Spot on review Kirk. Having owned both Type S and now S5 you made a lot of great points. You can easily pull low 4's but you need to engage the launch control. It will slam you into the seat. This is a great daily driver and turns really sporty with a couple of setting changes. Also agree with you on the physical controls. It's so nice not to have to dig into the screen all the time. Lastly, Acura reliability comments are hilarious. Honda/Acura reliability has gone to sh*t for some years now yet people still praise them. Many are tuning S5's and getting apsolutely insane amount of pwer. Sorry, but Acura's drivetrain will not handle the power with their 10 speed and SHAWD. Goahead get the Type S and tune it and see how long it will last. S5 pulls low 4s and 12.3 quarter mile bone stock. You will already need a lot of upgrades on Type S just to keep up with stock S5. Also the interior quality is on a next level same goes for the technology....
Car and Driver got a 4.3-second 0 to 60 with a 2018 S5 but only managed 12.9 at 107 MPH in the quarter mile. Interesting. That's pretty much dead even with an IS 500, but the IS 500 has a higher trap speed, 112 MPH after 12.8 seconds. And an M340i will also do the deed faster than both of them. However, I think speed is hardly the point of these cars. It is a component of what makes them fun, but the interior quality and handling are just as important. The Acura is just so much slower, however, that it is hard to ignore the speed deficit. Not to mention, it is heavy. I think I'd very much consider an S4 before a TLX Type S for that reason alone - not to mention the ZF 8-speed, the physical buttons, etc.
I owned an S5 Sportback, and it does not do 12.3 seconds. My record is 12.5s, and on average it was 12.7s, sometimes more or less depending on weather.
The Audi is almost 10g’s more compared to a tlx type s, the difference was even more with the original 21 tlx type s base msrp at 53k, the Audi offers more and is more expensive as it should be
I own a 2015 Acura TLX Tech SH-AWD. It has been a FANTASTIC vehicle. No issues and it comes with the ZF-9 tranny. Now I'm getting the itch for a new car. Both the TLX Type-S and Audi S5 are a considerable upgrade when thinking about going from 290 HP to about 350 HP along with handling improvements. I'm really torn. I'm in my 50s and never owned a German vehicle. I realize they are stronger on the performance side but my lifelong history of Honda/Acura has been outstanding. The cost of ownership has been below average, especially when compared to the Germans. I really like the S5 but I'm feeling a little anxious about transitioning from Japanese to German engineering. I realize what some people are saying on here about Honda/Acura reliability going downhill. At the end of the day, which one is going to last me a solid 10 years with the least amount of repairs or lower cost of ownership?? Again, I'm torn. $60k-$70 is no chump change!
@@tonyford3221 i would do the Audi. Trust me. It’ll offer more space, performance, efficiency and true luxury features. I was like you.. coming from Honda then to Acura and got led on false marketing from Acura and nothing but problems and regrets on getting the Type S. When I realized that the price wasn’t drastically that crazy.. I was disappointed with going this route. If you’re truly worried about the maintenance.. then consider leasing or get yourself a good warranty that’s written in the contract on which things it’ll cover for you and make sure you do your maintenance up to date and you’ll be fine. I myself am getting the Audi. Not the S5 but the RS5 early next year. My TLX has been a nightmare of ownership and i am selling it.
