by Aiden Eksteen
Audi designs some of the most suave and contemporary cars that many business professionals and even young families have come to admire. The 2021 Audi A5 Sportback is one of the more stylish and practical 4-door midsize sedans that the German automaker proffers with its Audi-intrinsic front-end, sharp body lines, and coupe-styled rear. That A5 Sportbacks eye-catching aesthetic is complimented by polished and balanced performance courtesy of a 2.0-liter turbo inline-4 that's been augmented with a 12-volt mild-hybrid electric system. In 40 TFSI guise, the unit is dialed to deliver 201 horsepower, or up to 261 hp in 45 TFSI guise. While the sportback design and sloping roofline does hinder some of the head room in the back seats, there is still an expanse of cargo capacity. The A5 Sportback sedan isn't the only beautiful and pragmatic sedan out there, however, with the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe offering its own gorgeous design profile and versatility.
The new year sees the A5 mildly updated with the aforementioned mild-hybrid system and a 13-horsepower increase, while a new 40 TFSI engine option with less power is the new base entrant for this year. It produces 201 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque while the 45 TFSI now makes 261 hp and 273 lb-ft. Other updates include newly standard wireless Apple CarPlay and lane departure warning. Changes to packages include the addition of parking sensors and a heated steering wheel on the Convenience package while the mid-level Premium Plus trim now features adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and a surround-view camera, while the top Prestige trim now comes with heated rear seats as standard. Other changes are mainly aesthetic and apply to the optional Black Optic package.
See trim levels and configurations:
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Price (MSRP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prestige 40 TFSI quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
7-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$41,800 |
| Premium 40 TFSI quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
7-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$41,800 |
| Premium Plus 40 TFSI quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
7-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$41,800 |
| Prestige 45 TFSI quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
7-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$44,000 |
| Premium Plus 45 TFSI quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
7-Speed Automatic
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
$44,000 |
In review, the 2021 Audi A5 Sportback is a phenomenal, equitable vehicle, offering contemporary styling, a premium interior impression, oodles of creature comforts, conveniences, and tech, and an impressive level of practicality. The turbo-four engine, regardless of its state of tune, delivers brisk and refined acceleration responses along with admissible fuel economy returns. The A5 Sportback delivers apt and balanced performance, but there are many more exciting cars to drive out there. The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe perhaps offers the best showing. Nevertheless, at the 2021 Audi A5 Sportback sedan's price of just $41,800, it's still one of the most recommended coupe-styled saloons in the USA, especially when considering this second-generation A5's top-notch safety rating and high reliability expectations. What's more impressive is that the A5's value is carried through every trim in the lineup, making it a car we'd recommend to anyone looking for a stylish family sedan.
The most popular competitors of 2021 Audi A5 Sportback:
Acura
Alfa Romeo
Aston Martin
Audi
Bentley
BMW
Bollinger
BrightDrop
Bugatti
Buick
Cadillac
Caterham
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Dodge
Ferrari
Fiat
Fisker
Ford
Genesis
GMC
Gordon Murray Automotive
Hennessey
Honda
Hyundai
Infiniti
Jaguar
Jeep
Karma
Kia
Koenigsegg
Lamborghini
Land Rover
Lexus
Lincoln
Lordstown
Lotus
Lucid Motors
Maserati
Mazda
McLaren
Mercedes-Benz
Mini
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Pagani
Polestar
Porsche
Ram
Rimac
Rivian
Rolls-Royce
Spyker
Subaru
Tesla
Toyota
VinFast
Volkswagen
Volvo