New & Used 2026 Audi S5 for Sale nearSan Diego, CA

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.

You get thrilling dynamics, a Sportback body style that adds everyday utility, and a standard quattro all-wheel-drive setup with a turbocharged V6. The trade-offs are an uninspired exterior, observed city fuel economy that trails the car’s performance mission, and technology that can be frustrating to use.

36.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so you have a decent amount of market flexibility if you shop carefully.

Is the 2026 Audi S5 reliable?

The 2026 Audi S5 is backed by a three-year or 30,000-mile complimentary scheduled maintenance plan, plus four-year/unlimited-mileage roadside assistance and a 10-year Audi Connect Care subscription.

Its performance hardware is substantial: a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, standard quattro all-wheel drive, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, a sport differential, a sport suspension, larger brakes, and available adaptive air suspension. That setup points to a car built for strong driving feel rather than low-complexity ownership.

Audi’s maintenance perk helps soften early ownership costs, but the S5’s performance-oriented hardware and tech-heavy cabin mean long-term ownership risk is still something you should weigh carefully as a used buyer.

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 history report, verify the car’s service records, and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection if you’re considering a higher-mileage example. Focus on cabin condition, because the interior uses a lot of touch-sensitive surfaces and glossy trim that can show wear quickly.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Prestige test vehicle shows that higher trims can add extra equipment such as the front-passenger display, upgraded camera views, and more advanced driver-assistance tech. The base car still brings a strong standard feature set, but you should check whether the features you want are included on the specific car you’re considering.
• Powertrain: The S5 uses a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, paired with standard quattro all-wheel drive and a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic. It is tuned for quick acceleration and strong back-road performance.
• Safety package: Standard equipment includes forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, exit warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. Prestige adds features such as top-down and 3D camera views, rear automatic emergency braking, and semi-autonomous 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. The system also includes a navigation system with satellite imagery, and the available front-passenger display measures 10.9 inches.
• 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 shown in the test vehicle, and it brings the most complete version of the S5’s tech and comfort story, including the available front-passenger display, advanced camera views, and the more sophisticated driver-assistance setup. If you want the fullest expression of the S5’s equipment and don’t mind paying for it, this is the one to target.

The Prestige trim’s hands-on-detection steering wheel supports Adaptive Cruise Assist, which adds lane-centering assist for highway driving.

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

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop with some leverage if you’re patient.

• Deal availability: 36.0% 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, exit warning, 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 adds top-down and 3D camera views, rear automatic emergency braking, semi-autonomous parking assist, and Adaptive Cruise Assist with lane-centering assist. The lane-centering system can be helpful, but it was not always accurate in testing, with some false alarms caused by old construction-zone striping.

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:

• 36.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 99.2% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• It adds familiar controls back and introduces a new MMI system with AI-enhanced voice controls.

Consider the 2025 if:

• The 2025 is a performance-tuned sportback with strong utility and driving enjoyment.

The bottom line: Choose the 2026 if you want the latest S5 with improved controls, updated tech, and complimentary maintenance. If you’re more price-sensitive, the 2025 remains appealing for its similar performance-and-practicality formula.

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

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 27, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.