Background
The global lethargy over the adoption of electric vehicles is going to bring us a whole new generation of combustion engines we didn't think we were going to get. Take this one, a new-generation PHEV unit from Audi fitted here to the A5 and intended for use across the Ingolstadt maker's range. It's the most EV-like engine the brand has ever offered, so different in fact that instead of the previous clumsy 'TFSI e' badge the marque has previously used for its Plug-in hybrid models, the company has given this new-era PHEV powertrain a different name: e-hybrid.
It's time to forget the PHEV Audis of the recent past that couldn't be had with decent electric range or 4WD. The A5 e-hybrid can only be had in quattro form - and with a battery range of up to 67 miles, you'll be able to use it like an EV for much of the time. As the tax incentives for buying electric vehicles decrease, so Plug-in Hybrids look ever-more tempting. Especially perhaps, this one.
Engines and Tech Spec
Much about this A5's new generation e-hybrid system is recognisable, principally the EA888-era 2.0-litre TFSI turbo petrol unit, its associated seven-speed s tronic dual clutch auto gearbox and the quattro 4WD system you have to have. New is the 142PS electric motor the e-hybrid system links to it, energised by a 25.9kWh (20.7kWh net) battery that's 45% bigger than that used by the outgoing TFSI e system that was fitted to the old A6 TFSI e. It's worth mentioning that there's never previously been a Plug-in Hybrid A5 (or A4 come to that).
EV drive range is rated at 67 miles and total output at 299PS with 450Nm of torque, allowing for 0-62mph in 5.9s en route to 155mph. Two operating modes are available; 'EV' (for all-electric power) and 'hybrid' (combining engine and battery). This A5 always prefers to drive on electric power, can do so at speeds of up to 87mph and can be started in either mode.
Whatever setting you're in, the combustion engine engages in kick-down and the engine charges the battery at speeds of over 40mph. If you're if you've keyed in a navigation route, your A5 e-hybrid will automatically calculate which parts of it are suitable for electric driving and save charge accordingly (eg for town travel at the end of a long trip). There's a braked towing capacity of up to 1,900kg (pretty good for a PHEV). And there are three different levels of selectable brake energy recuperation activated by steering wheel paddles (just like in an Audi EV). The left pedal increases regen, while the right paddle reduces it. The system can recover up to 88kW of power and feed it into the HV battery.
Design and Build
Apart from the badgework and the addition of a charging flap, there are no external giveaways as to the e-hybrid A5 model's PHEV status. In both five-door 'Saloon' hatch and Avant forms, you'd know this new A5 as an Audi, but a rather more modern one. Slim LED headlights with customisable OLED technology sit above contrasting corner outer vents and flank the familiar Audi Single Frame grille. The long bonnet flows into a steeply raked windscreen with A-pillars shifted back by designer Jacob Hirzel to well behind the front wheels.
The roofline dips away past the B-pillar and there's more fancy optional OLED lighting tech at the back, where the rear clusters can be made up of 364 segments offering a total of eight configurable lighting signatures. Key to the profile perspective are flared arches the designers refer to as 'Quattro muscle'. And the dimensions here are slightly bigger than before, the A5 hatch 67mm longer and 13mm wider than the old A4 saloon.
Inside of course, it's the usual modern screen fest, with a higher-set curved free-standing MMI infotainment display comprised of an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit instrument cluster and a 14.5-inch central touchscreen. Options include a head-up display and a smaller 10.9-inch screen for the passenger side, which has a clever polarised filter so the driver can't be distracted by what's on it. This extra monitor could be used by the passenger to, say, set the sat nav or watch movies.
There's certainly quite a feeling of luxury, embellished by a 'Softwrap' fabric panel that flows across the dashboard into the doors, both back-lit with subtle ambient lighting. The doors also get 'smart Door Panel' controls which gives access to things like seat and mirror settings. And sustainable and vegan materials feature throughout.