I've owned a 2021 Audi S5 Sportback in Turbo Blue! Great car, but it has it's own pluses and minuses. I also driven the new TLX Type-S, and in normal and spirited driving, I didn't notice any major difference in terms of performance, without specifically measuring them with a RaceBox. The S5 is faster from a launch start, but from idle they are the same. Now as far as the S5, there are some vital details. As far as the positives, it looks cool, has a nice scent inside, great ride (way better than the RS5 ride), sounds good, and is practical. It has secure handling, although slightly floaty and disconnected at much higher speeds, and a good AWD system. As far as the negatives. The seats here are somewhat tight and cramped, and tiring to drive in past 2 hours. It's also quite small on the inside, especially headroom wise. The paint is very gentle and gets chipped quickly. The inside black gloss trim scratches easily. The infotainment lacks physical dials, and you can't connect two different phones simultaneously, like an Android and iPhone at the same time like in BMW - and use one for CarPlay and the other for Bluetooth music. The 360 camera quality is not the best, and the angles look awkward on the sides. Very distorted. There is no 3D view like in the A6. The self parking in the Prestige is also far less advanced than BMW as well. The Bang and Olufsen audio system sounds OK at best, and doesn't feel any different from the audio in the base Premium trim. To get all the good features you have to go to the Prestige trim. In terms of driving, the gas pedal is not floor mounted like BMW and Mercedes. You get VW pedals. There is a noticeable off the line lag when accelerating from a stop. The intercooler in the S5 is the one from the A5, so after a couple of fast accelerations, you will start seeing heat soak. One of the first upgrades to do is to get a Wagner intercooler. At higher speeds on curvy highways, you will feel some understeer. The steering wheel could be more thick and sporty. Everything inside just seems flat (hood, dashboard). Audi also doesn't include 3 year free maintenance like BMW and Volvo. AudiCare is a must, since Audi services charge a hefty amount for regular service. If you get the black optics package, you may be faced with having to replace tires and rims due to such a low profile if you ever hit a pothole, so get the tire and rim protection package. In the winter when the weather is cold, park the car inside if you can. Frameless doors may stick, and you can break the glass when trying to open the door. P.S - As far as the acceleration, it's not 4.3 seconds just off idle. You're doing it in 5.5-5.7 seconds at minimum. Only way to get to these numbers is to have decent conditions, and use launch control. In summary, if you are buying an S5. Get the tire and rim protection package, AudiCare, PPF wrap, interior film wrap for the gloss trim, and a Wagner Intercooler. I would highly suggest taking a look at the new BMW M440i Gran Coupe and Volvo S60 T8 Recharge. Hope this helps any future buyers who are looking!
The 2 things I don’t agree with is the audio to me seems pretty great and the 3d camera is very high quality unless it gets dirty. I’ve gotten multiple compliments on the camera also and had no issues with using it. It kinda of surprises me that the s5 does 5.6 for idle because I’ve got around 5.5 to 5.7 in my A5 normally. I really don’t have any complaints besides the clunky transmission but I heard it was a normal dct issue. I love my A5 but sometimes I wish for more power so I might get a rs5 in a few years or I was thinking about a Rcf track edition because it would be more reliable.
You can tell the folks who never purchased a Audi saying its so expensive to fix, not if you get Audi care and they share parts with VW making it cheaper than mercedes and bmw. I love the TLX and Integra but the RS5 is way faster has more presence and the quattro system is special, most cars cant beat it from -0-60
@@trungluu6652 gotcha, even then I still think the S5 is better in almost every category except reliability but lately Honda/Acura has had a lot of recalls.
the Japanese vs German comparison is a joke. The S5 is one of the most gorgeous cars out there. My wife has the 2024 in "district green." BMW calls it San Remo Green and Lexus has it for the SC500, but i forget what they call it. To my eyes all three are the same exact paint, lol. Audi is giving these cars away rignt now, because they start shipping the 2025's next month. I greatly prefer the 2024, better dimensions inside and out, better ergonomics, and no crazy expensive electric battery and motor in the boot, robbing cargo space. Oh, i got 9K off sticker last week.
I prefer the TLX or CT5-V before this. This Audi is ok, but everything seems bland including the design. I would still pick this Audi over its German rivals though.
The TLX just doesn't do it for me. It is eye-catching, yes, but it isn't as beautiful to me. I think the S4/S5, the Giulia, and the IS are the best-looking cars in this segment. I own an IS 500 and have considered both the TLX and the M340i. I just had to have the V-8, not going to lie. lol
You are a lot more excited about this vehicle than you were while reviewing the TLX type S. I was on the fence about the Audi, but your genuine excitement and enjoyment in this video convinced me to buy this over the Acura. The craftmanship and attention to detail in it being driver focused with a hatchback too. I love the way this looks, I saw the 2025 S5, it has more power, but I just like the way this model year looks. I'll test drive the '24 and the '25 and see which feels best.
