Audi A6 vs Audi S5

The redesigned 2026 Audi A6 marks the ninth generation of midsize luxury sedans from Ingolstadt, Germany. While it shares a name and some tech features with the Audi A6 e-tron introduced for the 2025 model year, the gasoline A6 is an otherwise different vehicle based on the same Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) as the A5 sedan and Q5 crossover. A redesign was certainly needed as most other midsize luxury sedans—specifically the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class—were renewed more recently, and we haven’t had a genuinely new A6 since the 2020 model year.

Verdict: On paper, the A6 looks like more of a premium product than before. But it doesn’t feel that way from behind the wheel, and the tech is a work in progress.

Updated and mostly upgraded, the redesigned Audi S5 is a multi-talented sportback with performance, comfort, utility, and the latest technology. Based on the redesigned Audi A5, it features a stealthy design, thrilling dynamics, and just enough room for a family of four. The new Audi Digital Stage technology impresses, but the driving assistance systems do not. The S5 could also use sharper styling with more prominent fender blisters and additional sound deadening for a quieter highway ride.

Verdict: Drive a new 2025 Audi S5 like a typical luxury sedan, and you’ll miss the point. We didn’t fall in love with it until we took it for a rousing run on a favorite back road. If that’s not your thing, consider the new A5 or the larger A6, which is getting redesigned for the 2026 model year.