2021 Audi A5

This year’s A5 is identical to the year before it. That’s good. 

The Sportback takes the automaker’s recipe from the A7 Sportback and photocopies it at 75%. The five-door hatchback has a racy roofline and sharp LEDs that frame its large grille. A5 coupes and convertibles are clearly in the family, but the Sportback is our favorite child. 

Venturing beyond the German rainbow of silvers, blacks, and shades of white rewards A5 shoppers. Make ours Navarra Blue. Beyond the black leather, Audi has a menu of warm tones that help transform the cabin. 

The A5 Sportback offers a less-potent turbo-4 that makes 201 hp and is new for this year. The 40 TFSI is also paired to a 7-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, although we haven’t yet driven that version. We’ll report back once we do. 

All three body styles offer a hot S5 powertrain that matches a 349-hp turbo V-6 with an 8-speed automatic, and all-wheel drive that nets grin-inducing 0-60-mph runs in less than five seconds. 

All of the above ride on a four-wheel independent suspension and A5s can be equipped with a lower, stiffer sport suspension that’s optional on some trims. 

The S5 uses that sport setup as standard hardware and can complement it with adaptive dampers, variable-ratio steering, and a limited-slip differential at the rear, which all cost extra. 

Thankfully, sharp steering is included on all cars. Every A5 steers precisely and quickly, although the variable steering rack can catch some of us off-guard; the steering speeds up significantly around corners and takes a while to get used to. 

All A5s ride comfortably on their standard 18-inchers, and even taller 19-inchers don’t spoil the ride. 

Hot RS5 coupes and Sportbacks are in the works for 2021, but Audi hasn’t yet detailed those cars. We’ll report back once we know more. 

The A5 Sportback seats up to five, but it’s better suited for two if broad shoulders are involved. Rear-seat passengers get more than 35 inches of leg room, by the book. That’s underselling the space, according to us. 

Behind the rear row is 22 cubic feet of cargo space, which is large for a low-slung sedan. 

Even though the coupe and convertible don’t promise to seat any more than four, the rear confines won’t be comfortable for adults. The coupe and convertible are more than 4 inches shorter than the Sportback, with 2.3 fewer inches between the wheels. That translates to a smaller rear seat with about 33 inches of leg room for the rear passengers. The coupe and convertible have a smaller trunk too; the coupe holds 10.9 cubic feet of cargo space, which shrinks to 9.3 cubic feet in the convertible. 

The good news for all three? Every A5 gets sublime interior materials, including leather upholstery and quality finishes. 

Every A5 is equipped with standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and active safety features such as adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and a suite of driver-assistance features that can help reduce fatigue on long hauls are available. 

Audi’s assistant for traffic jams is especially good and helps keep the car centered in its lane in slow-moving traffic.

Like last year, the A5 and S5 coupe, convertible, and Sportback are available in Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trim levels. The A5 Sportback 40 TSFI is the most affordable model and costs $42,795 to start. That’s $900 less than last year’s base Sportback, but they’re also equipped with a less powerful engine. Coupes and convertibles aren’t available with the smaller turbo-4 and start at $44,995 and $51,395, respectively. Hotter S5s start at $53,495 and reach upward toward $70,000. 

Premium versions of the A5 are equipped with leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, a moonroof (or no roof for convertible versions), a 10.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment including Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay compatibility. It’s where we’d spend our money. 

Premium Plus models add a digital instrument cluster, uprated headlights, and newly standard adaptive cruise control and driver-assistance features. For $4,900 more on A5 models ($3,600 on S5 models), those are worthwhile features that we’d consider, although the added cost is a little steep. 

Prestige versions go all-in with premium audio, a head-up display, and heated rear seats for about $5,000 more, on average. An appearance package is available on Prestige and Premium Plus models that adds bigger wheels and blacked-out exterior elements. 

The 10.1-inch touchscreen has been updated for 2021 A5 models with a faster processor, more features, and it can add options such as navigation later on, even if the car left the factory without them.

It has scored 25/34/28 mpg for the Sportback; 24/31/27 mpg for the coupe, same as the Sportback S Line; and 23/31/26 mpg for the Cabriolet.

Hotter S5s rate 20/28/23 mpg for the coupe and Sportback; convertibles lose 1 mpg from each. 

The RS 5 coupe and Sportback check in at 18/24/21 mpg.