2021 Audi A5 Review
Price Range: $26,945 - $34,590





+10
2021 Audi A5 Review
Pros
- Understated and classy interior
- Strong overall performance
- Plenty of standard and optional tech features
Cons
- Limited interior storage
What's new
- New 12-volt mild hybrid system adds 13 horsepower
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and lane departure warning are now standard
- New A5 Sportback 40 TFSI Quattro with less horsepower from 2.0-liter engine
- Part of the second A5 generation introduced for 2018
Overview

In an automotive landscape dominated by the SUV and all of its various subdivisions, the two-door coupe feels like an endangered species. Only a handful of automakers, mostly European, offer a coupe in their lineup, and most hedge their bets with a complementary four-door model built in the sleek shape of a sport coupe. Among the standouts in this shrinking class is the 2021 Audi A5.
For sale near Des Moines, IA
36 listings
- $31,787great price$4,289 below market
- 30,739 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 24 City / 31 Hwy MPG
- The Audi Exchange (297 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Highland Park, IL
Welcome to the Audi Exchange, One of America's premier marketers of high-line and luxury automobiles. This vehicle has all of the right options Premiu...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
27 Combined MPG (24 City/31 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WAUFACF52MA055364
Stock: AP13860
Certified Pre-Owned: Yes
Listed since: 09-17-2025 - $20,915fair price$365 above market
- 100,970 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 24 City / 31 Hwy MPG
- Autoport (263 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Ballwin, MO
AUTOPORT IS EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS 2021 AUDI A5 SPORTBACK QUATTRO PREMIUM *NEW TRADE-IN ALERT!* AUTOPORT is excited to offer this JUST TRADED IN 20...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
27 Combined MPG (24 City/31 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WAUDACF54MA017612
Stock: 25336-1
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Built on the same foundation as the A4 sedan, the A5 trades four-door utility for large measures of style. Its sweeping roofline, larger wheels and sculpted rear panels make it one of the sharpest-looking coupes on the road today. The A5 is also available as a convertible and, yes, a four-door hatchback known as the Sportback.
The A5 interior features impeccable interior design and infotainment based around a 10-inch high-resolution display. The A5 even now offers wireless functionality for Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. Android Auto users are still out of luck for wireless support, although a USB cable connection comes standard.
Other A5 changes in 2021 include more horsepower (up 13 horsepower) thanks to a light electric-assist motor that shoulders certain low-intensity tasks typically handled by the engine. Key tech features also filter down one trim level, with lane keeping assist and a surround-view camera now standard on the Premium Plus, for example.
For 2021, the A5 Sportback variant offers a second option, with less horsepower at a lower cost. It's the most affordable entry point into the A5 lineup — and arguably the most useful with its four doors and 40/20/40-split folding rear seat. The coupe and convertible only offer 50/50-split folding seats.
We think the A5 is a smart pick for a small luxury coupe or convertible even against the likes of the BMW 4 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The A5 Sportback version is similarly appealing. If the luxury sport coupe is indeed seeing its final days, the A5 remains one of its strongest survivors.
2021 Audi A5 trim level differences
The 2021 Audi A5 is offered as a two-door coupe or convertible or as a four-door hatchback called the Sportback. Each body style offers three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. Most come with a turbocharged 261-horsepower four-cylinder engine (called 45 TSFI), a seven-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The exception is the new 40 TSFI version of the Sportback, which has 201 hp. Audi also sells the higher-performance S5, reviewed separately.
Which A5 trim does Edmunds recommend?
The Premium Plus hits the sweet spot. You get all the goodness of the base Premium trim, along with extras including upgraded headlights, heated steering wheel and additional leather interior trim. Premium Plus also adds adaptive cruise control and parking sensors among other desirable driver aids.
Compare 2021 Audi A5 trim levels
Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

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Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Iowa
$161/mo for A5 Premium
A5 Premium
vs
$154/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Reliability
The 2021 Audi A5 has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and 5 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #6 out of 68 among Luxury Midsize Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Reliability Rating by RepairPal
4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent
#6 out of 68 among Luxury Midsize Cars
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
$636/yr
vs. $607/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car
for Average Luxury Midsize Car
Frequency
0.26x/yr
vs. 1.36x/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car
for Average Luxury Midsize Car
Severity
7.2%
vs. 10.5%
for Average Luxury Midsize Car
for Average Luxury Midsize Car
powered by RepairPal
Recalls
5 recalls foundChecking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
- Recall Number:
- 22V742000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 91DZ
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 170296
- Defect Description:
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8, RS7, RS6 Avant, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, Q8, Q7, Q5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, Q5, A7, A6, A6 Allroad, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, A5 Cabrioleet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, SQ7, S5 Cabriolet, E-Tron Quattro, SQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ5, S8, S7, S6 Sedan, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, 2022 E-Tron GT, and 2021-2022 RSQ8 vehicles. Due to a software issue, a blank or black screen may be displayed instead of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Defect Consequence:
- A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Corrective Action:
- Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DZ.
