QUALITY | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
This coupe is always well-behaved and surprisingly practical
Car and Driver
Front seat comfort is one of the S5's selling points
MyRide.com
as adept at rapidly covering large distances in comfort as it is drawing envious glances while parked
Edmunds
Another sharp interior from Audi
Cars.com
Most reviewers agree that the 2008 Audi S5 is a comfortable vehicle with a stunning level of interior quality, though backseat room is skimpy.
In TheCarConnection.com’s experience, the front seats are tight where they need to be, unlike the rear seats, which are merely tight and are completely at a loss when asked to handle adult legs. The trunk is large, though. Car and Driver praises the "highly adjustable seat" and a "tilting-and-telescoping steering wheel" that offer the driver a wider range of options. However, the "beltline is high," causing you to feel "a little buried in the car." MyRide.com also speaks of the comfort of the front seat area, citing it as one of the "selling points" of the vehicle; the "generous amounts of overall passenger room" is sure to capture serious attention. Cars.com says “the driver and front passenger get leather sport seats that have large side bolsters on both the bottom cushion and backrest. The seats proved comfortable for the duration of my week with the car and came in handy during aggressive driving.”
For a coupe, the S5 has a comfortable backseat, states Car and Driver, though "a six-footer will be touching knees and head when sitting behind another six-footer." However, getting in and out of the car is rather easy due to the "conveniently located seatback-mounted switches to move the power seats fore-and-aft." Cars.com says, “There's room for two in the back of the S5. Despite the car's low-slung shape, there's tolerable space for two adults here, and more than enough for kids.” Edmunds agrees, though noting “taller folks will find under-thigh support and legroom somewhat lacking.”
Cars.com feels “the S5's trunk is rather large, at 16.1 cubic feet. That compares to the BMW 3 Series' 11.1-cubic-foot trunk and the Infiniti G37's 7.4-cubic-foot cargo area.” Edmunds again concurs: “The trunk offers 16 cubic feet of cargo capacity (large for a sedan, let alone a coupe), and the rear seat flips down to accommodate more, if need be.”
MyRide.com stresses that it is important to "park with care." The S5’s long doors make it "a bit difficult to enter and exit in tight spaces."
The 2008 Audi S5 comes in a single "well-equipped" trim level, according to Edmunds. The leather is "finely stitched," the fit and finish are "impeccable," and the aluminum trim is real, making for an impressive cabin of obvious quality. Cars.com appreciates how the S5’s “Silver-colored trim encircles the gauges and dash vents, and high-end materials like aluminum, carbon fiber and wood are available in addition to the standard piano black accents.” Car and Driver reports, “Mucho aluminum trim has been smattered about, and we're particularly fond of the A5's take on Audi's ‘teardrop’ gauges.”
Conclusion
The 2008 Audi S5 delivers a well-crafted car with just enough room in back to qualify for four-seat status.
