2023 Audi A4 vs. 2023 Audi A5 and What's New for Both Cars in 2024
With the Audi A4 and A5 having been many things over many years, it can be tough to tell them apart side-by-side.
A4 is a compact car borne of the mid-1990s, one that started out as a sedan with a prima-facie unassuming 172-horsepower, 2.8-liter V6, then morphing into a wagon body style, aptly named Avant ("advanced," from the French; forward-thinking, as only Audi can deliver); this was a 190-horsepower variant, until its discontinuation in 2012. Of course, a convertible (the Audi A4 Cabriolet) graced the line from 2001 to 2009 also, ostensibly a 2.0T or 3.2 sedan, but with the eponymous drop-top, and in a Special Edition. These days, the car's an icon.
The A5, by comparison, is at once as eclectic, but more of a sports car, and of newer ilk, relatively speaking; it debuted in 2008 a spirited 265-horsepower, 3.2-liter V6-equipped thrill-ride, in a coupe body style, a convertible (the A5 Cabriolet), and a fastback (nom de plume, the A5 Sportback). It's one equally beloved among enthusiasts of the Four Rings.
So, A4, A5 -- What's the Difference?
Put simply, Audi A4 and its quattro® all-wheel-drive-equipped sibling, Audi A4 Quattro, appear to have much in common. (The same could be said for Audi A5 and Audi A5 Quattro.) Yet, for all their similarities, they differ markedly.
So, how do A4 and A5 compare (and contrast) these days? You could skip straight to 2024 and get the Audi rundown, sure -- but that info's bound to change, and the A4 specs and those of the A5 Coupe, A5 Cabriolet, and A5 Sportback along with them. At Audi OEM Parts Online, though, we've got the details for both the 2023 and the latest (from what we know so far) 2024 models, simplified.
First, let's check out 2023.
Comparing the 2023 Audi A4 and 2023 Audi A5
Price
As cost goes, 2023 A5 is a little more expensive than 2023 A4. The A5 Sportback, for instance, is pricier than A4 by a few grand; the latter runs $41,000 or so to start with, while the former goes for $45,000 or more. The A5 Cabriolet? It's $13k or so more expensive, starting around $54,000. The two-door coupe cost is middle-of-the-road, at $47,000 plus or thereabouts.
Exterior
The 2023 A4 has the iconic Audi S line look, with a longer wheelbase and just the right touch of sport, plus LED headlights. However, matrix-design lighting's only offered in higher trims, and that innovative, max-visibility laser light that caught your eye in the ads, to flick on absent traffic? There's none to speak of.
2023 A5, on the other hand, has a more sculpted hood, speaking to true performance. The A5 Cabriolet, however, takes it to next level, with an acoustic drop-top made with tri-layer insulation to cut wind and reduce noise, plus matrix-design LED headlighting standard. Best of all, you get laser light standard on top trims. The car even has dynamic animated sequencing to grab the attention of agape onlookers.
Both models come in a host of colors: if you don't spring for black, in Brilliant and Mythos hues, you might go for gray, in Manhattan, Chronos, or Daytona -- and there's always white (Ibis or Glacier), Florett Silver, Navarra Blue, Tango Red, or District Green.
Powertrain
The powertrains in both 2023 A4 and 2023 A5 are quattro® all-wheel drive, paired with seven-speed S tronic® dual-clutch automatic transmissions. A4, however, has a little more engine variety. It's got two engines to choose from, actually, based on trim: a turbocharged, 201-horsepower, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder in 40 TFSI®, capable of 236 pound-feet of torque, and a 261-horsepower, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbo in 45 TFSI®, shelling out 273 pound-feet of torque. A5, in contrast, has only one engine: the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder with 261 horses and 273 torque rating.
Of the three, the one in 40 TFSI® gets a little better fuel economy: up to 24 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway thanks to the efficiency afforded by the brand's ultra® technology.
Interior
At keeping your driving experience front and center, both 2023 models are unrivaled in the compact luxury car segment. Seating's comfortable, materials are spared no premium expense, and tech like the Audi virtual cockpit plus digital dashboard and 10.1-inch MMI® touch multimedia (or, in select cases, an MMI® Navigation plus system) keeps all the need-to-know info at your fingertips.
