2018 Audi A5 coupe: It's a personal thing

The compact Audi A5 coupe is, ironically, a kindred spirit to a 40-foot Class A motorhome.

Prompting that observation was a conversation I had with a fellow camper some weeks ago at Hawn State Park, where we were ensconced in our own, much smaller, RV. I asked the master of that motor manse how many people his opulent coach slept. His reply: "It has beds for eight, but it sleeps two."

Meaning taken.

Fully redesigned for 2018, the A5 coupe shows new sheetmetal, but you'd have to be its mom to spot the differences between this guy and its 2017 older brother. Close inspection, however, reveals a wheelbase and overall length fractionally longer, along with a deftly redrawn grille and new head- and tail lights. This exterior amounts to understated elegance for the well-heeled driver who doesn't feel the need to scream, "Hey, I've got a luxury European tourer!"

The real payoff is inside, where the decor is techy and sumptuous, whether the car is wearing Premium, Premium Plus or Prestige trim.

Our tester was a Plus size, which means — in addition to A5's standard 18-inch wheels, heated mirrors, sunroof, keyless entry and start, tri-zone auto climate control, leather, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, Bluetooth, 7-inch infotainment display, rearview camera and 10-speaker audio — we added such goodies as LED headlights, auto-dimming/power-folding mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, Audi Connect Care (with 4G LTE connection), rear collision mitigation, blind-spot monitoring, heated seats, driver-seat memory and satellite radio head unit.

Nice car, whose bottom-line, which included navigation, was north of 50-grand.

Boasting standard Quattro all-wheel drive, A5 — also offered as a convertible and, surprisingly, a new four-door hatchback dubbed Sportback — is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo four. That mini-mite makes 252 hp and 273 lb.-ft. of torque, numbers that represent, respectively, increases of 32 and 15. On the coupe only, a six-speed manual is a no-cost option, but we had the lively, paddle-shift seven-speed automatic with its three-choice operation of Drive, Sport and Manual modes.

We greeted 60 mph in a blink over 5 seconds while noting sharp handling and a civil demeanor at highway speeds -- that last characteristic most notable when Comfort is selected from the four drive modes, which also include Auto, Dynamic and Individual.

A blend of understated elegance and lively performance, the A5 coupe is gratifying personal transportation that seats four but welcomes two.

Dan Wiese is a freelance automotive writer. He is a regular contributor to the Post-Dispatch and to AAA Midwest Traveler magazine's online Web Bonus. You can e-mail him atdrivingwithdan@gmail.com