- Recall Number:
- 22V034000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 42L5
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 31058
- Defect Description:
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, 2020-2021 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, Q5, S4 Sedan, S5 Coupe, S5 Cabriolet, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, 2021 Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, and SQ8 vehicles. The rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) were performed.
- Defect Consequence:
- Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Corrective Action:
- Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.
- Recall Number:
- 21V606000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 69CR, 69CS
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 45496
- Defect Description:
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Defect Consequence:
- An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
- Corrective Action:
- Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).
- Recall Number:
- 21V295000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 42L1
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 40993
- Defect Description:
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Q7, Q8, Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback, RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q8, 2020-2021 Audi S6 sedan, Q5, A8, S8, A7, A6 Allroad, A5 Cabriolet, A4 sedan, A4 Allroad, SQ5, S7, A6 sedan, S5 coupe, S4 sedan, S5 Cabriolet, A5 coupe, 2019-2021 RS5 coupe, A5 Sportback, S5 Sportback, RS5 Sportback vehicles. The lock nut on the trailing arm of the rear axle may break due to stress corrosion.
- Defect Consequence:
- A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Corrective Action:
- Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 25, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.
- Recall Number:
- 20V737000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 97EU
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 5426
- Defect Description:
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2020-2021 Audi A5 Sportback, and S5 Sportback vehicles. The wiring harness for the rear lights could be missing the anti-abrasion protection in the area of the spare wheel well.
- Defect Consequence:
- Without the scuff protection, the wires may become damaged during a rear crash, disabling the doors from being opened from the outside, causing a loss of hazard lights, and increasing the risk of injury.
- Corrective Action:
- Audi will notify owners, and dealers will apply scuff protection, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 22, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 97EU.
Warranty
4 years / 50,000 miles Basic Warranty- Basic Warranty
- 4 years / 50,000 miles
- Drivetrain Warranty
- 4 years / 50,000 miles
- Rust Warranty
- 12 years / unlimited miles
- Roadside assistance Warranty
- 4 years / unlimited miles
Audi A5 Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
2019 A5 Coupe Premium
5 out of 5 starsAlex, 01/31/2021
2019 Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Premium quattro 2dr Coupe AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
I bought the car CPO in October of last year. I can’t say enough about how impressed I am with the overall performance. It’s peppy, quiet and very comfortable. After owning a BMW 440, a Infiniti Q50, and a Mercedes E350 I am sold on the Audi brand.
unexpected rocket
4 out of 5 starsnew car user, 12/31/2019
2019 Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
I've had my sport back for a week. bought it as certified pre owned- got a good deal as its the end of the year, etc. I'm not sure why I was in the dealer for 5+ hours! You'd think that "old school" approach to car buying could be fixed by now. The one I opted for happened to have the "S" trim line and the "black optic package". Which, basically added a few trim pieces and a 3D B&O … radio. ( I could have done without as the radio on the non-B&O is very nice for me. however this was the CPO vehicle in my price range, so I went with it)
I agree with another consumer review, the car is a sports car in disguise.
The Good: very responsive, sport suspension and sport mode transmission (along with other drive modes). A 4 door "sedan" with the versatility of the hatch back (which can tend to look weird but AUDI's is done very well). Lots of technology to play with. Coming from a Mazda CX5, I have a steep learning curve. I even had to call the Audi customer service because I could not figure out how to get "connected". Even with manuals and YouTube videos, I was clearly doing something wrong. Turns out a lot of the connectivity options and tech gadgets require a WiFi subscription- that is pricey. I'll stick to Apple CarPlay, as soon as I figure that out. Had the opportunity to car a road trip, 2 days into owning the car. It was a very pleasant drive, lots of room in the back for my 6 year old. He said it looked like a rocket inside.
