2019 Audi A5 Sportback

Starting at $44,200, the 2.0L turbo inline-4 is the perfect companion for your journey. It's not just Audi who makes a good looking convertible. Against the German trio, the BMW 4-series and the Mercedes C-class coupe, as well as a Genesis and Alfa Romeo thrown into the mix. Let's compare them and see who wins this rivalry.

Available in 3 trim levels, the Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige, as you climb up the trim levels, you get more and more features and technology, but the price increases as well.

Model	A5 Premium	A5 Premium Plus	A5 Prestige
MSRP	$44,200	$48,600	$52,300
Key Features	Audi smartphone interface including Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto 18" 5-arm-dynamic design wheels with 245/40 all-season tires Audi pre sense basic and Audi pre sense city Full LED headlight	Audi side assist and Audi pre sense rear with Rear cross traffic assist & Vehicle exit assist Audi virtual cockpit Audi MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch Audi advanced keykeyless start, stop and entry with hands-free trunk/tailgate release Audi phone box (wireless charging and signal booster)	Audi side assist and Audi pre sense rear with Rear cross traffic assist & Vehicle exit assist Audi virtual cockpit Audi MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch Audi advanced keykeyless start, stop and entry with hands-free trunk/tailgate release Audi phone box (wireless charging and signal booster)

We Recommend

The Premium Plus trim is the best A5 to have which comes with sporty performance upgrades and essential features like, sport-tuned adaptive suspension and an upgraded rear differential for a reasonable price.

The A5 has impressive road-holding capabilities. It easily navigates through sharp turns at speeds that would overwhelm lesser vehicles. The all-wheel-drive system deftly supplies power to specific wheels to aid the car's handling balance around turns. - Edmunds

Engine and Transmission

The Audi A5 comes with a powerful 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 with a much smoother torque curve than you'd expect. With virtually zero turbo lag the throttle control is a bliss in both stop and go traffic in cities as well as cruising through highways. The tiptronic automatic transmission is quick and intuitive enough that it does not constantly need to shift through the gears to find the right one.

Models	Cadillac ATS coupe	Alfa Romeo Giulia	Mercedes C300 4Matic coupe	Genesis G70	Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Premium sportback	BMW 430i coupe	Jaguar XE
MSRP	$39,990	$38,195	$43,800	$34,900	$44,200	$44,800	$46,235
Engine	2.0L i4	2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4 cylinders	Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4, 2.0 L	2.0L, Turbocharged, Inline-4 cylinder engine	2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded	2.0L i4	2.0L, Turbocharged, Inline-4 cylinder engine
Transmission	8 Speed automatic	8-speed automatic transmission	9G-TRONIC 9-Speed Automatic	8-speed Automatic	7-Speed automatic S tronic Dual-Clutch	8 Speed automatic	8-speed Automatic
Horsepower	272 hp@ 5500rpm	280 hp @ 5200 rpm	255 hp @ 5800 rpm	252 hp @ 6,200 rpm	252 hp@ 5000rpm	248 hp@ 5200rpm	247 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque	295 ft-lbs@ 3000rpm	306 lb.-ft. @ 2000-4800 rpm	273 lb.-ft. @ 1800 rpm	260 lb-ft @ 1,400-4,000 rpm	273 ft-lbs@ 1600rpm	258 ft-lbs@ 1450 rpm	269 ft-lbs. @ 1300 rpm

In comparison to the A5, rivals like the Cadillac ATS and the Alfa Romeo Giulia deliver more power from their 2.0L inline-4s. The arch nemesis - C-class has a similar output from the 2.0L powerplant. The Jag and the BMW 4-series have the least output, but not by a huge margin.

Acceleration

The Quattro all-wheel coupe's smooth acceleration is not to be taken lightly. Flooring the pedal makes the coupe accelerate hard and takes it to 60 in a matter of 5.7 seconds. The quarter mile is covered in 14.5 seconds, quite unexpected for a coupe which doesn't have Audi's RS badge.

