title: "2026 Audi S5 Avant Review: 362 HP, 2,040 kg, and the Case Against SUVs" slug: audi-s5-avant-362hp-review date: 2026-03-15 category: launch tags: [audi, s5, avant, wagon, review, australia] source_url: "https://www.carscoops.com/2026/03/audi-s5-avant-review-2026/"
The Audi S5 Avant is the first generation to carry the S5 badge on a wagon body. After a week with it in Australia, the case against buying an SUV got a little stronger.
The 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 produces 362 hp (270 kW) and 550 Nm, assisted by an 18 kW electric motor running off a 1.7 kWh battery in a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup. Power goes through a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch to Audi's updated quattro all-wheel-drive system. Zero to 100 km/h: 4.5 seconds. Curb weight: 2,040 kg.
By the Numbers
Real-world fuel consumption landed at 10.1 L/100 km (23.2 US mpg) during testing, significantly off Audi's claimed 7.2 L/100 km (32.6 mpg). That's a 40% gap between claim and reality, which is par for the course with WLTP figures on performance cars but still worth noting.
Cargo capacity measures 448 liters behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,396 liters with them folded. The lower load floor compared to any SUV equivalent makes the wagon genuinely easier to load.
The S5 Avant measures 4,835 mm long, 1,860 mm wide, and 1,450 mm tall on a 2,902 mm wheelbase. Against the BMW M340i xDrive Touring and Mercedes-AMG C43, it holds its own on dimensions and splits the difference on character.
Inside
A 14.5-inch infotainment display dominates the dash alongside an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster. An optional 10.9-inch passenger display costs AU$1,950. Head-up display, three-zone climate, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and heated, ventilated, massaging front seats all feature. Bang & Olufsen 3D audio is an AU$980 option.
One issue during testing: traffic sign recognition, adaptive headlights, distance warning, emergency assist, and lane departure warning all failed simultaneously and didn't recover for 20 minutes. No explanation, no error code. That's the kind of software glitch that erodes confidence in the rest of the electronics.
Pricing
The Edition One launch model starts at AU$102,900 (US$73,000). The standard S5 Avant costs AU$117,900 (US$83,600). The test car, with options, reached AU$124,820 (US$88,500). Exhaust acoustics are disappointingly muted for a performance wagon, with no cracks or pops even in dynamic modes. The S5 Avant drives better than it sounds.
