Written by Alan Taylor-Jones Updated: 13 June 2025

Overview

Should you buy one?

There’s certainly good reason to pick the Audi A5 e-Hybrid even if it’s not the best plug-in hybrid in its class. While the BMW 330e has keener driving dynamics and a bigger boot in its favour, and the Mercedes C-Class PHEV sneaks into a lower BIK bracket, the Audi impresses with the smoothness of its hybrid system and general levels of refinement.

It’s also good to drive, with tidy handling and a ride that proves comfortable on the cars we’ve sampled so far. Equipment levels are high, although you need S Line trim and up for the plushest interior experience.

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What’s new?

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The big news here is an updated plug-in hybrid system with a higher capacity battery than the old A6 and Q5 TFSIe. It produces 299hp and has an all-electric range of up to 67 miles.

Save for a few hybrid specific shortcut icons, digital displays and readouts, the rest of the car is the same as a regular A5 Sportback or A5 Avant. That means a new platform shared with the Q5 SUV and A6 Avant engineered specifically for petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engines.

What’s it like inside?

Much the same as a regular A5, just with less cargo space. Where petrol and diesel models give you the option of lowering the boot floor for more luggage space, the hybrid A5’s floor always sit flush with the loading lip and there’s no underfloor storage. That reduces space to 331 litres for the Sportback and 361 litres for the Avant. A BMW 330e is better here.

Space for passengers is plentiful up front, and good enough for a six-footer in the back. Avants get more rear headroom than Sportbacks if you know particularly tall people. It’s a digital-heavy interior with up to three big screens on the dash. All models get an 11.9-inch driver’s display and 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system that sit behind a curved piece of glass that’s angled towards the driver.

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That does make it trickier for the passenger to control things, so top-spec models get another 10.9-inch touchscreen that sits in front of the passenger. It’s useful for checking or amending your route on the sat nav, and you can change radio station easily. However, you can’t see Android Auto running in this screen which is a shame.

The screens respond promptly to commands and the graphics look sharp. All this information can be a bit overwhelming at first, and I’d love to see a few physical controls for the heating and on the steering wheel rather than an over-reliance on touch-sensitive icons.

Audi A5 e-Hybrid engine and battery range

Impressively, the new 25.9kWh battery pack is only a couple of centimetres bigger than the old one from the previous generation Q5 and A6 TFSIe, despite being up a massive 45% in capacity. Improved energy recovery systems also contribute to the 67-mile electric-only range.

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Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 252hp on its own, and there’s a 142hp electric motor integrated into the seven-speed automatic gearbox. Total system output is capped at 299hp.

The maximum charging speed has been lifted from 7.4kW to 11kW, although you’ll need a three-phase supply to enjoy two-and-a-half-hour charge times.

What’s it like to drive?

Things have certainly taken a step on from Audi’s previous plug-in system. Performance in electric mode feels lively enough, and the petrol engine joins the party smoothly and with minimal hesitation if you put your foot down. It sounds pleasant even when revved, and delivers few vibrations, contributing to a refined feel.

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It’s quick, too. I’d believe the 0-62mph time of 5.9 seconds, and the A5 e-Hybrid pulled strongly up to 130mph on a clear stretch of derestricted autobahn. Standard four-wheel drive means lots of traction and no scrabbly behaviour, something that can’t be said of the Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid. My test car had adaptive dampers fitted that aren’t available in the UK, but proved at its best in the middle Balanced setting anyway. Hopefully that bodes well for the standard suspension.

Handling is another A5 e-Hybrid strong point. It can’t match the 330e for fun but gets awfully close, with precise steering, minimal roll and a neutral balance that makes it easy to cover ground quickly. Once you get to the motorway, the engine is barely audible and there’s very little wind and road noise, at least on smoothly surfaced German roads. It should make for a great mile-muncher.

What models and trims are available?

Entry-level Technik trim is well equipped with items such as four-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, 18-inch alloys, LED head and rear lights, four-way adjustable lumbar support and cloth seats. Sport is mainly appearance, adding a few silver exterior highlights, fancier lights front and rear plus main beam assist.

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Popular S Line gives you lower sports suspension, 19-inch wheels, privacy glass, a squared-off three-spoke steering wheel, a plusher interior, leather seats with an embossed S Line logo ambient lighting and of course more aggressive exterior styling.

Top spec Edition 1 comes fully loaded. The wheels are up to 20-inches and there’s a black styling pack, passenger’s touchscreen, top-view camera, adaptive LED headlights, and part microfiber seats with electric adjustment up front. We suspect most people are best served by Technik, but will be tempted by S Line.

What else should I know?

If you thought 299hp was a bit stingy given the individual outputs of the petrol engine and electric motor, you’d be right. Other markets get a version with 367hp, so expect the aftermarket to offer some sort of power increase at some point.

Continue reading for our ratings for the Audi A5 e-Hybrid on the next page, plus a summary of what we like and what we don’t. And if you want to know more about how we test cars, take a look at our explainer page.