We saw a major refresh in Audi’s lineup with A5 and S5 models. So 2021 A5 will not be getting a styling upgrade as of now. The good news about the 2021 Audi A5 is the power increment of 13 horsepower with the standard 2.0L inline-4 cylinder engine along with a new 12-volt mild-hybrid system that allows the Coupe to make 261 horsepower. Taking some cues from the Audi A4, the A5 gets some slightly distinguishing characteristics but the engine remains the same.
The 2021 Audi A5 comes at a base price of around $44,000 for the Premium trim and goes all the way up to $53,450 for the top-of-the-line Prestige Trim. The 2.0L inline-4 cylinder engine coupled with the 12-volt hybrid system in the new 2021 A5 produces 13 hp more than the previous model with a total output of 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. This means the Audi A5 can get from 0-60 mph in just 5.3 seconds.
The interior of the 2021 Audi A5 features minor changes and comes standard with Gray Oak Natural Wood inlays and Sport front seats. Apple CarPlay connectivity and lane-departure warning have been added as standard features on all configurations.
The 2021 Audi A5 comes in three different trims starting at a base price of $44,000 and features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine coupled with a 12 Volt hybrid system. Seven-speed S Tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission is standard on all configurations as well as the Quattro all-wheel drive with ultra technology. The Sport suspension costs an extra $250 above the base price of the Audi A5.
Trims |
Premium |
Premium plus |
Prestige |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP 45 TFSI |
$ 44,000 | $ 48,900 | $ 53,450 |
Features | MMI touch display with 10.1” center screen | Upgrades or adds to features on Premium | Upgrades or adds to features on Premium plus |
7-inch Color Drive information System |
12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster with three visual modes: Classic, Sport, and dynamic |
Bang and Olufsen sound system with 3D sound, 19 speakers,16-channel amplifier, and 755 watts |
|
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
Audi sound system with 10 speakers, a 6-channel amplifier, and 180 watts |
MMI Navigation plus |
|
rain/ Light sensors for automatic windshield wipers and headlights |
SiriusXM with a 90-day trial subscription |
Six-month trial subscription to Audi connect PRIME and Audi connect PLUS online services |
|
LED Headlights with high beam Assist |
Parking system plus(front and rear acoustic sensors) |
Head-up Display |
|
Anti-theft vehicle immobilizer |
Audi Side Assist and Audi pre sense |
Traffic Sign recognition |
|
Heated, eight-way power front sport seats and four-way power lumbar adjustment for Driver |
Body-colored door handles |
Audi adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist |
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ESC with Secondary collision brake assist and traction Control |
Heated, auto-dimming exterior mirrors |
Audi Active lane assist |
|
Electromechanical parking brake |
Memory for driver’s seat |
Matrix LED headlights with Audi laser light, high-beam assist, and animation |
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Audi music interface with front USB ports for data/charging |
Leatherette covered center console and door armrests |
Headlight washers |
|
Audi drive select |
Advanced Airbag ProtectionSystem with 6 airbags |
LED interior lighting plus package |
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18” 5-double-spoke star design wheels with all-season-tires |
18” Summer tires |
The Gray Oak Natural Wood inlays for the interior are standard for the Premium and Premium Plus trims of the Audi A5, while the Prestige trim offers additional options like Brushed Aluminum inlays with no additional costs or Aluminium Ellipse Dark inlays for an additional cost. Sport front seats also come as standard for the 2021 Audi A5.
The Convenience package which comes at $1,800 adds features like Anti-theft vehicle immobilizer, heated, auto-dimming, power-adjustable exterior mirrors, Audi side assist, and Audi pre sense and Driver's front seat memory. The S line interior package adds an S line interior with leather or Alcantara and also features Three-spoke flat bottom perforated leather steering wheel for an additional $500.
If you are looking to buy an A5 Coupe, you need to select the best trim out of the three. We would recommend you to select the mid-level Premium Plus trim that comes with practicality and significant safety features compared to the base premium trim level.
" A punchy turbocharged four-cylinder provides plenty of pep and the chassis is dialed in for solid cornering grip." - Car and Driver
The new Audi A5 coupe is powered by a 2.0-Liter I4 Intercooled engine. With the engine receiving 13 hp more power this year, the 2021 A5 returns 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. With the help of the 12V mild hybrid system, the engine turns out to be more responsive than the predecessor. This power jump from last year's model allows the A5 to bring in increased top speed and makes highway cruising more pleasant than before.
