2026 Audi A5 Trim Levels: Premium vs Premium Plus vs Prestige in Greenville, SC

The Audi® A4 is officially gone. After 2025, Audi retired the A4 nameplate and replaced it with the completely redesigned 2026 A5™, built on a new platform with a longer wheelbase, a rethought interior, and a Sportback hatchback design that's more versatile than the old A4's traditional trunk. If you've already decided the A5 is your car, the real question becomes which trim level fits your daily life. Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige each deliver a noticeably different experience, and understanding those differences before you visit the showroom puts you in a stronger position to configure the right A5 for how you actually drive around Greenville.

What Every 2026 A5 Includes Before You Choose a Trim

Regardless of trim level, every 2026 Audi A5 shares a strong mechanical and technology foundation. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produces 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and standard quattro® all-wheel drive. There's no front-wheel-drive option on any A5.

Inside, every trim gets the curved Digital Stage display setup: an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit instrument cluster paired with a 14.5-inch MMI® infotainment touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the 2026 model year brings back physical scroll wheels on the steering wheel, replacing the touch-sensitive controls that many previous owners found frustrating.

Did you know? The 2026 A5 earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating, with top scores across crash tests, pedestrian protection, and headlight evaluations. That distinction applies to every trim, not just the higher-priced models.

Every 2026 A5 also includes Audi Signature Care, covering complimentary scheduled maintenance for three years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first. A standard panoramic glass roof, heated front seats, and a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features round out what's shared across the lineup.

Premium — A Stronger Foundation Than Most Expect

The 2026 A5 Premium quietly raised the bar on what a base luxury trim includes. For this model year, Audi moved several features into the Premium that were previously optional or reserved for higher trims: the top-view camera system, heated steering wheel, and remote engine start are all now standard.

You'll also find physical climate and volume controls, something that matters more than you'd think after spending time with vehicles that bury basic functions inside touchscreen menus. The driving experience itself feels complete. Standard quattro AWD handles South Carolina's unpredictable spring storms with confidence, and 268 horsepower provides more than enough power for merging onto I-85 near Greer or navigating Woodruff Road traffic.

Here's the thing about the Premium: if you're stepping into the A5 from a mainstream sedan, this trim delivers a genuine leap in cabin technology, build quality, and driving refinement. It's not a stripped-down base model designed just to advertise a low starting figure.

Premium Plus — Where the Daily Experience Elevates for Greenville Drivers

The Premium Plus is where the A5 starts to feel meaningfully different in everyday use. This trim adds adaptive cruise assist with lane-centering guidance, making highway commutes between Greenville and Spartanburg on I-85 noticeably more relaxed. You also get a dimmable panoramic sunroof with electrochromic technology, an integrated 4K dashcam, and the Bang & Olufsen® premium 3D sound system with 20 speakers.

An available Technology package at this level adds a head-up display with augmented reality navigation and a 10.9-inch passenger display, both of which become standard on the Prestige. The head-up display projects navigation directions directly onto the road ahead through your windshield, which is genuinely useful when navigating unfamiliar routes through Greenville's expanding road network or heading toward Simpsonville.

Pro tip: The Warm Weather package, available starting at Premium Plus, adds ventilated front sport seats and rear sunshades. If Greenville summers are part of your reality (and July averages pushing into the 90s suggest they are), ventilated seats quickly become a feature you'll appreciate daily from May through October.

Automotive reviewers from Edmunds and U.S. News consistently identify the Premium Plus as the sweet spot in Audi's trim structure, and the 2026 A5 follows that pattern. The features added here are ones you'll interact with every commute, not just on special occasions. If you're cross-shopping comparably equipped luxury sedans, it's worth exploring the full new inventory to see available configurations in person.

Prestige — The Complete A5 Experience on Greenville Roads

The Prestige is built for the driver who doesn't want to second-guess a single option. Everything from the Technology package becomes standard here: the head-up display, the 10.9-inch front passenger display, and Matrix-design LED headlights with light animations. You also get eight customizable digital LED daytime running light signatures that let you personalize the car's visual presence.

Acoustically insulated front door glass makes a real difference on longer highway drives toward Asheville or down I-85 toward Anderson, noticeably reducing road and wind noise. Heated rear seats, ventilated front sport seats, rear sunshades, and headrest speakers for the B&O system all come standard. Park assist pro with remote functionality, including automated steering when backing into tight spaces, rounds out the Prestige's technology suite.

If ride comfort across varied road surfaces is a priority, the Prestige pairs beautifully with the available S Sport suspension, which lowers ride height by 20mm for a sportier, more planted driving feel. Whether you're taking I-385 into downtown Greenville during the week or winding through the Blue Ridge foothills on a weekend, the Prestige rewards drivers who spend serious time behind the wheel.

Every 2026 A5 includes Audi Signature Care, so your first three years of scheduled maintenance are covered regardless of trim. That's one less variable in the ownership equation.

S-line Package vs the Audi S5 — A Distinction Worth Understanding

This is one of the most common points of confusion in the Audi lineup, so let's be direct. The S-line package is a cosmetic upgrade available on the standard A5. It adds sportier exterior styling, different bumper designs, sport seats, Anthracite Audi rings, and unique wheel options. It does not add horsepower, change the engine, or modify the transmission.

The Audi S5 is a completely different vehicle. It replaces the A5's 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 producing 362 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. That's nearly 100 additional horsepower and a fundamentally different driving character.

The simple way to remember it: S-line makes your A5 look sportier. The S5 makes it genuinely faster. Understanding this before you configure saves you from making a decision based on the wrong assumption.

Common Questions About 2026 Audi A5 Trims in Greenville, SC

What are the three trim levels on the 2026 Audi A5?

The 2026 Audi A5 is available in Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trims. All three include standard quattro all-wheel drive, a 268-horsepower turbocharged engine, a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and Audi Signature Care complimentary maintenance for three years or 30,000 miles. The trims differ in technology, comfort features, and available packages.

Does the 2026 Audi A5 come standard with all-wheel drive?

Yes, every 2026 Audi A5 trim includes standard quattro all-wheel drive. There is no front-wheel-drive option available on any A5 configuration. This makes the A5 well-suited for Greenville's varied weather conditions, including the heavy rain common during spring and summer months across the Upstate.

What is the difference between the Audi S-line package and the Audi S5?

The S-line package is a cosmetic-only upgrade for the standard A5, adding sport styling, unique wheels, and S-line badging without any performance changes. The Audi S5 is a separate model powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 producing 362 horsepower, nearly 100 more than the standard A5's 268-horsepower four-cylinder engine.

Where can I compare 2026 Audi A5 trim levels near Greenville, SC?

Audi Greenville keeps 2026 A5 models across trim levels available for test drives, including side-by-side comparisons so you can feel the difference between trims on the same roads you'll actually drive. The dealership serves Greenville, Spartanburg, Greer, Mauldin, Simpsonville, Easley, and surrounding Upstate South Carolina communities.

Your A5 Starts Here at Audi Greenville

The difference between Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige isn't just a spec sheet exercise. It's something you'll feel every time you start the car. If technology and quattro confidence are your priorities, the Premium delivers. If daily comfort features and a richer audio experience matter, the Premium Plus pulls ahead. And if you want everything without compromise, the Prestige leaves nothing on the table. The team at Audi Greenville is available for personalized configuration walkthroughs and back-to-back test drives whenever you're ready.