Audi's iconic 'quattro' badge removed, yet prices rise… What's going on with the 2026 A5?

*This content was translated by AI.

Audi Korea has officially launched the 2026 model year of its popular midsize premium sedan, the A5, making sweeping changes to the drivetrain configuration across its core gasoline LINE lineup. Despite completely removing the 'quattro' all-wheel-drive system—a hallmark of the brand's identity and a signature technological feature—from the A5 40 TFSI LINE models and switching them to front-wheel drive (FF), vehicle delivery prices have actually increased, sparking fierce controversy among prospective buyers.

According to new vehicle product guide guidelines recently distributed through official showrooms and the imported car market, all 2026 A5 40 TFSI LINE models have been uniformly converted from the previous quattro system to front-wheel drive. Additionally, with key components related to all-wheel drive excluded, curb weight was reduced by approximately 65 kg, dropping from 1,840 kg to 1,775 kg; however, government-certified combined fuel economy slightly declined from 10.8 km/L to 10.6 km/L. One would expect improved fuel efficiency with reduced weight, but the opposite occurred.

Despite the removal of a core high-cost component from the drivetrain, all selling prices were uniformly increased. The entry-level trim, 40 TFSI Advance, saw its price rise from 57.89 million won to 58.80 million won—an increase of 910,000 won—while the higher-tier 40 TFSI S-LINE went up from 63.78 million won to 64.77 million won, an increase of 990,000 won. Even though there was a significant reduction in manufacturing costs due to the removal of the quattro system, a substantial price hike of approximately 1 million won was implemented across the board. This move remains difficult to understand even after accounting for the end of the 3.5% reduction in the local consumption tax.

Concerns have also been raised regarding consumer dissatisfaction with the reconfiguration of options by trim level. While certain advanced driver-assistance features, such as lane-keeping assist, were newly added to the S-LINE trim, these features were excluded from the Advance trim, which retained only adaptive cruise control. Despite the price increase, evaluations suggest that differentiation in safety and convenience equipment for the base trim has become more pronounced.

In the imported car market, concerns are being raised that the absence of quattro—the greatest strength Audi holds as a premium brand—combined with increased delivery prices could significantly diminish the purchase appeal of its main trims. Given consumer expectations for the unique driving stability offered by all-wheel drive, industry observers and buyers are closely watching whether drastic financial promotions and discount policies will be introduced in the future to address these concerns.

Meanwhile, the '40 TFSI Comfort' trim, which forms the lowest price point at 65.19 million won across the entire LINE lineup, saw its price increase upon transitioning to the 2026 model year. At this price of 65.19 million won, not a single unit was delivered to customers. Furthermore, reporting revealed that contracts are still not being accepted at showrooms and dealerships nationwide. It is understood that this trim was excluded from the initial shipment volumes in April this year, raising doubts among consumers about the gap between the LINE lineup composition and models actually available for sale. At the time, Audi Korea responded: "Plans for importing and selling the Comfort model have been clearly established, and sales are scheduled to begin at a specific point."

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*This content was translated by AI.