The inline-4 cylinder engine under the A5’s hood comes mated with a 7-speed Automatic S Tronic Dual-Clutch transmission that pulls the car quickly on highways and ensures better ride quality. Combined with the Quattro AWD system, it helps the A5 get to triple-digit speeds effortlessly and in no time. Comparing the engine details, all the rivals lag behind the Audi a5, thanks to the power boost of 13 horsepower.
Models |
2021 Audi A5 Coupe |
2021 Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe |
2021 BMW 430i xDrive Coupe |
2021 Lexus RC 350 |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$45,045 |
$45,950 |
$46,950 |
$48,540 |
Engine |
2.0L Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded Inline-4 |
2.0L Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded Inline-4 |
2.0L Premium unleaded Inline-4 |
3.5L Premium unleaded V6 |
Drivetrain |
AWD |
RWD |
AWD |
AWD |
Transmission |
7-Speed Automatic S Tronic Dual-Clutch |
9G-TRONIC 9-Speed Automatic |
8 Speed automatic |
8-speed shiftable automatic |
Power |
261 hp @ 5,700 RPM |
255 hp @ 5,800 RPM |
248 hp @ 5,200 RPM |
241 hp @ 5,800 RPM |
Torque |
273 lb-ft @ 2,500 RPM |
273 lb-ft @ 1,800 RPM |
258 lb-ft @ 1,450 RPM |
258 lb-ft @ 1,650 RPM |
0-60 mph |
5.3 seconds |
6.6 seconds |
5.7 seconds |
5.5 seconds |
Quarter mile |
13.6 seconds |
14.6 seconds |
13.9 seconds |
13.9 seconds |
Top Speed |
129 mph |
155 mph |
143 mph |
155 mph |
70-0 MPH |
152 feet |
163 feet |
168 feet |
160 feet |
The Lexus RC 300 propels less power but offers similar torque with the A5 Coupe. The Audi A5 Coupe does pretty well in zero to 60 mph sprint, doing it in straight 5 seconds. It takes 13.6 seconds to go a quarter-mile. Now that’s what the acceleration speaks about the A5’s engine performance. The A5 is faster than most of the other 4 cylinder powered cars in the segment.
Another major factor playing a vital role in A5’s performance boost is the trimmed-down weight compared to the outgoing model. Notably, the predecessor did a 0 to 60 mph sprint in 6.1 seconds. The C300 Coupe and the 430i xDrive recorded a slower acceleration in 0-60 mph sprint. The numbers from the Lexus RC 300 are quite disappointing but what else we can expect from a naturally aspirated engine.
The 2-liter turbo cylinder powering the A5 Coupe returns an impressive fuel economy. The EPA rated the A5 Coupe with a fuel economy of 23 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. The combined fuel economy turns out to be 27 mpg. With a fuel tank capacity of 15.3 gallons, the coupe is a perfect hauler for your weekend rides or the daily commute to work.
Models |
2021 Audi A5 Coupe |
2021 Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe |
2021 BMW 430i xDrive Coupe |
2021 Lexus RC 350 |
---|---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) |
23 |
22 |
21 |
18 |
MPG (Highway) |
34 |
31 |
31 |
24 |
MPG (Combined) |
27 |
25 |
24 |
21 |
Fuel Capacity (Gallons) |
15.3 |
17.4 |
15.8 |
17.4 |
Range (City/Highway/Combined, in Miles) |
352/520/260 |
332/490/379 |
313/418/365 |
383/539/435 |
So, comparing the numbers, the Audi A5 Coupe becomes the frugal one among all cars here. Also, all rivals have bigger fuel tanks than the Audi A5 but the real-life range of the Audi is Among the best and is second to only the Lexus, courtesy of its large fuel tank.
"Stylish, modern, and well built, the A5's cabin is comfortable, at least for front seat passengers" - Car and Driver
The Audi A5’s interior reminds you of the A4, which is quite accurate. The A5 Coupe boasts of a solid cabin that is way balanced than most of its siblings. The interior contains leather upholstery along with aluminum and wooden inserts. The front seat passengers find it easy to accommodate themselves, while the rear passengers face problems due to flipped front seats. Also, the visibility from the driver’s seat is great.
