Audi A5 Plug-In Hybrid Surprise: 72 Miles Electric Range & 362 HP!

Audi is taking a bold step forward by adding plug-in hybrid versions to its A5 lineup, nearly a year after phasing out the A4. Both the sedan, which is technically a liftback, and the wagon now come with charging capabilities, combining electric efficiency with traditional performance. These new variants are available only with Quattro all-wheel drive and feature a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine.

The base model of the A5 e-hybrid delivers a combined 295 horsepower, while the more powerful version boosts that number to 362 horsepower, putting it on par with the V-6-powered S5. Acceleration is impressive too—going from 0 to 62 miles per hour takes just 5.1 seconds, only 0.6 seconds slower than the S5. Although Audi has not released the weight figures, it is fair to assume the plug-in models are heavier than the S5’s 4,299 pounds due to the additional battery.

That battery is a big improvement. It has 25.9 kilowatt-hours of usable energy, up roughly 45 percent from the old A4 plug-in. With 11 kilowatts of alternating current charging, it can be fully charged in about two and a half hours. However, placing the battery beneath the cargo floor might eat into trunk space.

When running in electric mode, the A5 sedan can cover up to 72.1 miles based on the WLTP cycle. Top speed in electric mode is capped at 87 miles per hour, but activating the gasoline engine raises the limit to 155 miles per hour.