2021 Audi A5 Sportback

It provides sufficient space in the interiors with comfort and technology at its peak. The Audi A5 Sportback is all set to outclass its competitors in the market with the addition of a more affordable variant and additional standardized features for the 2021 model year. The prices for the base trim begin at an MSRP of $41,800 and some of the main competitors of the A5 Sportback are the BMW 3 Series, the Lexus IS 350, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and the Volvo S60.

The previous generation of the A5 Sportback used to come in three trims, the Premium, Premium Plus, and the Prestige. There are no additional trims for the 2021 model year and will continue to sell in these three trim levels only with two powertrain options on offer The price has been revised this year with the Premium trim starting from $41,800 and goes up all the way to $53,750 for the Prestige trim.

Which Trim should you buy?

We would recommend you to opt for the Premium Plus trim with the 45 TFSI engine option. This trim adds the most value according to us as it has all the necessary features which are missing in the Premium trim and also offers impressive performance with the more powerful engine under its hood. 

The 2021 Audi A5 Sportback now has two engine options to choose from. The base 40 TFSI motor is a 2-liter turbocharged inline-4 cylinder engine which is paired with a 12-volt hybrid system that together produces 201 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. The more powerful 45 TFSI with the same 2-liter displacement produces a whopping 261 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. 

The legendary Quattro AWD system comes as standard along with7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The 40 TFSI can do 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds and a quarter-mile in 14.8 seconds while the more powerful S-Line 45 TFSI shaves off a second from that time. The top speed is electronically limited at 130 mph with either of the powertrains. 

The Audi A5 Sportback is the slowest in terms of its 0-60 and quarter-mile timing with the base engine and even with the more powerful engine, it is only on par with the segment. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has a better low-end torque which is important for city rides and is also the quickest off the line, while the BMW and Volvo sedans are right at their tail. 

How well does the 2021 Audi A5 Sportback handle?

The A5 Sportback may be slower on a straight line but it performs great when it comes to twisty roads. The tires have amazing grip and the car feels very confident around the corners. The feedback from the steering wheel is impressive and the car feels very agile. The adaptive air suspension system helps in absorbing all the bumps on the road very easily and keeps the cabin dead silent. 

And though it is no S- badged or RS-badged Audi, and it also ain’t a tail-happy car but it is blisteringly quick and also doesn’t understeer like the Audis of the past. The Quattro all-wheel-drive system offers ample grip to stay in its dedicated lane but is also never too intrusive to spoil the pleasure of driving. Overall, the A5 Sportback is a dynamic package when it comes to its ride and handling and offers pliant and composed driving capabilities.

2021 Audi A5 Sportback Braking Performance

A fast car needs to have equally powerful brakes. The A5 Sportback has the best brakes in its segment. It has large 13.3 ventilated disc brakes on the front and 13.0 ventilated disc brakes on the rear which is enough to slow down this heavy 4597-pound car within no time. These large brakes can stop the car from 0-60 mph in a braking distance of just 112 feet. Also, the ventilated setup helps it to cool down much faster and increases the life of the brakes as well.

The Audi A5 Sportback is a no-brainer when it comes to braking performance and is way ahead of its competitors. Both the German rivals travel over 10 feet more than the Audi while the Volvo S60 has the longest stopping distance in this comparison. That is major because of its smaller brake rotors which are considerably smaller than what Audi offers with the A5 Sportback. 

The 2021 Audi A5 Sportback does an excellent job in this department. The Base 40 TFSI motor returns around 28 MPG in a combined city and highway run. However, opting for the 45 TFSI motor will reduce your fuel efficiency a bit as it is rated for 24/31/27 mpg for city/highway/combined by the EPA. It employs a 15.3-gallon fuel tank which offers a pretty decent driving range of over 400 miles on a single tank of gas, not bad considering AWD is standard with all Audi cars. 

Both the A5 Sportback and the 3 Series have the least fuel efficiency rating out of all the cars present here. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class does a better job in terms of efficiency but falls behind the A5 Sportback when it comes to the range because of its smaller fuel tank. However, the Volvo S60 has the highest fuel consumption but employs a larger gas tank which results in a longer driving range.

The interior of the 2021 Audi A5 Sportback looks amazing and is identical to most of the other cars from the manufacturer. Throughout the interior, there's an abundance of upscale materials. The space in the front is sufficient so taller folks won’t find any issues. The dashboard design is similar to that in the A6. The dashboard is covered in soft-touch material with leather options in the Premium Plus trims and above. All the AC vents and the control buttons are finished in chrome accents. Some small bits of wooden trims here and there make it more premium. 

The A5 Sportback seats 5 people in two rows. The front seats are well-cushioned and are very comfortable. Cloth seats come as standard but can be upgraded to leather seats. The armrest is wide and comfortable for both the driver as well as the passenger. The space towards the rear is sufficient but the headroom is slightly on the lower side because of the low roofline. However, three adults and a child can easily sit at the back. Overall the entire interior of the A5 Sportback is very opulent in its segment.

