New & Used 2026 Audi S5 for Sale nearRoyalton, IL

Is the 2026 Audi S5 a good car?

The 2026 Audi S5 earns a 6.8/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Form and function at 9/10.

It fits you well if you want a performance-focused compact luxury car with a Sportback body style that adds everyday utility. The 2026 updates also aim to improve the ownership experience with a new infotainment system and complimentary scheduled maintenance, while keeping the car’s strong driving character intact.

The trade-offs are clear: uninspired styling, observed city fuel economy concerns, and technology that can still feel unintuitive. Even so, the S5 remains appealing if you value driving enjoyment and practicality in the same package.

Good and great deals account for 31.2% of listings, which suggests there’s still reasonable market availability for shoppers who want to compare options.

Is the 2026 Audi S5 reliable?

The 2026 Audi S5 is presented as a well-rounded performance car with a practical Sportback body and a new ownership perk in the form of complimentary scheduled maintenance. Audi also includes three years or 30,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance, which helps reduce early ownership costs.

Its performance hardware is substantial, with a turbocharged V6, standard quattro all-wheel drive, and a sport differential supporting the car’s mission. That said, the city fuel-economy concerns and the car’s more complex technology suggest you should expect a premium-car ownership experience rather than a low-maintenance one.

For used buyers, the long-term risk is mostly tied to the complexity of the performance and tech systems, so a careful pre-purchase inspection matters.

What should I look for when buying a used 2026 Audi S5?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 99.2% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a vehicle history report and prioritize a thorough inspection, especially if the car has been driven hard or heavily optioned. Pay close attention to the condition and operation of the technology, the suspension, and the interior surfaces, since those are the areas most likely to affect your day-to-day satisfaction.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Prestige test car shows that higher trims can add extra equipment such as the front-passenger display, top-down and 3D camera views, rear automatic emergency braking, and semi-autonomous parking assist technology. The base car still includes a strong standard feature set, but you should verify which convenience and camera features are present on the specific vehicle you’re considering.
• Powertrain: The S5 uses a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard quattro all-wheel drive. It is tuned for strong acceleration and rewarding performance, but the stop/start system can feel less smooth in traffic.
• Safety package: Standard equipment includes forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, an exit warning system, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. Higher trims can add Adaptive Cruise Assist, top-down and 3D camera views, rear automatic emergency braking, and remote-capable parking assist.
• Infotainment: Standard tech includes an 11.9-inch digital driver display and a 14.5-inch MMI touchscreen, plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and navigation. The system also supports connected services and an available 10.9-inch front-passenger display.
• Fuel efficiency: The S5 is rated at 23 mpg combined, and testing returned 22.5 mpg on one route and 21.6 mpg on another.

Which 2026 Audi S5 trim should I buy?

The 2026 Audi S5 is offered in 1 trim level: Prestige.

Here's the short version:

Prestige: This is the trim described in the test vehicle, and it brings the most complete version of the S5’s tech and convenience story, including the available front-passenger display, top-down and 3D camera views, rear automatic emergency braking, and semi-autonomous parking assist technology. If you want the fullest expression of the S5’s luxury and assistance features, this is the one to target.

The safety package is broad, and the Prestige trim’s hands-on-detection steering wheel makes Adaptive Cruise Assist easier to use.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2026 Audi S5?

This looks like a moderate market for selective buyers, so you have room to shop carefully rather than rush.

• Deal availability: 31.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 125 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 99.2% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2026 Audi S5 safe?

The Audi S5 has a long list of standard driver-assistance features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, an exit warning system, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system.

It earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

The Prestige trim also adds top-down and 3D camera views, rear automatic emergency braking, and semi-autonomous parking assist technology that can operate remotely while the driver is outside the vehicle. Adaptive Cruise Assist adds lane-centering assist for highway use.

The S5 itself did not have published crash-test ratings at the time of writing, and the related A5’s IIHS Top Safety Pick+ result does not carry over automatically.

Should I buy a 2026 Audi S5 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2026 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2026 if:

• 31.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 99.2% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Audi’s 2026 updates add an improved infotainment experience and complimentary scheduled maintenance.

Consider the 2025 if:

• The 2025 emphasizes performance, utility, and a more established redesign.

The bottom line: You should lean toward the 2026 if you want the latest ownership perks and updated tech in a sporty, practical package. If you’re more price-sensitive, the 2025 is worth a look because it delivers the same basic performance-first formula and may offer a different value proposition on the used market.

How does the 2026 Audi S5 compare to the 2026 BMW M4?

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.