The new Audi A5 and S5, explained

Been away from Audi a few years? The names got shuffled. Today the A5 is Audi's midsize sedan, with a sweeping roofline, and the S5 is the fast one.

A5: the everyday sport sedan

A 2.0-liter turbo four makes 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet. It runs through a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox to standard quattro and hits 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Inside, an 11.9-inch digital gauge cluster flows into a 14.5-inch touchscreen. A panoramic glass roof comes standard. Bang & Olufsen sound and a dashcam are on the options list.

S5: the one we'd take

A turbo V6 makes 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet. A standard quattro sport rear differential pushes torque between the rear wheels as you power out of a corner. Pick the dynamic plus drive mode and the S5 will let the tail step out a little, under control.

Who should buy which

Crawling down Airline Highway five days a week? The A5 is all you need. If a back-road run to St. Francisville, Louisiana, is your idea of a Saturday, the S5 earns its keep.

Specs are from Audi of America materials, preliminary where noted, and subject to change. Ask Audi Baton Rouge for current pricing and availability.