2021 Audi A5

Carvana (opens in a new tab) calls the 2021 A5 a mid-cycle refresh of the second generation with revised front and rear styling, a newer 10.1-inch touchscreen, broader wireless Apple CarPlay integration and more standard safety equipment, but no platform or chassis redesign. Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gets a boost from 248 horsepower to 261 for 2021, plus a new 12-volt hybrid system, and Audi Car Market (opens in a new tab) adds standard lane departure warning on the A5 Sportback.

Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) puts the cheapest 2021 A5, the Premium sedan body, at a Fair Purchase Price of $24,000 and rates fuel economy at 23/31 to 25/34 mpg city and highway. EPA rates the 2021 A5 at 26 to 28 mpg combined and $2,750 to $3,000 a year in fuel, with all-wheel drive.

NHTSA lists five recall campaigns for the 2021 A5. 21V295000 covers a lock nut on the rear axle trailing arm that may break from stress corrosion, and dealers replace the nuts and bolts if needed, while 22V034000 covers cars whose rear axle alignment may not have been inspected after that repair. 21V606000 covers rear seat belt retractors that may deactivate early and keep a child restraint from securing properly, 20V737000 covers a rear light wiring harness missing anti-abrasion protection near the spare wheel well, and 22V742000 covers a software issue that may show a blank screen instead of the rearview camera image.

Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA: unknown or other and electrical system with 2 each, and engine, power train, air bags and seats with 1 each. Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) keeps a common-problems page for the year, and VinSpectorAI (opens in a new tab) reports the same pattern of uncategorized and electrical complaints.

EPA rates the 2021 A5 at 26 to 28 mpg combined and $2,750 to $3,000 a year in fuel. The BMW 4 Series lists 26 to 29 at $2,650 to $3,000, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class 20 to 27 at $2,850 to $3,900, and the Lexus RC 19 to 25 at $3,100 to $4,100. The A5 sits just below the 4 Series and above the C-Class and RC on efficiency.