Audi A5 Sportback 2021

Audi A5 Sportback 2021

Audi never said an exciting could be practical either, and the 2021 Audi A5 Sportback blends the best we love about the A4 sedan and A5 coupe and adds a huge payload of a hatchback hidden under its sleek roofline. Competing with other sedans of similar style such as the BMW 4-series Gran Coupe and Kia Stinger, this four-door sports car brings Audi’s approach to technological advancement and a simple and elegant interior. Headroom in the back seat isn’t as generous as in the more traditional A4 sedan, but the A5’s payload size makes up for that shortfall and then some.

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Like the rest of the Audi A4 and A5 lineup, the A5 Sportback powertrain is now equipped with a new 12-volt hybrid system. The A5 Sportback is also receiving a lower-powered ’40’ four-cylinder turbo engine from the A4 lineup this year while the more powerful ’45’ was previously the only offering. Both engines were raised by 13 horsepower this year. The base Premium model now comes standard with Apple CarPlay wireless connectivity,

lane departure warning, built-in road transponder; An optional comfort package for that car now includes a heated steering wheel and front and rear parking sensors. The mid-range Premium Plus gains a host of standard driver assistance features and the Prestige now comes with heated rear seats.

Like last year , we’ll stick with the mid-range Premium Plus. It adds a lot of features to justify its high price, including Audi’s digital Virtual Cockpit display. While we didn’t drive the Model 40 or 45 with the new hybrid system, we’re sure the more powerful Model 45 is the one to follow here, so we’re happy to check that markup on the order sheet.

For 2021, the A5 Sportback can be equipped with two turbocharged four-cylinder engines, both of which use a 12-volt hybrid system. The 40 models with the badge put out 201 horsepower while the 45 models put out 261 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard and all A5 Sportbacks come with a seven-speed automatic transmission. We haven’t tested either model yet, but the last generation of cars with a more powerful engine managed a 5.0-second 0-60 mph result on our test track. The A5 Sportback is vehicle, confident and easy to drive fast through corners;

It’s everything a modern sports sedan should be. Agility belies its comfort, too: potholes and broken pavements do little to annoy it, especially when equipped with the optional adaptive suspension. Good, heavy-duty steering feels natural in the driver’s hands, and the front tires respond instantly to input, making the Audi a pleasure to drive on a twisty tarmac.

The EPA hasn’t released fuel economy estimates for the 2021 A5 Sportback, but last year’s model got estimates of 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. While we didn’t test the 2021 A5 Sportback on our true highway fuel economy, the older model we evaluated returned 34 mpg during this test.

The cabin of the A5 Sportback isn’t as luxurious as some might expect from a luxury brand, but all the high-quality materials, fit and finish are great, and there’s enough high-end features to set it apart from flagship sedans. Rear-seat passenger space isn’t as generous as in the Audi A4 sedan, but it’s roomy enough for two average-sized adults – and for the slight sacrifice of rear headroom,

You get the A5 Sportback’s sleek roofline, which is much more attractive than its more angular and straighter A4 sibling. All A5 Sportback models come well-equipped with luxury essentials like power front seats, leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof, ambient interior lighting and automatic 3-zone climate control. The sloping rear roofline of the A5 Sportback conceals a power tailgate and large cargo bay, making it much more practical than the Audi A4 sedan or A5 coupe and convertible. It has proven its strength in the handbag test by accommodating 16 boxes despite having a small cargo space according to the numbers. In fact, the Sportback outperformed all of its direct competitors in a real-world charging test except for the particularly massive Buick Regal GS.

Audi MMI is one of the most enjoyable infotainment systems to use among premium brands. It’s enhanced by the A5 Sportback’s 12.3-inch virtual digital gauge cluster display – and comes highly recommended. All models come with a 10.1-inch touch screen for infotainment that can also be controlled via a click switch mounted on the console between the driver and front passenger.

Audi’s MMI interface is easy to use on the go, but Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration is standard if users prefer interacting directly with their smartphone instead. The navigation system is optional and comes with access to a suite of internet and vehicle features called Audi Connect Prime and Audi Connect Plus.

The A5 Sportback has earned good marks from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and appears to be a trustworthy choice for those concerned with safety. Audi offers a wide range of driver assistance features, but some are only available on the more expensive Premium Plus and Prestige models. Key safety features include:

 Standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Forward Collision Warning

 Standard Lane Departure Warning

 Adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist are available

Warranty and maintenance coverage

The Audi warranty package does not stand out among the competitors in this comparison. Kia Stinger’s 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain policy results in a slice in coverage but does not offer free scheduled maintenance.

 The limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles

 Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles

 Free maintenance is covered for 1 year or 10,000 miles