All of the competitors above hit the same ballpark when it comes to the interior passenger space. The Audi A5 Sportback has the best cargo space in its class due to the Sportback layout and is way ahead of its competition. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has the least cargo space as compared to its rivals with the Volvo offering a bit more. The A5 Sportback has the largest trunk on offer while the BMW 3-Series offers a sizable trunk that is larger than its peers. Some of the key interior features on offer are:

• Panoramic sunroof
• Three-zone automatic climate control
• Leather upholstery
• Heated and powered seats
• Heated rear seats
• 40/20/40 split rear seat
• Ambient Lighting

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Audi is one of the best when it comes to technology and it continues in the A5 Sportback as well. It has a 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen infotainment display. The display is crisp and there is no screen glare issue even in bright sunlight. The touchscreen is very responsive and is straightforward to use. The font size used in the display is big enough and very sharp which makes it easily readable even while driving. It has Bluetooth connectivity with which you can connect your smartphone with the infotainment system. It has USB ports and Auxiliary ports for further connectivity. You can listen to your favorite radio station with the help of SiriusXM satellite radio. 

A 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot will ensure a stable internet connection in your car. It also includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its tech suite. Voice recognition will directly take you to your desired menu without the hassle of browsing. It has a 10-speaker standard music system which can be upgraded to a 19-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium audio system that sounds incredible. Finally, it has a satellite navigation system that is accurate and works perfectly fine. Some of the key infotainment features on offer are:

• A 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen infotainment display
• Bluetooth Connectivity
• USB port
• Auxiliary port
• 10-speaker standard audio system
• Optional 19-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium audio system
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• Voice Recognition system
• Apple Carplay and Android Auto
• 4G LTE WiFi hotspot
• Satellite navigation system

The 2021 Audi A5 Sportback retains the same exterior design as that of the 2020 model year. The bumper is very muscular with sharp lines at the sides. The exterior of the A5 is one of its biggest selling points. It continues to come in 9 exterior colors with an additional Audi exclusive special paint which is a $3,900 option. The grille is blacked out with the Audi logo finished in chrome. The key highlight of the A5 Sportback is the full LED HD Matrix headlamps and taillamps with a unique animation that has a style of its own.

The Audi A5 Sportback is the heaviest car in its segment which reduces its performance a bit. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is lighter and shorter than most of its competitors and also rides the lowest to the ground. The Volvo S60 is the longest car of all with a wheelbase of 113.1 inches and offers the highest ground clearance in this comparison. Some of the exterior highlights are:

• Heated and powered side mirrors
• 9 exterior colors
• Automatic Matrix LED headlights with LED DRLs
• Automatic wipers
• LED taillights
• Panoramic sunroof
• Powered tailgate
• 18" 5-V spoke alloy wheel

The 2021 Audi A5 Sportback has been given an overall safety rating of 5-stars for its crashworthiness by the NHTSA with a 4-star rating for its overall frontal crash protection and 5-stars for a rollover crash test. It also earned a ‘Top Safety Pick’ award from IIHS for its crash test. Some of the safety features include anti-lock brakes, stability, front and rear parking sensors, front knee airbags, front second and third-row airbags along full-length side curtain airbags. Some of the standout safety features are:

• Automated emergency braking
• ABS with EBD
• Lane-keep assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure warning
• Forward-collision warning
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert

2021 Audi A5 Sportback Vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is definitely the top contender for the Audi A5 Sportback. One of the main selling points of the Mercedes is the top-notch interior quality with adequate interior space. The A5 Sportback has a better fuel economy and cargo space than the C-Class which makes it practical. Also, the A5 Sportback is fun to ride with better handling than the C-Class.

2021 Audi A5 Sportback Vs 2021 BMW 3 Series

The BMW 3 Series undercuts the Audi A5 Sportback in terms of its price. It also has better performance than the A5 Sportback. Apart from that, the Audi A5 Sportback wins in every other department. Also, the looks of this car are unmatched which is one of the reasons why the A5 Sportback is so popular.

2021 Audi A5 Sportback Vs 2021 Volvo S60

The Volvo S60 has much better interior space and a punchier performance than the A5 Sportback. Also, it is a lot cheaper. However, reliability is a major issue for Volvo which is not the case with Audi. The interior quality and engine refinement of the A5 Sportback are a lot better than the S60. Also, the A5 Sportback is techier and is loaded with modern features.

The 2021 Audi A5 Sportback is loaded with the latest techs and features with top-notch ride quality and exceptional handling. The exterior styling of the car is truly amazing. It also has an excellent interior and cargo space that makes it practical at the same time. The fuel economy of the car is also amazing. All this proves that it can be an incredible daily driver as well. So, if you are planning to buy the A5 Sportback then you have made the right choice.