The 2026 A5 and Q5 gain refreshed infotainment systems and an improved screen arrangement. Audi introduces a revised steering wheel featuring genuine scroll wheels. The S5 adds a Dynamic Plus drive mode designed to allow controlled oversteer on track.
Audi is rolling out a series of updates for its well-established A5 sedan and Q5 SUV for the 2026 model year. These revisions span the entire lineup and blend meaningful functional upgrades with smaller refinements to existing features.
One of the most immediately noticeable changes is the arrival of a new steering wheel equipped with physical scroll wheels, mirroring hardware already announced for European-market models.
The headline changes begin with Audi Digital Stage, the company’s name for its three-screen dashboard configuration. While the basic architecture remains familiar, complete with curved infotainment and digital instrument displays, the system now runs on a redesigned user interface.
Menus have been simplified, visual elements are more prominent, and Audi claims the revised layout is easier to use while driving. The goal, according to the brand, is to reduce distraction without sacrificing functionality.
Alongside the updated interface, the virtual cockpit now supports multiple display modes. Smartphone integration has also been enhanced, allowing mirrored content to appear directly within the virtual cockpit, making frequently used apps easier to access.
Passengers aren’t left out, either. The secondary display receives updates of its own, and there’s now an option to pair a Bluetooth headset. This enables individualized audio listening or video playback without disturbing the driver.
Both models now feature a redesigned four-spoke steering wheel. While Audi continues to rely on the much-criticized haptic-style buttons seen in other recent products, the addition of two physical scroll wheels represents a partial concession to usability. The change should make everyday interactions less aggravating than before.
Elsewhere in the lineup, the 2026 Audi A5 can be specified with S Sport suspension and Bang & Olufsen speakers integrated directly into the headrests. Buyers can also opt for an S line black package, which brings exclusive 19-inch wheels and black exterior accents. The 2026 Q5 offers a similar S line black package, though it ups the ante with 20-inch wheels and additional black trim elements.
One of the more genuinely practical additions is a factory-installed dashcam. Mounted discreetly at the base of the rearview mirror, the system is controlled through the infotainment interface, with recordings stored on an SD card for easy access and review.
Audi has also revised its Park Assist Pro system. The updated feature allows the vehicle to steer itself for up to 150 feet (50 meters) while reversing into a space. It can also memorize up to five different parking routines, each stretching as far as 600 feet (200 meters), and execute them autonomously on private property, similar to functionality already offered by several newer BMW models.
Driving enthusiasts will also appreciate that the 2026 Audi S5 gains a new Dynamic Plus drive mode. This setting enables controlled oversteer by recalibrating brake torque vectoring, the quattro sport differential, and ESC parameters.
Audi confirms that the 2026 A5 and Q5 will arrive at dealerships later this quarter. Pricing for the A5 starts at $50,200, representing a $500 increase over the 2025 model year. The Q5 opens at $52,800, which is $600 more than last year.
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