The 2021 A5 Coupe can accommodate four passengers. However, due to the sloping roofline, tall passengers might find problems in the rear seat. This is almost identical in most coupes in the city that complain about limited rear headroom and legroom. The front sport seats are narrow and provide adequate padding across the sides as well.
Model |
2021 Audi A5 Coupe |
2021 Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe |
2021 BMW 430i xDrive Coupe |
2021 Lexus RC 350 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Passenger Capacity |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.) |
39.0/55.3/41.3 |
38.8/54.8/42.0 |
39.8/55.3/42.2 |
39.0/54.7/45.4 |
Rear (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.) |
36.1/50.7/32.7 |
35.6/51.7/32.0 |
36.1/51.7/33.7 |
34.8/50.8/27.3 |
Cargo Volume Cu.ft | 11.6 | 10.5 | 15.7 | 10.4 |
Everything inside the A5 coupe looks decent but misses the luxury quotient. The buyer has an option to customize their model with the available S Line interior appearance package that includes features like leather faux-suede upholstered seats, stainless steel sport pedals, brushed aluminum trim, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. The Audi A5 gets a much-needed infotainment upgrade in the lineup. Replacing the previous infotainment system with an all-new 10.1-inch touchscreen MMI 3 infotainment system. The new system boasts responsive inputs and high-quality graphics.
There are very few places where the physical knobs and buttons are visible. In most cases, the buttons are gone. The touchscreen is very responsive to user inputs and can be controlled via touch, voice, or controls mounted on the steering wheel. The infotainment system gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard with Bluetooth connectivity.
The 2021 Audi A5 Coupe looks marvelous with a sloping roofline and exhibits premium-ness on streets. The 2021 model comes unchanged in terms of the design line compared to the outgoing 2020 A5 model.
This 4-door coupe-like silhouette and power liftgate make space for cargo as well. For 2021, you can opt for the Black Optic package that comes with a black painted roof along with the available exterior paint job.
Model |
2021 Audi A5 Coupe |
2021 Mercedes-Benz C300 Coupe |
2021 BMW 430i xDrive Coupe |
2021 Lexus RC 350 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
3605 |
3572 |
3574 |
3891 |
Length (in) |
184.0 |
184.5 |
182.7 |
185.0 |
Width (in) |
72.6 |
71.3 |
71.9 |
72.4 |
Height (in) |
54.0 |
55.3 |
54.2 |
55.1 |
Ground Clearance (in) |
N/A |
3.5 |
5.1 |
5.3 |
Wheelbase (in) |
108.8 |
111.8 |
110.6 |
107.5 |
The 3605-pound curb weight looks decent on the A5, making it neither too heavy nor light. The Coupe balances itself right in case of tight cornering or high-speed maneuvering on highways. The A5’s dimensions are very close to the Mercedes-Benz C300 and offer similar styles on the streets.
The 2021 A5 is yet to be crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration but the 2020 model earned a respectable reputation in crash tests. The NHTSA gave a five overall rating to the A5, with five stars in rollover and side crash test. Also, it was awarded four stars in the frontal crash test. The IIHS rewarded the Audi A5 with the Top Safety Pick award and it received a "Good" rating in all the tests conducted by the IIHS.
Some stand out safety features of the 2021 Audi A5 Coupe are :
Unlike the BMW, A5 is more focused on offering better ride and comfort. Also this year, the A5 has a power boost and offers better power output than the 4-series coupe. Inside, the Audi feels more upmarket and premium than the BMW. The confidence that you get in during the A5 is missing on the BMW 430i. The A5 Coupe looks sporty in looks and performance altogether.
2021 Audi A5 vs 2021 Mercedes Benz C300
Mercedes C300 maintains a fine balance between elegance and performance. The C300 provides the best value for money proposition when it comes to features. The Audi offers a handful of features that still needs a serious upgrade. But, with the 2021 A5 getting some good standard features, the A5 smoothly overshadows the C300.
The A5’s base engine provides good power and acceleration than most of its coupe rivals. The a5 has engaging handling in rough terrains as well. The fuel economy is decent even with the power boost in the 2-liter 4 cylinder powertrain. With the enriched tech features and latest upgrade, the Audi A5 is a good car to consider for your daily drive.