I just got mine a week ago. Loving it. Mythos Black with black trim. However I am finding it all too black and planning to change the Audi emblem to chrome in the grill and back. As well as the S5 logos and side wings. It would be different if I were in my 30s or 40s, but I'm 60 years old. It just seems to aggressive to me. Thoughts?
@ryanb8736 Hey Kirk's great too 👍🏻 I like Kirk cause he also goes about car reviewing in a different way than Joe. I like Joe for the car reviews, and like Kirk cause he gives the inside scoop about what going on in the auto industry.
Is that opinion based on the latest powertrain... I've heard good things about old na engines/powertrain. What I'm hearing about the new turbo is lots of problems and recalls
Get the BMW if you want more sport and more speed. Get the Lexus IS350 if you want reliability. You highlighted all the reasons why I'm about to by an S5 Sportback. It is just a great all-around sport sedan. Ventilated seats are an option, but they are hard to find because you lose the fancy diamond-stitched, massaging sport seats. It is overdue for an update, but I'm afraid the nice buttons and knobs will go away when that happens. The TLX ended up at the bottom of my list due to the lack of touch screen and the awful push button gear selector. The TLX looks sharp though.
You can't compare this to Acura lol. To Lexus yes. The S5 is the real deal. I smoked a type s last week with my b8 s4😂 It's a joke to compare these cars
@@chrisburry8147 @chrisburry8147 Why would anyone buy 5 of one generation? Are you 15? Smells like FB bull. I was a Mkt Dir and did customer service in SoCal Audi and had to deal with "customer issues and grievances". A LOT OF THEM. I'm done with is puerile silliness.
@@islanddon865 call bs all you want. Go to any of the audi forums (only two big ones and you will find me there). I had a 2018 S5 Coupe, needed more room so moved to a 2019 S4, got really good offer on it to move to a 2019 S5 Sportback (didn't lose a cent), the 2019 S5 Sportback was totalled by some fool, so I got a 2019 RS5 Sportback, then switched to a 2022 RS5 Sportback. Now I have a 2024 M3 Competition xDrive (still in the Audi family though as I also have a 2022 Q7) 👍🏻
I cross shopped these exact 2 vehicles. I went with a 2024 TLX Type S. Both are compelling choices but the Audi is moments away from a re-design and Audis as a brand are a bit generic looking across the lineup.
Best family performance car next to the Golf R and M340.. I like the size more than the BMW, GOLF R obviously for hatch purposes and performance out the box
Not that your wrong. But I gave up trying to find a IS500. The only ones I could find were 10K+ over MSRP. And the only dealer that I found that would let me throw money down on one coming in 'sometime in the future' Wanted $5K down and would not discuses the price till the car was there. I traded my IS350FS in on a S5 Prestige SB and have no regrets. I saved $5K off MSPRP, got $4K more for my car than Lexus would give me.
Fool me once, VW, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Actually, I’ve had reliability issues with both VW (major) and Honda (multiple vehicles). Toyota has never let me down.
@@sunshadow9704 I enjoy driving. Loved my GTI, hated the reliability. The lower thrills from my Sienna & truck are satisfied by motos, watercraft, bikes, etc.
This is actually my dream car. Only thing I'd say is the high tunnel in back makes it hard to seat someone in the middle and I think the steering wheel looks a little dated. I rather seeing the infotainment screen integrated to the dash rather than sticking up. Hypocritical saying that while I own a Civic and it looks exactly the same but my Civic is an econocruiser. That leads me to my other gripe, my car has auto brake hold, this doesn't. That's unacceptable at this price point, but fix those things and this car is flawless to me.
How do you like this compared to the CT5-V (not blackwing)? I'm very interested in the 2025 model Cady with the big curved display. It should have been announced by now, but I guess last year's strike delayed it. Oh, and if only the CT5 was a liftback 😞 Also, kind of a miss with no brake hold (for me, with my disability, brake hold is a must-have - thanks for calling that out!)