In fact, both can boast everything from leather seats (heated both up front and in the rear) and natural wood inlays to tri-zone auto climate control with a digital display in the rear seat area. We're talking a multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters, a ten-speaker Audi sound system (if you don't opt for a 19-speaker 3D sound system from Bang & Olufsen), Apple CarPlay, smartphone signal boosting and wireless charging, satellite radio support, and more.
Of course, there are key differences. A4 has a power sunroof, for one, plus an interior lighting package for ambiance. The sunroof in A5, however, is panoramic, and it's got a leg up on A4 with sport seats with bolsters and thigh support up front.
Safety
Both models come loaded with features for 2023. Besides mainstays like lane departure warning, Audi active lane assist, and a top-view camera, take standard Audi pre sense® basic, city, and rear, for instance.
The system uses a combo of cameras and radar sensors to monitor what's going on around your ride -- pedestrians, cars, and more. It senses a collision, the front seatbelts automatically tension, the car windows close for protection, and warning lights turn on. Factor in features like Audi side assist (complete with rear cross-traffic assist and a vehicle exit warning) and a head-up display (which can project important info onto the windshield), and traffic sign recognition, and it's clear both models help keep you and yours out of harm's way without making you take your eyes off the road to do the same.
A particularly captivating feature of both A4 and A5: the auto-dimming interior rearview mirror. Not only does it reduce headlight glare. It also displays a digital compass with directional points to help you get your bearings. Plus, it's got an Integrated Toll Module® (ITM) to help you avoid having to stop to pay state tolls.
What distinguishes A5 from A4, however, is park assist. It's a feature that uses sensors to find the car the ideal spot in the parking lot and support you pulling in, with feedback from the steering wheel.
So, what's new for A4 and A5 in 2024? Let's take a look.
Audi A4 vs. Audi A5: Looking Ahead to 2024
From what we know to date, both cars continue in their base Premium, midrange Premium Plus, and top-tier Prestige trims, and all have quattro® and S tronic® (meaning, AWD drivetrains and DCT gearboxes). Both cars also support music, navigation, and parking & charging apps by Audi connect PLUS subscription, plus those for things like productivity, weather, news, and even video and gaming. (Think Spotify, TikTok, The Weather Channel, review authorities like Yelp, and meeting aids like Webex by Cisco.)
Looks like they'll both have some new standard features, too: adaptive cruise control (ACC), active lane assistance, a Parking system plus, a heated steering wheel (now, with Hands on Detection, or "HoD") and A4 40 and A5 Sportback 40 excluded remote start, which you can use via myAudi/the Audi connect app. Other options include a Navigation package (now, one that can recognize traffic signs and can turn Predictive adaptive cruise control (pACC) on) and an Arkona color scheme instead of Ibis White; a Progressive Red metallic color also replaces Tango Red metallic, and you can get it on A4 45 and all A5 models except the A5 Sportback 40.
Audi A4 pricing for 2024 starts around $42,000 for the A4 40 TFSI sedan and reaches $57k for the top A4 Allroad 45 TFSI wagon trim. A5 prices range from $49k for a model like A5 Coupe S line 45 TFSI or A5 Sportback S line 45 TFSI to $65k at the top of the A5 Cabriolet S line 45 TFSI line.
Shop OEM Audi Parts and Accessories for A4 and A5 Online Now
To sum up, no matter which model you drive, you've got quite an investment to protect -- and so, upgrade prospects galore.
We've got plenty of what you need for the project, sure -- from the all-weather floor mats and custom seat covers to keep your baby safe from dirt, grime, and spills to the car cover to shield it from the elements, outdoors and in storage. (That's not to mention the parts for regular maintenance, too -- air filters, spark plugs, and more.) But best of all, it's OEM -- Audi-quality; made to fit and work right the first time -- and steeply discounted.
Order today; we'll ship fast, anywhere in the States, and you'll have the job done in no time!