The bad: again agree with the reviewer(s). very limited storage inside. I'll likely use one of the cup holders for storage of keys and iPhone. speaking of iphone- there is a wireless charger in the console. which is probably great for some, but I think its a waste of the already limited space. and you can't turn it off. If you put your phone there to "store" it- the charger will engage and make the phone very warm/hot to the touch. I was also surprised that I could not connect wirelessly to Apple Play. The phone needs to be pulled in.
No other real complaints. The car does everything very well. I didn't give the car a 5 star because of storage and WiFi annoyances.
Fun car, happy with purchase.
4 out of 5 starsNPJ, 06/24/2019
2019 Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
Overall I give it 4 stars. I tend to have high expectations when it comes to cars, and its difficult to find a vehicle in today's market that checks all of the boxes. This car comes close, with some minor annoyances. Pros: Great look, gets lots of compliments with the blue exterior and black optic package. Comfortable ride, great handling/acceleration, lots of room in the back for … cargo. Fit/finish. Dealer was great to work with. Cons: ZERO storage up front. I went from a large SUV to this and truly didn't realize the amount of junk I keep in my car. The one small area in the center to store things has the wireless charger, so you have to keep it clear to use this feature. The glove box won't close if you put anything larger than a pair of sunglasses in it. Summer tires come standard on any appealing wheel choice, so I'll have to get a pair of all-seasons for the winter. Why Audi offers standard AWD and doesn't offer all-seasons is beyond me. Back seat leg room is meant for small children, middle seat is useless. Some paint chipping on the hood lip with less than 1k miles. Overall happy with the car, but will probably regret the purchase once I'm a few months into the payment.
34 mpg on a 52 Horsepower engine!
5 out of 5 starsjamsbong, 01/18/2024
2019 Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
Anyone who knows a bit about cars knows that the more power the engine can produce, the less fuel efficient it gets. Audi/VW has really done well with their latest EA888 gen 3.5 engine with 34 mpg and up to 40 mpg on a perfect summer day.
Audi is always the most extreme weather capable vehicle that money can buy and it does it in luxurious comfort and style. No other car maker comes … close to the ease of car control in snow and blizzard conditions. Subaru is probably the only other company that can do this, but I always prefer Audi (and this is my 3rd Audi).
On the side note, never try to go cheap on tires especially if you live in bad weather environment. The Michelin crossclimate 2 is the real deal, it grips so well on many inches of snow like it is a dry road. You still need to be careful on braking and this is where your foot sensitivity is better than relying on ABS.
The car has good practicality for the style. A lot of length in the rear booth allows me to transport bulky stuff easily. This car also comes with a real spare tire and not just a run-flats or repair kit with no spare tire. IMO, this is what all cars should come with but they don't these days.
My car comes with cold climate package that has steering heating and rear seat heating. The steering heating is really comfortable and has minimal hot spot. The seats are still made of real leather unlike many other brands (BMW).
Unofficial customization. If you get a Carista OBD dongle, you can customize the car's display as well as turn off the start/stop function. I never use the start/stop function so it is permanently turned off and I still get 34 mpg easily. You can also turn off/on the fake engine noise. If you do that, you'll realize the sound of engine is practically absent. Another testament to the amazing engineering of this car. My car is out of warranty so I have nothing to lose.
The car currently has done 88000 miles.
Now some CONs:
There is no touch screen on the infotainment but it comes with real buttons. No touch screen means navigating on Carplay is very primitive.
The ground clearance is very low - less than 10 mm in some areas and the long front overhang does not help. So my car has been scraped quite a few times and the plastic shield underneath has scratches and cracks...
The car does not have real fog lights. This is a real pain when driving in the dark on bad weather. So I ended up installing some aftermarket lights which helps a lot.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Audi A5, so we've included reviews for other years of the A5 since its last redesign.
2021 A5 Highlights
Hatchback
Premium
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $41,800 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Mild hybrid |
Combined MPG | 28 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $161/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 21.8 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the A5 models:
- Audi Pre Sense City
- Warns of an impending front collision and automatically applies the brakes if you don't.
- Audi Side Assist
- Notifies you if there's a car in your blind spot and alerts you if you activate the turn signal.
- Vehicle Exit Warning
- Alerts passengers when a vehicle or bicyclist is approaching from behind, to prevent them from opening the door into traffic.
NHTSA Overall Rating
5 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall4 / 5Driver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover5 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover9.9%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestGood
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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