Why Is the 2021 Audi S5 Important?
In an attempt to offer consumers as many choices as possible, luxury automakers are offering the same nameplate in multiple body styles and with various performance levels. With buyers looking for vehicles with more performance than entry-level vehicles, but not wanting to move up to models with supercar-like performance, the S5 hits the sweet spot in the middle. Mercedes-AMG offers the C 43 and BMW has the M340i and M440i xDrive Coupe, and you can think of the Audi S5 as a direct competitor to these vehicles.
With automakers working on making their high-performance vehicles even more performance-oriented, vehicles like the S5 play a crucial role in giving consumers a usable amount of power without costing a fortune. The current S5 has been on sale since 2018, receiving only minor changes since then. As more consumers shift toward SUVs, it’s unlikely that automakers will continually update niche vehicles like sportbacks, coupes, and convertibles at a quick pace.
At the moment, Audi offers just four convertibles, three of which are high-performance trims. Coupes aren't as popular as they once were, either, and the S5 coupe is one of just seven two-door models that Audi will sell in 2021.
Exterior Design: Subtly Aggressive
The S5’s main rivals flaunt their performance nature with large fender flares, bulging hoods, and sharp lines, but Audi’s mid-level performer is more conservative. That certainly doesn’t mean it’s boring, and when compared to the regular A5, the S5 is longer, shorter, and ever so slightly more aggressive.
The large trapezoidal grille at the front sets the tone for the S5, sitting in front of a rigid hood and angular LED headlights. The car’s few sharp edges are found on the front where the fog lights are nestled into the front fascia. At the back, the S5 wears modern taillights and a modest rear spoiler. The only identifying parts that point toward the S5’s performance include quad exhaust tips and a rear diffuser.
While the S5 comes with 18-inch wheels as standard, larger 19-inch units are available. With the available S Sport package, the S5 is fitted with red brake calipers and a few performance parts. The Black Optic package gives the model a blacked-out look with black exterior trim, black mirror housings, and 20-inch wheels.
Interior Design and Features: Barely Any Changes
The only changes Audi has made to the S5’s interior for the 2021 model year come in the form of new features. Wireless Apple CarPlay and a rearview mirror that now houses an integrated toll module are standard. Tacking on the Convenience package now brings a heated steering wheel, while the S5 Sportback’s Prestige trim has standard heated rear seats. The changes aren’t revolutionary, but they do help the S5 feel slightly more upscale.
The S5 is a tale of two different stories when it comes to interior space. Coupe and Cabriolet models only offer seating for up to four people, and the seats in the back don’t offer spacious accommodations for adults. Both the coupe and Cabriolet offer little in the way of cargo capacity, too, offering just 10.9 and 7.3 cubic feet of trunk space, respectively.
As a hatchback, the S5 Sportback offers a spacious cargo area that provides 21.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. Additionally, the Sportback has 37 inches of rear headroom and 35.1 inches of rear legroom, which is much better than the coupe and Cabriolet body styles. Plus, the Sportback seats up to five, one more than other body styles. If daily comfort is what you’re looking for, the Sportback continues to be the best choice.
Regardless of body style, the S5 features one of the more upscale cabins for the class. In addition to its stylish, modern design, the interior features first-class materials. Even the base Premium trim comes well equipped with things like heated front seats, leather upholstery, three-zone automatic climate control, 12-way sport front seats, and a panoramic sunroof as standard.
Powertrain: Like it Was In 2018
Audi hasn’t touched the S5’s powertrain since the vehicle was redesigned in 2018. If you liked it back then, there’s a good chance you’ll like it now. All S5 models come with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine that’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Power is rated at 349 horsepower and is routed through Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system. In the coupe body style, that results in a zero to 60 mph time of 4.4 seconds.
While the 2021 S5 is more powerful than the previous generation, which used a supercharged V6 engine, it can’t match its main competitors' available engines. The turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 in the Mercedes-AMG C 43 produces 385 horsepower and the BMW M440i xDrive has a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that is rated at 382 horsepower. Despite the extra power, the models aren’t that much quicker than the S5, as the AMG C 43 has a zero to 60 mph time of 4.5 seconds and the M440i xDrive completes the run in 4.3 seconds.
Ride and Handling: Confidently Planted
Out of the box, the S5 is a natural performer, but it doesn’t feel like a true sports car because of its size. With a copious amount of grip from the standard all-wheel-drive system and an engaging chassis, the S5 is still fun to drive in any guise. Audi fits the S5 with stiff suspension as standard, helping the model stay relatively flat around corners. Unfortunately, the S5’s design lets it down, as the model carries most of its weight on its nose, leading to understeer when pushed hard.
