Audi has a stylish luxury coupe to compete with the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The A5 has a familiar 2.0l turbocharged four-cylinder under the hood partially mounted behind the front axle to improve weight distribution and handling. The S5 performance model upgrades to a 4.2L V8 rated at 354 horsepower. Both models offer a choice of 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions. Unlike competitive offerings, all A5 coupe models are all-wheel-drive with Audi's quattro as standard. Like most Audi models, the A5 is offered in Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trim levels. The base Premium model is well equipped, with the higher trim levels adding features like HID headlamps, three-zone climate control, and larger wheels/tires.

The 2013 A5 wears updated front and rear fascias, headlamps and tail lamps. The high-performance RS 5 model joins the US lineup for 2013. Power is provided by a 450-bhp 4.2l V8. The S5 switches from a V8 to a 3.0l supercharged six-cylinder.