It'll feel roomier in the back than the old A4, thanks to 80mm of extra wheelbase length. Which now means that a couple of six-foot adults can sit on the more heavily bolstered rear seats more comfortably. Aided by a lower hip point for the seat base and a slightly raised position over the front seats that offers a better view forward.
You might have some concerns about boot space in a PHEV in this segment; with a rival Mercedes C300e PHEV after all, luggage capacity's down by 140-litres as a result of the Plug-in Hybrid system. With the A5 e-hybrid, the reduction isn't quite that great, but it's still significant. The A5 Saloon e-Hybrid has a 331-litre boot (445-litres normally) extending to 1,175-litres with the rear bench folded. The A5 Avant e-hybrid has 361-litres of luggage capacity (down from 476-litres normally), extendable to 1,306-litres.
Market and Model
From launch, A5 e-hybrid pricing started from around £49,000 - which isn't much different to what you'd pay for the equivalent 2.0 TDI 204PS quattro s tronic diesel model. That base price is for the five-door 'Saloon'; you'll need £1,900 more for the equivalent Avant estate. There are four initial trim levels - 'Technik', 'Sport', 'S line' and 'Edition 1'.
Most customers will start their perusal of the range with 'Sport' trim, which gets you 18-inch '5-twin-spoke' design alloy wheels, LED headlights with High Beam Assist, an acoustic windscreen, a powered hatch or tailgate, an anti-theft alarm and LED tail lamps with dynamic indicators. Drive stuff includes progressive steering, Adaptive cruise control, Audi drive select modes and a 'Park Assist Plus' system that automatically steers you into tight spaces.
Inside with 'Sport'-spec, there's heated front sports seats in twin leather upholstery, 3-zone automatic climate control, 30-colour ambient lighting, wireless charging for two 'phone handsets and an 11.9-inch 'Audi virtual cockpit plus' OLED instrument display. Infotainment's covered off by a 14.5-inch 'MMI navigation plus' high resolution OLED centre screen with 3D mapping, Audi assistant2 voice control and three years' subscription for the many 'Audi connect navigation and infotainment' services, which include the Audi application store and screen themes. There's also a 10-speaker 180-watt Audi Sound System and a rear view camera with a 360-degree 'Parking system plus' display.
To this tally, 'S line' trim adds larger 19-inch graphite grey-painted '5-twin v-spoke' alloy wheels, S line exterior styling, rear privacy glass and lowered sports suspension. Inside with an A5 'S line' model, you get stainless steel pedals, a black cloth headliner, a bespoke S-branded steering wheel, S-branded door trims and matt brushed aluminium interior inlays. The front seats are S-branded too and there's the useful no-cost option of lighter-coloured upholstery if you want it.
Cost of Ownership
The efficiency figures here aren't as outlandish as they usually are with Plug-in Hybrids, but they're probably a great deal closer to stats you might get somewhere near in day-to-day motoring when fully charged; 134.5mpg on the combined cycle and a 47g/km of CO2. Audi says these stats will make an important contribution to helping it achieve its CO2 reduction targets. Obviously to get close to the stated figures, you'll need to regularly engage the most frugal drive mode (Efficiency) and get proactive with the provided three brake regen settings.
Charging power is much better than the old TFSI Plug-in Hybrid system could provide, increased from two-phase 7.4kW to three-phase 11kW (if you can use that). With a three-phase supply, you could completely re-charge this A5 e-hybrid model's battery in 2.5 hours.
As usual with Audi models, there's a choice of either a 'Fixed' or a 'Flexible' servicing regime, the choice between the two depending on the extent of your likely annual mileage. The 'Fixed' schedule is aimed at drivers covering fewer than 10,000 miles a year and includes an oil change service every 9,000 miles or every year, plus an inspection service every 19,000 miles or every two years. If you cover more than 10,000 miles a year, the 'Flexible' service schedule will be more appropriate, this regime including oil change and inspection services at variable intervals of up to every 19,000 miles or every two years.