Models	Cadillac ATS coupe	Alfa Romeo Giulia	Mercedes C300 4Matic coupe	Genesis G70	Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Premium sportback	BMW 430i coupe	Jaguar XE
0-60 MPH	5.3 sec	5.5 sec	5.5 sec	6.0 sec	5.7 sec	5.5 sec	6.3 sec
Quarter mile	N/A	14.1 sec @ 100 mph	14.1 sec @ 99 mph	14.6 sec	14.5 sec	14.3 sec	15.0 sec
Engine	2.0L i4	2.0 Liters	2.0L	2.0L	2.0L i4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded	2.0L i4	2.0L
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	N/A	NA	TBD	-	6.5	6.6	6.3*

First to reach 60 is the Cadillac ATS in 5.3 seconds, while the BMW 4-series and Alfa Romeo Giulia finish together with the C-class coupe in 5.5 seconds. Next comes the Audi A5 with 5.7 seconds on the clock. While the Jaguar XE and the Genesis G70 lag behind taking more than 6 seconds in the process.

Ride and Handling

With an improved multi-link suspension and a stiffer chassis, the A5 coupe has a much better ride quality than the previous model. The optional adaptive dampers and sport suspensions slightly stiffened up the ride but make your daily commute sportier by keeping the coupe planted to the tarmac.

The optional dynamic steering mimics the intuitive steering usually found in high-end supercars, which varies the gear ratio based on your speed and steering angle. It has been specifically designed to give the driver optimum feedback, and can be adjusted based on the Audi drive select dynamic handling system.

Braking

The Audi A5 Sportback has robust brakes that help stop it the quickest amongst its competition. The technology used is immaculate and proves to be life-saving in case of situations demanding sudden braking as well. It has 13.3-inch diameter front brakes to ensure quick braking.

Model	Cadillac ATS coupe	Alfa Romeo Giulia	Mercedes C300 4Matic coupe	Genesis G70	Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Premium sportback	BMW 430i coupe	Jaguar XE
Brake Front (in.)	12.6	13	13	13.8	13.3	12.3	12.8
Brake Rear (in.)	12.4	12.5	11.8	-	13	11.8	12.8
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3418	3521	3500*	3516 lbs	3704	3574	3500 lbs
60-0 MPH (ft.)	N/A	124	153ft	-	N/A	162	184 ft (70-0)

The heavier Audi A5 gets bigger brake discs 13.3 up front and 13s at the back. Meanwhile the Alfa Romeo, the sportiest of the bunch, gets the best brakes in the segment, stopping the Giulia in merely 124 feet from 60 mph. The BMW 4-series comes with the smallest brakes and unsurprisingly takes 162 feet to stop.

As far as fuel economy is concerned, the A5 has the best-in-class economy, and delivers a decent 24 in the city, 34 on the highway and 27 combined. The fuel economy comes off as a plus point when you notice the performance aspect of the Audi A5 Sportback.

Model	Cadillac ATS coupe	Alfa Romeo Giulia	Mercedes C300 4Matic coupe	Genesis G70	Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Premium sportback	BMW 430i coupe	Jaguar XE
MPG (city)	22	24	22	21	24	24	24
MPG (highway)	30	33	33	28	34	34	34
MPG (combined)	25	27	26	23	27	27	28

Most sedans and coupes maintain 24 miles to the gallon city mileage, compared to the A5's 22. The Genesis lags behind in this department, with 23 mpg combined, while the Jaguar XE leads with 28 mpg combined. The C300 gets you similar economy to the A5, 27 mpg combined.

The A5's cabin is a wonderful expression of modern, understated luxury. The materials quality is high, and the smart layout of controls makes operation easy and distraction-free. - Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

For a luxury Sportback, the seating capability of 4 passengers does not seem justified. The sloping roofline for the Sportback type body of the car compromises for the seating comfort in the rear seats. Headroom and shoulder room is not much, however; the passengers in the front are comfortable in the leather seats.

Models	Mercedes C300 4Matic convertible	Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Premium sportback	BMW 430i convertible
Passenger capacity	4	5	4
Front Head room (cu.ft)	40.3	39.4	39.8
Shoulder Head room	54.8	55.7	55.3
Leg Head room	NA	41.3	42.2
Rear Head room (cu.ft)	35.6	NA	36.1
Shoulder Head room	51.7	54.5	51.7
Leg room	NA	35.1	33.7

The low sloping roofline of the Sportback leaves lesser headroom for you compared to the rival sedans and coupes, so if you're taller than six-feet you'd find comfort in taller sedans like the Audi and Genesis, which also come with premium quality interiors. While, the Alfa Romeo has a more driver-centric cabin design.

