2023 Audi S5 Coupe

The premium compact sports coupe segment is shrinking. Once awash with players, many of them, such as the Infiniti Q60 and Lexus RC, are no longer in contention for class honors and the new W206 Mercedes-AMG C43 is not yet offered with two doors. That leaves us with essentially a class of two, the Audi S5 Coupe quattro and the BMW M440i Coupe, the latter available in both rear- and all-wheel-drive xDrive formats. The Audi brings a 349-horsepower V6, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and quattro AWD to the party and follows the current Audi "S" template of being well-rounded and refined rather than overly sporty, for better or worse. Is the edgier BMW what owners prefer in this in-between semi-sporty niche of the market, or will the elegant but aging Audi prevail?

For 2023, the Audi S5 coupe has a starting price of $55,800 which is substantially cheaper than both rivals from BMW and Mercedes. Moving up to the mid-level Premium Plus will bring the MSRP up to $59,800. If you're after ultimate luxury, the Prestige trim goes on sale for a hefty $63,900. All of the S5's prices are exclusive of the $1,095 destination fee.

Considering its positioning as a fast coupe, the 2023 S5 Coupe is an unexpectedly refined car, with an unobtrusive engine note and compliant suspension, although tire noise intrudes a bit on the highway. Add rather uncommunicative steering and the S5 comes across as a little aloof, lacking the boisterousness of the BMW M440i xDrive. So, it comes as a surprise that the S5 Coupe displays such fine body control and high grip levels around corners, not lapsing into a mess of understeer but blitzing the line flatly, even without the optional S Sport adaptive suspension and rear diff. Its ride/handling balance is so good, you won't miss this package, but it can be added for that sporty focus the normal S5 lacks. We'd skip the oddly unpredictable variable-ratio Dynamic Steering though. Performance from the 349-horsepower/369-lb-ft turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 is better than expected. It launches with enthusiasm, its 4.4-second 0-60 time only narrowly losing to the M440i xDrive's 4.3, despite a 33-hp power deficit. Thank the snappy eight-speed auto, sorted quattro AWD, and slight weight advantage over the mild-hybrid BMW.

The slightly soft-spoken S5 Coupe is not as instantly aggressive as the M440i with its bucktooth grille and tense, alert, demeanor, and that might count against it in this class. But therein lies its charm and most onlookers would prefer its appearance to the controversial BMW's. There is a distinct lack of rivals in this space and a review of the Audi S5's competitors reveals that the only one of note is the M440i. The Mercedes-AMG C43 is not yet offered in a new-gen coupe and the old 205-based coupe is now old hat. So too are the aging Lexus RC and Infiniti Q60. Whether the S5 Coupe does enough to finish first in a two-horse race is up to you, but we think its excellent handling, refined ride, and elegant appearance might just win the day.

It's often easiest to suggest the mid-level trim when trying to identify the best model in a range, and while the Premium Plus in the new Audi S5 coupe lineup certainly offers a good balance between affordability and luxury, we'd actually rather stretch for the top-end Prestige. With a $63,900 starting price, this model has all the bells and whistles, including a comprehensive safety suite featuring a head-up display and traffic sign recognition, a banging premium sound system, and Audi's virtual cockpit. Add the Warm Weather Package and the Dynamic Steering setup (which requires the addition of the S Sport Package), and you have an incredibly well-rounded coupe for around $69,195 including destination.