New & Used 2026 Audi S5 for Sale nearSantee, CA

Is the 2026 Audi S5 a good car?

The 2026 Audi S5 earns a 6.83/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Form and function at 9/10.

That score reflects a car that delivers strong daily-driver utility and genuinely rewarding performance, but it also comes with trade-offs. On the plus side, you get a Sportback body style that adds usefulness, a turbocharged V6 with quick acceleration, and a chassis that feels especially composed on a twisty road. On the downside, the design is understated to the point of being forgettable, and the technology can be distracting and frustrating to use.

Uninspired styling and unintuitive technology are the main drawbacks called out by our experts.

With 34.2% of listings priced as good or great deals, you have some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2026 Audi S5 reliable?

The 2026 Audi S5’s ownership story looks more reassuring than risky, especially for a used luxury performance car. Audi includes three years or 30,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance, which helps soften early ownership costs.

The performance hardware is substantial: a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, standard quattro all-wheel drive, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. That setup should give you the strong, confident driving character you expect, but it also means more complexity than a simpler mainstream car. The cost-effectiveness notes also point to four-year/unlimited-mileage roadside assistance and complimentary connected-service subscriptions, which add some ownership support.

For used buyers, the long-term risk is mostly about maintaining a high-performance luxury drivetrain and electronics package, so a careful service history matters.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 99.1% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

Even with a strong clean-inventory rate, you should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection. Focus on the condition of the electronics, the operation of the driver-assistance systems, and whether the car’s performance hardware has been maintained properly. If you’re shopping a Prestige example, make sure the added tech and suspension features work as intended.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Prestige trim adds more luxury and technology, including the available front-passenger display and the more advanced camera and parking features seen on the test car. The base setup already brings a lot of equipment, so the main question is whether you want the extra convenience and display content.
• Powertrain: A turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 makes 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, paired with standard quattro all-wheel drive and a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch automatic. The car is tuned for strong acceleration and sporty response rather than efficiency.
• 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 Adaptive Cruise Assist, rear automatic emergency braking, top-down and 3D camera views, 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, SiriusXM, and navigation with satellite imagery. The available 10.9-inch front-passenger display is part of the higher-spec setup.
• Fuel efficiency: The S5 is rated at 23 mpg combined, and our 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 is the one to get if you want the fullest version of the S5’s luxury and tech story. It brings the most advanced camera views, the available front-passenger display, and the Adaptive Cruise Assist setup that adds lane-centering support. If you want the S5 at its most complete, this is the trim that best matches the car’s premium mission.

The safety package is broad, and the Prestige trim adds the most advanced driver-assistance features.

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

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, so you can shop with some leverage if you’re patient.

• Deal availability: 34.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 114 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 99.1% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2026 Audi S5 safe?

The 2026 Audi S5 had not yet been rated by either IIHS or NHTSA at the time of writing.

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

The S5 comes with 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. The Prestige trim adds Adaptive Cruise Assist, which layers in lane-centering support, plus rear automatic emergency braking, top-down and 3D camera views, and semi-autonomous parking assist.

One caveat: the lane-centering system can be overly assertive and was not always accurate in our testing.

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:

• 34.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 99.1% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Audi brings back more familiar controls and adds a new MMI system with AI-enhanced voice controls.

Consider the 2025 if:

• It offers a stealthy, practical performance sportback with strong utility and thrilling dynamics.

The bottom line: If you want the newest version with updated tech and ownership perks, the 2026 is the better target. If you’re more price-sensitive and want the same basic formula, the 2025 is worth a look for shoppers who care most about performance and practicality rather than the latest interface changes.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 20, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.