Audi unleashes the A5 Avant and Sedan e-hybrids with up to 270 kW of power, 110 km of electric range, and enough tech to make your phone feel insecure.
By our in-house horsepower whisperer
Neckarsulm, Germany — Audi just dropped a pair of plug-in hybrids that might make your gas-guzzler weep silently in the driveway. The new A5 e-hybrid family—featuring both Avant and Sedan models—doesn’t just aim to save the planet; it wants to do it fast, stylishly, and with enough regenerative braking to make Newton blush.
These aren’t your typical eco-warriors. With up to 270 kW (362 hp) under the hood and 0–100 km/h times as low as 5.1 seconds, the new A5 e-hybrids politely suggest you hold onto your oat milk latte.
And while the A5 is flexing, it’s also calculating—thanks to an intelligent hybrid management system that knows when to go full electric and when to tap the turbocharged 2.0 TFSI engine like it’s a reserve tank of adrenaline. Audi says it can drive up to 110 kilometers (68 miles) in EV mode alone. That’s long enough for most commutes, and probably your third trip back home because you forgot your reusable grocery bags.
Plug-in Hybrid, Unplugged Attitude
Audi’s e-hybrid designation is new, snappy, and sounds like a gym instructor who also recycles. The A5 models wear it proudly, and with good reason. These aren’t mild hybrids that shy away from actual electric driving. These are plug-in beasts with a smarter battery, a better brain, and enough torque (up to 500 Nm) to tow a boat—or at least your neighbor’s envy.
Under the rear seats lies the heart of the operation: a 25.9 kWh high-voltage battery, cleverly packed using a cell-to-pack layout, glued in like Audi’s engineers had a moment with industrial-strength craft glue and too much ambition. The result? 45% more capacity, faster charging (11 kW AC), and a full recharge in just 2.5 hours—about the time it takes to binge two episodes of that show you keep promising you’ll quit.
Driving Smarter So You Don’t Have To
The hybrid system is basically your personal chauffeur of efficiency. Switch to EV mode, and it silently glides through urban landscapes like a smug cat in a cashmere sweater. Switch to Hybrid mode, and the A5 uses predictive data, navigation intel, and telepathic wizardry (okay, just sensors) to decide the most energy-efficient way to reach your destination.
Thanks to Predictive Efficiency Assist, the car knows when to recuperate energy—like before a turn, during braking, or when you’re going downhill and contemplating your life choices. Recuperation can even be fine-tuned with steering wheel paddles, letting you feel like a Formula E driver, minus the sponsorship deals.
Luxury With a Wink
Even the base model isn’t basic. Expect MMI panoramic display, three-zone air conditioning, navigation, and 18-inch wheels as standard. Spring for the higher-output 270 kW version, and Audi throws in the S line exterior, privacy glazing, 19-inch alloys, and red brake calipers—because even your brakes deserve flair.
Need more? There’s a business package, comfort air conditioning, adaptive cruise assist, and an in-car app store that lets you download everything from weather reports to Spotify playlists, just in case your passengers aren’t already impressed.
And yes, the A5 can tow. Up to 1,900 kg for braked trailers—so you can finally take that yacht you don’t have on a tour of the suburbs.
Price Tag With a Plug
In Germany, prices start at €62,500 for the Sedan and €64,150 for the Avant, but the top-tier trims creep into the €70k+ territory. Worth it? Depends if you value zero-emissions driving, a cabin that feels like a tech conference, and the smug satisfaction of regenerating energy every time you brake.
Orders open March 27, with deliveries beginning in April 2025. Just in time to tell your friends you finally bought a hybrid, but with Audi attitude.
Bottom Line:
The A5 e-hybrid isn’t just smart. It’s sophisticated, sporty, and slightly smug—like if James Bond went green and started hypermiling. It’s the future of driving, with just enough drama to make your morning commute feel like an episode of Top Gear—minus the shouting.
