August 31, 2026/posted byGrace Buchan/ written by Audi Magazine AU/inAudi News

Luxury Honours for Audi A5

After an exhaustive evaluation process, the Audi A5 has taken top honours as the 2026 Chasing Cars Luxury Car of the Year.

After an exhaustive judging process, the Audi A5 has been named this year’s Chasing Cars Luxury Car of the Year. Launched in Australia in June last year, the Audi A5 range represented a new direction for the brand in the mid-sized ranks, effectively bringing the hugely successful A4 and A5 ranges together with new styling, powertrains and technology. Available as both a five-door Sedan and an Avant, the A5 and S5 performance variants were launched together, offering entry level front-wheel drive variants, as well as quattro models and the performance ’S’ models. These were followed later in 2025 by plug-in hybrid variants, bringing the power and economy of plug-in hybrid to the A5’s luxurious ranks and also providing price parity for the hybrid models and their combustion counterparts giving customers the ultimate choice.

All of these factors were cited by the Chasing Cars judges, who praised the ‘wealth of variants’ starting with the ‘from a highly efficient, restrained front-wheel-drive base and plug-in hybrids, all the way up to the six-cylinder Audi S5 and the upcoming Audi RS 5’.

In evaluating vehicles for the coveted Chasing Cars awards, judges looked at ride and handling, powertrains, space and packaging, build quality, overall design and X factor.

Singling out the driving experience of the 270kW 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid quattro, Chasing Cars judge, Nathan Ponchard said:

“Its rear-biased balance, involvement and adjustability are superb for a non-sporting sedan, though with standard sports suspension, brilliant leather sports seats and those Audi Sport alloys, it has the hardware to carry off the impression.

“The powertrain combines a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four with a 20.7kWh battery for superb performance – 0-100km/h in 5.1sec, plus a level of instantaneous response that smashes most plug-in hybrids we’ve driven. There’s 97 kilometres of WLTP range as well, so it’s the thinking person’s sports-luxury sedan.”

But while the plug-in hybrid received particular praise in this instance, it was the diversity of the A5 offering in terms of drivetrain and variants that gave it a clear edge.

“You also get a lot of customisation when it comes to exterior colours, interior upholstery and what you can do with the car in terms of options. Those things all matter in a luxury vehicle,” Chasing Cars judge, John Law said of the A5 range.

“It makes you feel special, and at the end of the day, that’s what you want from a luxury car.”

Blue Audi A5 Avant driving in rural area

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