Honestly, yes—if the bench is built for it. I see this all the time: cheap untreated wood and low-grade plastics can look tired after a couple of summers, but a well-made street bench should still look good after five years of direct sunlight.
The real enemy is UV radiation. It breaks down wood fibers, dries out plastic, and fades pigments. That means material choice matters more than anything else. Powder-coated aluminum or galvanized steel frames tend to hold their color best. A quality outdoor powder coat resists chalking and fading far better than regular paint, so you might notice only a slight dulling after several years.
For wood, teak, shorea, or thermally modified timber will typically turn from warm brown to a soft silver-gray unless you oil or seal it regularly. That gray patina isn't rot or damage—it's just what sun does to natural wood. Some people love that look; others want the original color back.
Recycled plastic lumber, especially HDPE in lighter colors, also performs well. Dark colors absorb more heat and usually fade faster. If you want the bench to look nearly the same after five years, go with a light or medium powder-coated metal frame and HDPE slats, or choose real wood and accept the patina—or maintain it.
So yes, the right street bench can absolutely still look good after five years of direct sunlight. It may not look completely identical, but it shouldn't look worn out unless the materials were wrong from the start.