Audi S5

The beautiful 2008 Audi S5's engine delivers smooth power, while the Quattro all-wheel-drive system keeps the car on the road. The Bang audio system is in the top three car stereos we've heard, and the integration complements it well There's a big price to pay for this kind of power, and it's in the form of lousy gas mileage.With its refined cabin tech, very nice performance, and beautiful design, the 2008 Audi S5 excels in most areas, only being dragged down by poor mileage and unambitious cabin tech.

We were impressed with the look of the Audi A5, when we saw it launched at the Geneva auto show earlier this year. But when the 2008 Audi S5 turned up on our car review schedule, we were pleased and surprised to get the S5 before the A5. As it turns out, Audi brought the S5 to market and as of this review, the A5 is not available. That's OK, though, as the S5 is not only beautiful, it is just about perfect.

We loved driving this car, as it felt highly responsive while the engine gives a blast of power. Audi refined its navigation and Bluetooth systems, then upped the ante with a stellar Olufsen stereo system. At first, we found nothing to criticize about this car. But some issues emerged as we took it on our road tests.