carivo.co
Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 4 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | Coupe |
| Base Price | $37,802–$44,250 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2018 Audi A5 is a coupe that earns a Carivo score of 7.3/10 — rated Good. Its strongest dimension is Performance at 9.0/10, while Value at 6.7/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a capable but unexceptional coupe — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. The reliability picture is solid rather than spectacular: 8.2/10, which puts it comfortably above the class median. Safety lands at 7.8/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Few rivals match it for performance: 9.0/10. Expect handling and power delivery that make this one of the more entertaining coupes to actually drive. On technology it rates 8.3/10: a modern, well-integrated suite that compares favorably with anything at this price point.
Priced from $37,802–$44,250, 22 MPG, seating 4, the Audi A5 sits in the mid-market bracket of the coupe segment. The value score of 6.7/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 8 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Verdict: The 2018 Audi A5 sits in the middle of the field. Until its value scores improve, stronger options exist at this price. Worth a look if it fits a specific need; otherwise use our compare tool against the segment leaders first.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2018 Audi A5 ranks #89 of 110 coupes in the Carivo database — better than 20% of the segment. Its 7.3/10 overall score is 0.2 points below the segment average of 7.5/10. Its $37,802 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $47,314 by about 20%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full Coupe ranking →
Smart-money pick: the 2015 Audi A5 scores 7.2/10 — within striking distance of the 2018's 7.3 — and starts roughly $4,000 lower. If you don't need the newest model year, that's money better spent on a higher trim or kept in your pocket.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.7/10 | $47,483 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 7.7/10 | $47,483 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.7/10 | $46,100 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.6/10 | $44,717 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.6/10 | $43,334 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.5/10 | $41,951 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.5/10 | $40,568 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.4/10 | $39,185 | Read review → |
| 2018 (this review) | 7.3/10 | $37,802 | |
| 2017 | 7.4/10 | $36,419 | Read review → |
| 2016 | 7.2/10 | $35,036 | Read review → |
| 2015 | 7.2/10 | $33,653 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Air bags / Frontal / Passenger side / Inflator module 24/07/2019 · 19V547000 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the… |
|---|---|
| Air bags / Frontal / Passenger side / Inflator module 27/11/2018 · 18V836000 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback and 2017-2018 Audi A4 Allroad vehicles. A passenger air bag module mounting screw may not have been sufficiently tightened, possibly affecting the deployment of the… |
| Suspension / Front 17/12/2018 · 18V893000 | Volkswagen Group of North America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback vehicles. The front suspension fasteners may not have been sufficiently tightened during vehicle production, possibly resulting in a front wheel becoming loose. |
| Air bags / Side/window 20/12/2017 · 17V822000 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Coupe vehicles. The affected vehicles were built with head curtain air bag assemblies that may not unfold properly. As such, these vehicle fail to comply with the… |
| Structure / Body / Door / Hinge and attachments 25/10/2017 · 17V675000 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad, and 2018 A5 Sportback vehicles. The aluminum trim on the front and rear doors can come loose from around the door speakers, leaving sharp edges… |
Showing 5 of 6 campaigns — see the full list on NHTSA's site.
Explore the full lineup of Audi models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.