Audi A5 Coupe 1.8 TFSI SE 2dr Car Review - March 2012

The A5 is a powerful coupe even with the smaller engines in the range. The car handles well and has good grip, but the suspension can mean it is not as controlled on bumpy roads. Although the option of S line suspension is firmer and handles such road with more stability, it also makes the ride quite uncomfortable.

The engine is 1798cc and uses unleaded fuel with a fuel tank capacity of 63 litres. There is the six-speed manual gearbox, which provides smooth acceleration.

The engines (both diesel and petrol) are quiet and refined, but there is a bit of wind noise at high speed and the suspension can be noisy at times too.

The 1.8 TFSI SE has a 168bhp engine delivering 236lb-ft of torque at 1400-3700rpm and reaches 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds with a top speed of 143mph.

The interior of the A5 is well-designed, but some slightly cheap looking features are a bit of a disappointment.

The seat and steering wheel adjust comfortably, although the pedals are set off to the right, which can be a bit uncomfortable over long distances and the clutch is in a recess in the floor which makes for awkward control. Rear view visibility is affected by the angled back window and high sides.

The 1.8 TFSI SE comes with leather seats, power steering, climate control, stability control, alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth and stereo as standard, with optional extras including cruise control for £225, satellite navigation for £1620 and metallic paint for £615.

For fuel economy, the A5 has a start/stop system and electromechanical power steering as standard, which allows for great efficiency and low CO2 emissions.

The A5 comes with all the safety equipment you would expect in a high-quality coupe including driver, passenger and front side airbags, alarm and immobiliser as standard. It also has stability control to prevent accidents and anti-lock brakes. There are also front and back ISOFIX child seat mounting points and options to fit adaptive xenon headlights, lane-departure, a rear-view camera and blind-sport warning systems.

In the past few years, Audi’s reliability rating has suffered, but the A5’s mechanical reliability received an average rating in the 2011 JD Power survey.

The boot is sizeable offering 455 litres with the rear seats up and 829 litres with the seats folded down. The A5 coupe can seat four, but the rear is cramped particularly for tall adults, with limited head and leg room.

The running costs are good with the A5 and CO2 emissions are fairly low. The 1.8 TFSI SE model costs £28,260 and has a combined economy of 49.6mpg and CO2 emission rate of 134g/km.

The diesel engine is much more efficient than the petrol version, but is worth the extra cost only if you make up enough miles to justify the expense and the rising diesel prices. It will also save for company car drivers on tax due to the low CO2 emissions, although the 2.0 litre diesel engine is more frugal.

The SE trim is great value for money, offering leather seats and rear parking sensors as standard.

The resale value on the A5 Coupe is great so it is a worthwhile investment. Audi promise good service and reliability as well and the car has low insurance rates.