The CT5-V (non-BW) is a good option for sure. It leans a little more towards the luxury side of the sport/luxury scale whereas the S5 is right in the middle. It can do the sport stuff with its V-mode, twin turbo V6, and great RWD chassis. However, it seems to prefer to be driven in a more refined manner. I think it has a similar curb weight as the S5, but it drives heavier and quieter if that makes sense. Since you like the upcoming big display on CT5-V, you should definitely wait and try it out. The old school buttons and knobs in the S5 are more to my liking. I'm in the process of buying an S5, but the CT5-V (non-BW) was my second choice.
@@divides_by_zero Thanks for weighing in. I too prefer buttons and knobs, and guess I hadn't thought through that the larger display could mean moving HVAC controls into the screen. Thanks for jogging my brain.
Looking at some of the 2025 CT5 preview videos, it looks like they will still have some buttons and switches for the HVAC and heated/cooled seats. The temperature controls look to be toggle switches which is how the existing CT5 works. The controls on my wife's XT6 are very much like the current gen CT5. It is a decent blend of physical buttons and touch screen, although I prefer a knob instead of clicking a toggle switch multiple times to change the temperature setting. Audi, BMW, and Mercedes seem to be embracing an all-screen future. My complaint with Audi is that it is very difficult to find an S5 with ventilated seats.
@@divides_by_zero Thanks for looking at 2025 CT5 videos, I watched everything I could when Cady first showed the car (maybe September or so last year?) at whichever car show that was. I wonder if Cady has any space at the current show (and have the CT5 on display)? I haven't seen anyone comment on it if it *is* there. Interesting about the lack of S5's with ventilated seats - what area of the country do you live in? Maybe if you're in a cooler climate then dealers don't order them that way? And I too prefer a twist dial/knob for temperature, but I'm grateful to have a physical control vs everything in the screen. I have to wonder just how much does a manufacturer save by getting rid of HVAC, seat, etc., buttons? Is it really just a cost savings move, or do they really think people *like* the minimalist look (a clean dash and center console with no physical controls)? Count me out, I'm *not* a fan. That's really the only reason I don't already own a Model Y - I *have* to have at least a minimal instrument cluster/MID/whatever-you-want-to-call-it in front of the steering wheel.
@@porfiriato84 for the price it gives good value and if you get the s package it makes it look more aggresive A3 on car and driver got 3 out of 6 of the best subcompact luxury cars they sell like hotcakes.
@ryanb8736 I'm a long-term owner. I really enjoy it. No issues in 4 years. I know there's a recall coming up for it but I still haven't noticed any issues. 2020 tlx Aspec advanced/elite. Only wish they made the new generation tlx a sportback & gave the Type S around the 375-400 hp area
For a daily driver I’d prefer the M340i or M440i xDrive - better engine, better tech, better MPG, and better acceleration numbers. Also 3 years of complementary maintenance.. no reason to get the M3/M4/RS5 unless you track it. M340i xDrive or X3 M40i as a daily driver with a 718 GTS as a secondary car
who needs 400 hp? to what, sit in traffic and burn unleaded premium at $3.75? Seriously? imagine dropping 75 large on this endless money pit , after warranty is up, etc. Insurance costs will be off the rails! And people will do it with a loan!! End up paying close to 100 large for transporation from A to B. Insane waste of wealth that could be better used in numerous ways. I'm speaking from a plebian guy with Toyota tastes. If you have 100 large burning a hole in your pocket, I still wouldn't get this. What i want to know is what is the true cost of these junk boxes? what does it cost Audi to build one? + research and dev necessary. interested in what the profit margin is. I notice very few old Audi's on the road as they are mechanically totalled after 60k-100k or less. losing 30-50% in depreciation in 3-5 yrs!!. No ROI on impressing the Jones. Might as well give them the money, they would be a whole lot more impressed!
@@ChrisBrooke-l8i Absolutely. I like going to the bank watching my compound interest go up at 5.30%! I can then take care of the 'boring' part, but my image is not tied up with a car. waste of wealth!
