no-one seated in the middle position, it means the other two second-row occupants have access to a fold-down centre armrest.

I will point out the glass roof, which is excellent at letting light in, but to save the cabin getting too hot it can turn ‘frosted’ to repel heat.

The electrochromic glass roof works well in Australia’s hotter weather, and can also be turned on in certain sections to make awesome-looking patterns – it truly is a wonderful bit of tech.

In terms of boot space, the S5 Avant has 448 litres of volume with all seats in place, expanding to 1396L with the rear seats folded.

This is comparable to a mid-size family SUV for storage, but because the S5 Avant is lower to the ground, it makes loading/unloading heavy and bulky items a bit easier.

The rear seats also fold down in a split 40:20:40 formation, allowing long and skinny items – like skis – room to manoeuvre into the cabin without sacrificing a seat.

The second row can also be folded via a mechanical lever in the boot – always handy in a wagon.

Fitted with a 14.5-inch touchscreen, the latest Audi S5 Avant infotainment system runs Google-based Android software. This enables wireless connections for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as native functions like digital radio and satellite navigation.

Other native Google apps include Voice Assistant and the Play Store to download Spotify, games, and other software.

In my time with the car, the native infotainment software worked well as jumping between menus was quick and snappy.

However, I do have to note one hiccup that saw voice calls not routing through the in-car speakers, despite the Bluetooth connection being active.

What is particularly perplexing is that I use an Android phone, which is talking to an Android-based system, so the issue wasn’t not to do with cross-company software not playing well together.

This problem was not able to be replicated, and resolved after the S5 Avant was turned off, but it did present itself three different times throughout the week.

The S5 Avant also has Audi connect Plus, allowing smartphone monitoring of the vehicle’s status and location, as well as emergency services and roadside assistance.

While the Audi S5 Avant does not wear an official ANCAP crash-test rating, the A5 from which it is derived was awarded a maximum five-star score from testing in 2024.

However, that score was based on the Euro NCAP assessment of the car, which does apply to the S5 sedan and S5 Avant.

The A5, and therefore S5, was awarded 87 per cent scores in the adult and child occupant protection tests, while the vulnerable road user and safety assist assessments yielded respective scores of 78 and 79 per cent.

ANCAP sets a six-year expiration date for ratings, and with testing conducted in 2024, the A5 should hold onto its result until the end of 2030.

However, ANCAP’s website states the Audi A5’s rating will expire at the end of 2031.

Audi’s S5 Avant comes with a long list of safety equipment to help mitigate an accident, as well as protecting occupants in case there is one.

There is autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, a surround-view monitor, tyre pressure monitoring, and blind-spot monitoring.

All of this is par for the course for a family-focussed, premium model like the Audi S5 Avant.

There are also ISOFIX points in the two rear outboard seats, as well as top-tether anchorage points for the entire second row.

Audi’s advanced safety system calibration is excellent, offering very little distraction and interference when driving appropriately.

Like all new Audis, the S5 Avant comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty that matches other premium marques like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

However, while Genesis offers the same assurance period, the South Korean brand also bundles complimentary servicing for new models during that time period – something Audi does not match.

Audi buyers can extend their warranty by two years, however, with the purchase of an Audi Advantage Package, which also covers servicing for that seven-year timeframe.

For the S5, the Audi Advantage Package will set buyers back $3590, while opting just for five years’ worth of servicing will be $3540 – making the former option much more attractive.

Scheduled service intervals for the S5 Avant are every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.

The S5 Avant can also only take 95RON premium unleaded petrol.

Audi claims the S5 Avant will return a fuel consumption figure of 7.2 litres per 100 kilometres, but in my week with the car I landed on a 9L/100km average.

It features new 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance that can help in low-speed manoeuvring and high-speed coasting without using the petrol engine, but I did not see much of this during my time.

My driving was predominately on freeways, inner-city commuting, and twisty roads, so your mileage may vary.

However, it must be noted that even a 9L/100km fuel economy figure for a performance-leaning 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 with all-wheel drive is fantastic.

For reference, the previous-generation S4 Avant – which uses the same powertrain sans mild-hybrid tech – had an official fuel economy rating of 8.8L/100km in Australia.

There’s no doubting that a performance wagon is a much cooler way to get around than a high-riding SUV. They inherently drive better due to a lower centre of gravity, and there is just something undeniably stylish about a long-roof model.

So why don’t I love the 2026 Audi S5 Avant?

For starters, it’s following on from the near-perfect B9-series Audi S4 Avant, which delivered two things the new model cannot match.

The first is a cracking exhaust note that burbles and pops in all the right ways when driving spiritedly.

The exhaust note of the S5 Avant is much duller in comparison, and while it is faster to accelerate from 0–100km/h by 0.4 seconds, it doesn’t feel fast because there isn’t much auditory feedback.

I get why this is the case: those exhaust crackles are achieved by burning more fuel, which in turn produces more emissions, but if you have a sporty Audi, you should hear it.

Another major letdown in the new car is the switch from an eight-speed torque converter automatic to a seven-speed dual-clutch unit.

Again, it makes sense on paper, as the dual-clutch transmission (DCT) can shift faster, but in practice some of the technology's bugbears rise up to spoil the experience.

Slow-speed jerkiness can be present, and while the mild-hybrid system does smooth that out somewhat, it was more prevalent in my time with the car than I would have liked.

I also am not a fan of the new shifter, which is now more a selector than an actual gear stick.

It means the only way to manually swap cogs is now the paddle shifters, while the old car let you push the shifter to the side and start going up and down. It’s a personal preference thing, I understand, but it’s still a gripe to point out.

Removed from the shadow of its predecessor, though, and there is a lot to like about the S5 Avant.

For starters, the 3.0-litre engine is fantastic – it's fast and responsive, and can accelerate the S5 Avant from 0–100km/h in just 4.5 seconds. That transmission also works like butter when shifting at speed, with nary a jolt or jerk to the cabin during upshifts.

Equipped with a quattro all-wheel-drive set-up, the S5 Avant also hooks into the tarmac and boogies like a cat on a hot-tin roof.

The steering is also suitably up to task, as the S5 Avant offers handling characteristics that make even the most ham-fisted driver feel like a hero.

And all of that sports-car-like charm is wrapped in a practical and spacious wagon? Wunderbar.

The 2026 Audi S5 Avant is rated to tow a maximum 1900kg braked capacity and 750kg unbraked.

This means the Audi will be able to handle a medium-sized trailer, but keep in mind that the extra weight will have an adverse affect on performance, fuel economy, and handling.

Owners should also keep in mind the 453kg payload, which could be reached with four large adults and a significant amount of gear.

Like a McDonald’s meal that comes in small, medium and large, performance wagons are also available in fast, faster and fastest flavours.

The 2026 Audi S5 Avant falls in the ‘faster’ camp, and if buyers need to have this type of wagon, well, this is the only choice.

But that doesn’t mean Audi’s newest mid-size performance wagon is a slam dunk.

The truth is the previous-generation car is better in ways that matter to me, but you cannot buy one of those new anymore.

The S5 Avant adds technology – both in its mild-hybrid system and interior – which doesn’t amount to much for the driving experience, and I also think the styling is a step back.

However, if you’ve always lusted after something fast and practical, the S5 Avant is still a better pick for drivers than the deluge of family SUVs on offer.

Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.

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