SHERIDAN, WYOMING – January 29, 2026 – Audi says its 2026 A5 and Q5 are getting meaningful tech and usability updates designed to make everyday driving feel more intuitive and a little more special. The changes focus on what drivers touch and use most: a redesigned MMI interface across the vehicle’s displays, an updated multifunction steering wheel with the scroll wheel returning, expanded driver assistance and parking support, and a new optional integrated dashcam. For shoppers who like a modern cabin and want fewer distractions behind the wheel, this is one of those “you’ll notice it every day” model-year refreshes. Audi also adds scheduled maintenance coverage for the first three years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first.
What’s New for 2026: The Upgrades You’ll Actually Notice
Audi describes the 2026 updates as a mix of hardware and software improvements across both model lines, with an emphasis on clarity, consistency, and ease of use. The big headline is a new design language for the Audi Digital Stage displays, meant to feel more unified across the car and the myAudi app.
Here are the key highlights Audi calls out for the 2026 A5 and Q5:
- A refreshed MMI design across the display system with more graphical elements and clearer structure
- An updated multifunction steering wheel with the scroll wheel returning
- A new high-resolution dashcam integrated at the base of the interior rear-view mirror
- Expanded voice control, including the ability to ask questions about the owner’s manual
- More parking and maneuver assistance features, including improvements to reverse assist and trained parking
The vibe here is “less menu-hunting, more confidence,” which matters if you’re the kind of driver who wants your car to feel calm and predictable, not like a tablet that constantly needs your attention.
A More Unified Screen Experience (And Better Smartphone Integration)
Audi says the center MMI touch display is moving toward fewer long lists and more visual layouts, using background palettes and contrast to help you recognize functions faster. The driver-focused virtual cockpit is also described as simpler, with reduced icons and three view options that can be toggled via a steering-wheel “View” button.
A practical detail: Audi says smartphone interface functions are now more deeply integrated, allowing users to mirror navigation, media, and telephone functions into both the Audi virtual cockpit and the center MMI touch display. That’s the kind of improvement that can make a road trip feel smoother, especially if you’re used to bouncing between screens.
Dashcam and Driver Assistance: More Security, Less Stress
A notable new option is the Audi high-resolution dashcam, which Audi says records in 4K and uses HDR and a light-sensitive sensor to improve capture in difficult lighting. Recordings are started and stopped via an app on the central display, and an event function can save 30 seconds before and after an incident when triggered automatically (in an accident) or manually.
Audi emphasizes that recordings are saved locally on an owner-supplied removable SD card, with no data transferred out of the vehicle. It also notes that speed, time, and navigation data can be recorded alongside images and video, and content can be viewed on the central display.
On the assistance side, Audi says park assist pro gains more capability, including reverse assist taking over steering for the last 150 feet when backing toward a spot. Trained parking can store up to five different maneuvers, each up to 600 feet long, for autonomous execution on private property when equipped appropriately.
Driving Modes Get More Personality
For the 2026 S5, Audi introduces a drive select mode called dynamic plus, designed to enable a more engaging driving experience using the standard quattro sport differential, brake torque vectoring, and ESC optimization. Audi also adds a drive select assistant on certain Prestige trims across S5, SQ5, Q5, and Q5 Sportback, intended to adjust drive select behavior automatically based on situation and driving style.
There’s also a more “mood and comfort” angle: Audi introduces “experience worlds,” which combine lighting, sound, massage functions, and climate settings into scenarios like Activating, Relaxing, and Harmonizing, each lasting 10 to 20 minutes and adapting to vehicle movement while driving.
Mini FAQ: What Shoppers Might Want to Know
Mini FAQ
Q: When will the updated 2026 Audi A5 and Q5 arrive?
A: Audi says U.S. retailers are expected to start selling them in the first quarter of 2026.
Q: Is maintenance included with the 2026 models?
A: Yes. Audi says every new 2026 model includes Audi Signature Care scheduled maintenance for the first three years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Q: What are the starting MSRPs Audi shared?
A: Audi says the A5 starts at $50,200 and the Q5 starts at $52,800.
Learn more at https://www.audiusa.com