Road Test: 2009 Audi S5
I am so lucky. I live quite near California’s Riviera (Huntington, Newport and Laguna beaches) where cliffs, coves and charming beach towns abound. And, I road test super hot cars like the 2009 Audi S5, which I drove last night to the swanky Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel.
Now, I’d been driving the sporty 2009 Audi S5 sedan all week and, frankly, this supercharged beast scared the crap out of me. I mean, the 4.2-liter V8 engine on this manual transmission sedan was just TOO fast for a middle-aged mommy auto journalist.
2009 Audi S5 Performance
Still, I found myself falling in love with the 2009 Audi S5 and its all-out ballsy acceleration, absolutely exhilarating manual tranny, superb handling, taut suspension and super responsive braking. Plus, I found myself actually muting Sirius’ hip-hop channel 50 (The Heat) just to listen to the engine growl and roar.
While sipping a flight of bold red wines, California cheeses and international charcuterie at The Ritz Carlton’s ENO wine tasting room, I was sad when I thought the ride home from tonight’s soirée would be the last drive in my oh-so-fun 2009 Audi S5. Fortunately for me, a dinner at the resort’s Restaurant 162’ with more wine, succulent lobster and tender steak made the pain subside substantially.
2009 Audi S5 Exterior
Outside, the 2009 Audi S5 does resemble its Audi brethren such as the A5 and other competing Euro sedans, but the 2009 Audi S5 is even more sexy. The body is massive at almost 4,000 pounds, but somehow the S5’s lines are lean and yet brash at the same time. Somehow, Audi always seems to stand out in a crowd of upscale performance sedans such as BMW 335i, Mercedes-Benz CLK550 and Infiniti G37.
2009 Audi S5 Interior
And then there’s the S5’s interior. What is it with Audi interior engineers? They know how to bring sporty and upscale together in one delightfully decadent and heart-pounding package.
In my fully-loaded 2009 Audi S5 test model, I found the cabin’s appointments to be extraordinarily rich with two-toned cream suede and gray leather seats. The black leather dash, instrument gauges and central console all work together in luxury sport coupe harmony.
What about Audi’s multi-media interface (MMI)? I’m a big fan of Audi’s proprietary MMI technology, graphics and control knobs, which are mounted just below and to the right of the S5’s stick shift. Why do I like it so much? First, the MMI’s graphics are top notch and fairly user friendly, but I’m a sucker for any system that allows the front seat passenger to control the audio and navigation systems. Bravo Audi!
My test model 2009 Audi S5 also featured a 505-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system. Was it worth it? Oh yeah! I pumped up the volume on my fave hip-hop channel (The Heat on Sirius 50) until the bass felt like it was coming straight through my chest. Rock me, please, Audi!
However, there’s one big problem with the 2009 Audi S5. If you are thinking about buying this sedan to drive around your family, think again. The back seats, which can fit three persons, could barely hold my rather large five-year-old daughter. Basically, the Audi S5 is only good for one or two passengers at the very most.
2009 Audi S5 Safety
The 2009 Audi S5 is a safety wonder with anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control as well as standard front and side curtain air bags. So far, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has not yet rated the 2009 Audi S5 in its crash tests.
2009 Audi S5 Trim Level & Packages
The 2009 Audi S5 comes in one trim level, so there’s lots of standard features, including Xenon headlights, rain-sensing wipers, 19-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, panoramic tilt sunroof, power front seats with heaters, auto-dimming mirrors, leather upholstery and a 10-speaker audio system with CD, satellite radio and auxiliary audio jack. Other options to consider are a blind-spot warning system, Bluetooth connectivity, adaptive cruise control, keyless ignition, park assist with rearview camera, adaptive headlights, navigation system and a 505-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system. The Audi “drive select package” features automatic steering and suspension calibrations, variable-ratio steering and adjustable dampers.
Sheryll Alexander is a lifestyles writer based in Costa Mesa, Calif.
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