Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 129,322 currently licensed in the UK, the Audi A5 is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the A5 5 stars in 2016, with 93% adult occupant and 77% child protection scores.
It has a 79.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, exhaust emissions.
Annual running costs are estimated at £3,120 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £260/month or 39p/mile.
Theft risk is rated low at 4.4 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2016
MOT Pass Rate
79.5%
85,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£260
est. annual total
New From
£43,000
Euro NCAP tested the A5 in 2016 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
93%
Child Occupant
77%
Pedestrian
76%
Safety Assist
72%
There are 24 known DVSA recalls affecting the Audi A5. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/387
Urgent Safety Warning – Do Not Drive Your Vehicle Affected vehicles were originally allocated to or used for an extended period of time in a region with a climate zone considered to as HIGH RISK. Certain front airbags contain an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. If the airbag inflator explodes metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle.
Build dates: 2009-07-17 to 2011-07-15
R/2025/110
The rear seat backrest may not comply with crash safety requirements due to an inadequate weld joint. This means that there is an increased risk of rear seat passengers being injured in the event of a frontal collision if heavy loads are being transported in the luggage compartment. Until the repair has been performed we request that you do not transport any heavy loads in the luggage compartment.
Build dates: 2024-11-16 to 2025-01-15
R/2023/052
If a front airbag is deployed it is possible that the gas generator housing in which the propellant is generated may burst on vehicles manufactured within a limited period.
Build dates: 2009-09-08 to 2010-03-12
R/2023/052
If a front airbag is deployed it is possible that the gas generator housing in which the propellant is generated may burst on vehicles manufactured within a limited period.
Build dates: 2009-12-12 to 2011-07-08
R/2022/036
Following a previous campaign the toe and/or camber values on the rear axle may in certain circumstances incorrectly be changed without this being noticed.
Build dates: 2019-11-07 to 2021-02-20
+ 19 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 85,000 MOT tests, the A5 has a first-time pass rate of 79.5% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The A5 is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Audi A5 are estimated at around £3,120 per year, or £260 per month.
Fuel
£933
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,737
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The A5 achieves a combined fuel economy of around 56.5 mpg0.
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| A5 AVANT | DIESEL/ELECTRIC | 56.5 mpg | 2.0L |
| A5 AVANT | PETROL | 41.5 mpg | 2.0L |
| A5 CABRIOLET | PETROL | 45.6 mpg | 1.8L |
| A5 CABRIOLET | PETROL | 45.6 mpg | 1.8L |
| A5 CABRIOLET | DIESEL | 58.9 mpg | 2.0L |
| A5 CABRIOLET | PETROL | 42.8 mpg | 2.0L |
| A5 CABRIOLET | DIESEL | 45.6 mpg | 2.7L |
| A5 CABRIOLET | DIESEL | 54.3 mpg | 3.0L |
Starting from £43,000 new, a Audi A5 typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £32,250 | −£10,750 |
| 2 years | 64% | £27,400 | −£15,600 |
| 3 years | 56% | £24,100 | −£18,900 |
| 4 years | 50% | £21,700 | −£21,300 |
| 5 years | 46% | £19,950 | −£23,050 |
| 6 years | 43% | £18,600 | −£24,400 |
| 7 years | 41% | £17,450 | −£25,550 |
| 8 years | 39% | £16,600 | −£26,400 |
| 9 years | 37% | £15,750 | −£27,250 |
| 10 years | 35% | £14,950 | −£28,050 |
The A5 has a theft rate of 4.4 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 129,322 licensed and 7,097 SORN A5s in the UK (136,419 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The A5 has a 79.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 85,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the A5 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2016. It scored 93% for adult occupant protection, 77% for child occupant protection, 76% for vulnerable road users, and 72% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old A5 are estimated at around £3,120 per year (£260/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 24 known safety recalls affecting the A5. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The A5 has a theft rate of 4.4 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new A5 starts from around £43,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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