Audi's Attractive New A5 PHEV Models Debut

The A5 e-hybrid will be available in two variants—both pairing a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a permanently excited synchronous electric motor integrated into a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The base version produces a combined 295 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, while the more powerfully tuned version delivers 362 horsepower and 368 pound-feet. Acceleration from 0 to 62 mph is rated at 5.9 seconds and 5.1 seconds, respectively, with both versions electronically limited to 155 mph.

Audi’s PHEV system features a newly developed 20.7-kWh battery pack, up 45 percent in capacity compared to its older system used in the A4 PHEV. Thanks to improved energy density—achieved by gluing battery cells directly into the housing—the A5 e-hybrid maintains a relatively compact size, but the battery is located beneath the cargo floor, which could limit practicality.

Charging at 11 kW, the battery can be fully brimmed in 2.5 hours. WLTP-rated electric range is 68 miles, though EPA estimates would likely knock that down to below 60 miles.

Additional upgrades include enhanced regenerative braking that adapts based on route and traffic data using Audi’s driver assistance features. Drivers can also toggle between “EV” and “Hybrid” modes, with customizable charge hold settings. In EV mode, top speed is limited to 87 mph.

Looking ahead, Audi is expected to expand its electrified lineup further with a more powerful RS5 Avant plug-in hybrid as a successor to the RS4 Avant. It’s expected to offer significantly more power than the A5 e-hybrids, likely eclipsing the 450 horsepower produced by the previous RS4’s twin-turbocharged V6.

With the A5 replacing the outgoing A4 and now adopting the new “e-hybrid” moniker—separate from Audi’s fully electric “e-tron” line—the PHEV version starts at the equivalent of $67,000 in Germany, rising to around $76,000 for the higher-performance version.

Deliveries begin in April. While U.S. buyers are still waiting on the arrival of the standard A5, expected in the second quarter of 2025, the e-hybrid likely won’t arrive until 2026, if at all.

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