Infotainment System

The Audi's convertible is full to the brim with high-end features and technologies at the price range. With a 10-speaker system, upgradeable to a 12-speaker Bang and Olufsen surround sound system, the Audi could make it feel like a concert within your car. The integrated driver information system with Bluetooth compatibility.

On the steering you'd find the cruise and audio controls at your thumb's reach. However with a major update around the corner, we could see Audi bringing much more to the table.

Cargo Capacity

Despite its size, the Audi A5 has the trunk size that you'd require from a Sportback. At 21.8 cubic feet, the trunk is much larger than the 10.5 cubic feet capacity of the C-class, also ahead of the Lexus and top of the line BMW 4-series which has 15.7 cubic feet.

Model	Cadillac ATS coupe	Alfa Romeo Giulia	Mercedes C300 4Matic coupe	Genesis G70	Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Premium sportback	BMW 430i coupe	Jaguar XE
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	10.4	13.0	10.5	10.5	21.8	15.7	16.1

The A5's evolution has been slow and deliberate. Most buyers may have a hard time distinguishing the coupe or convertible from its predecessor that debuted in 2007. - Car Connection

Design and Dimensions

Even though the Audi A5 is loaded with features and technology, it manages to weigh less than 4000 pounds which is considered to be a good weight for a luxury Sportback. The handling is amazing and the Quattro AWD technology of the Audi helps make it razor sharp precise while steering. This helps in cornering perfectly at high speeds as well making it a very confidence-inspiring car.

Model	Cadillac ATS coupe	Alfa Romeo Giulia	Mercedes C300 4Matic coupe	Genesis G70	Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Premium sportback	BMW 430i coupe	Jaguar XE
Curb weight (lbs.)	3418	3521	3500*	3516 lbs	3704	3574	3500 lbs
Length(in)	183.6	182.6	184.5	184.4 in	186.3	182.7	183.9
Width(in)	72.5	73.7	71.3	72.8 in	72.6	71.9	77.4
Height(in)	54.8	56.5	55.3	55.1 in	54.6	54.2	55.8
Ground clearance (in)	N/A	NA	3.5	5.1 in	N/A	5.1	-
Wheelbase (in)	109.3	111	111.8	111.6 in	111.2	110.6	111.6
Track width (in) F/R	60.3/61.7	61.3/63.9	61.5/60.9	-	62.5/61.7	60.8/62.8	62.8/62.4

The Cadillac ATS coupe is the lightest vehicle compared to the competitors, with the Audi and BMW on the other end of the scale. However, you might need to be extra careful on speed bumps, given the tiny 3.5-inch ground clearance in the Mercedes coupe. The A5 is the longest, while the Jag is widest sedan in the segment, so if you find yourself frequently having to maneuver through tight traffic, you'd better avoid the Jaguar XE.

Safety and Reliability

• SIDEGUARD Curtain 1st Row Airbags
• SIDEGUARD Curtain 2nd Row Airbags
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

Audi A5 vs Mercedes-Benz C300

The Audi has a much more updated and new character than the C300 which blends into models from previous model years. The interior is equally plush and technology rich in both of these coupes, wth the Audi having a slight upper edge. The driving dynamics of the C300 is much more aggressive compared to which the Audi A5 feels tamed and smoother through corners.

Audi A5 vs BMW 430i

Unlike the BMW M4, the 430i doesn't get your adrenaline rushing as much. The A5 prevails here with a much more city focussed ride and comfort. Even the updated tech in the interior makes the A5 a more attractive package than the 430i. However, once you push the throttle to the limit, the BMW sings louder and propels you faster through the quarter mile.

The Audi A5 is not like a raging Mercedes, but at this cost the Sportback is the perfect daily driver car you need. Around the city block and highways, the A5 is fun and comfortable to drive and so is the interior when you're going for a long drive. The large cargo bay makes it possible to carry lot of stuff with you on long drives.