New & Used 2026 Audi S5 for Sale nearSanta Maria, 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.

It fits buyers who want a performance-focused compact luxury car with the added practicality of a Sportback body style, and it keeps that classic understated German sports-sedan feel. The trade-offs are clear: Uninspired styling and unintuitive technology are the main drawbacks, even though the car is fun to drive and offers plenty of cargo space. For you, that means the S5 makes the most sense if driving enjoyment and everyday usefulness matter more than visual drama or a perfectly polished interface.

The market signal is solid, with 29.2% of listings priced as good or great deals.

Is the 2026 Audi S5 reliable?

The 2026 Audi S5 is positioned as a well-equipped performance car with a practical ownership angle, thanks to complimentary scheduled maintenance and other included service perks. Audi also says the car’s tech has been updated for a more consistent user experience, and the standard controls return some familiarity to the cabin.

From a dependability standpoint, the performance hardware is straightforward for the class: a turbocharged V6, standard all-wheel drive, and a dual-clutch automatic transmission. The ownership package also includes three years or 30,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance, which helps reduce early maintenance costs.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is that a performance-oriented luxury car can become expensive if you inherit neglected maintenance or unresolved electronics issues.

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 pre-purchase inspection, especially if the car has been driven hard or has a lot of technology-heavy options. Focus on the condition of the infotainment system, driver-assistance features, and any signs of wear in the cabin and suspension, since those are the areas most likely to affect your ownership experience.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The cabin and feature set can vary meaningfully, especially because the test vehicle’s Prestige trim added extra screens, upgraded camera views, and more advanced driver-assistance tech. Base-trim buyers should pay close attention to which convenience and safety features are standard versus optional.
• 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 dual-clutch automatic transmission. It is tuned for strong acceleration and engaging driving, but it is not especially fuel-efficient.
• 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. The Prestige trim adds top-down and 3D camera views, rear automatic emergency braking, and Adaptive Cruise Assist with lane-centering.
• 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:

The Prestige: trim is the one described in the test vehicle, and it brings the most complete version of the S5’s tech and comfort story. It adds the available adaptive air suspension, upgraded camera views, rear automatic emergency braking, and Adaptive Cruise Assist, so it is the best fit if you want the most polished and fully equipped version of the car. If you care most about getting the S5’s strongest mix of performance, comfort, and convenience, this is the trim to target.

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

This looks like a moderate market for selective buyers, so it makes sense to shop carefully and compare listings before moving quickly.

• Deal availability: 29.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 120 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 99.2% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2026 Audi S5 safe?

The 2026 Audi S5 does not have released crash-test ratings from either the IIHS or NHTSA yet.

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

The S5 comes standard with a long list of 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. The Prestige trim adds top-down and 3D camera views, rear automatic emergency braking, and Adaptive Cruise Assist with lane-centering.

One caveat is that the lane-centering system can feel overly assertive and was not always accurate in testing, including some false alarms from 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:

• 29.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 99.2% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Audi’s updated infotainment and complimentary scheduled maintenance improve the ownership experience.

Consider the 2025 if:

• The redesigned model emphasizes performance, utility, and a more dramatic new-tech cabin.

The bottom line: The 2026 model is the better pick if you want the latest tech refinements and ownership perks, especially if you value the updated infotainment and maintenance coverage. If you are more price-sensitive, the 2025 is worth a look because it delivers the same basic performance-and-practicality formula and may be the easier value play.

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

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 10, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.