Audi offers the S5 with a few available packages that make it sharper to drive. In addition to red brake calipers, the S Sport package brings a torque-vectoring rear differential and adaptive suspension. The combination increases the S5’s performance around corners, while the suspension brings a slightly firmer ride for improved handling capabilities. Even with the adaptive suspension, the S5 never feels overly firm.
Dynamic steering, which reduces steering effort during low-speed driving and parking maneuvers and makes it heavier when driving on the highway, is another option. While the steering is well weighted, it provides minimal feedback from the road. At $1,150, the system isn’t cheap, either, and is worth skipping over.
Infotainment and Connectivity: Tech For Days
Last year, the S5 received a new tech update to include a 10.1-inch touch screen instead of requiring drivers to use a cumbersome rotary dial and buttons. The changes resulted in the S5 featuring one of the more user-friendly systems in the class. Additionally, at 10.1 inches, the touch screen is one of the larger screens for the luxury small car segment. Compared to the dual-screen setup in the S6, the S5’s may seem old fashioned, but it’s far easier to use.
Audi’s MIB infotainment system itself is crisp, responsive, and intuitive, so it’s very easy to get used to. With wireless Apple CarPlay as standard for 2021, iPhone users no longer have to worry about plugging their phones in to use smartphone compatibility. Sorry, Android users, you still need a wire to access Android Auto, though wireless compatibility should be introduced shortly.
Sitting directly in front of the driver is a 7-inch driver information display in the gauges. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit system is available and replaces the 7-inch display with one that measures in at 12 inches. It’s highly customizable, allowing the driver to put navigation information, critical vehicle data, music, and other information directly in front of them.
As with many other high-end vehicles in the segment, the S5 is available with a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, Wi-Fi hot spot, additional USB ports, and wireless device charging as optional.
Safety Technology: Not All Trims Are Equal
Confusingly, Audi offers different standard safety features for different body styles. For the coupe and Cabriolet body styles, automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning are standard. The latter is a new feature for 2021. Higher trim levels come with a surround-view camera, rear automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, vehicle exit warning, adaptive cruise control, and front and rear parking sensors.
The S5 Sportback comes with front and rear automatic emergency braking as standard, along with lane departure warning. Once again, parking sensors, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, vehicle exit warning, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera are only available on higher trim levels.
Cargo Room: Just As You Expected
With just 7.3 cubic feet of cargo space in the Cabriolet and 10.9 cubic feet of cargo space in the coupe, those two S5 body styles aren’t exactly spacious. On the other hand, the S5 Sportback is very spacious because of its hatchback body style. With the rear seats in place, the Sportback has 21.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which expands to a total of 35 cubic feet of cargo space.
Fuel Economy: Not That Bad
The coupe is the most efficient body style in the lineup, earning EPA fuel economy estimates of 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. For a performance vehicle with standard all-wheel drive, those figures aren’t that bad for the class.
Trim Levels and Pricing
All three body styles of the S5 are available in the same three trims: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. Prices start at $52,500 for the coupe Premium, $56,100 for the Premium Plus, and go up to $60,600 for the Prestige trim. The Sportback costs the same as the coupe, but is an extra $300 for the Prestige trim. The S5 Cabriolet is the most expensive option, starting at $60,600 and going up to $68,700.
The Competition
The S5, especially in its Sportback body style, offers something few others on the market can – performance and versatility. Also, with its performance powertrains, the S5 sits in an interesting part of the segment.
Because of its price tag, size, and performance, the S5 competes against the Mercedes-AMG C 43, Kia Stinger, BMW M340i, BMW 440i xDrive Convertible, M440i xDrive, Lexus RC, Cadillac CT4, and Genesis G70.
2021 Audi S5 cabriolet front row seats view
2021 Audi S5 coupe left carbon fiber mirror cap detail
2021 Audi S5 Bang and Olufsen detail
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A Grown-Up and Luxurious Performer
Audi currently uses three letters to designate its cars: A, S, and RS. If there’s an A badge in front of a car’s name, that signifies that it’s part of the regular lineup. The S badge brings more performance, while the RS badge is only found on the most high-performing vehicles. In the breakdown of Audi’s lineup, the 2021 S5 sits in the middle, offering performance-oriented powertrains and components on top of more luxury features than the standard Audi A5 luxury car line. For many consumers, the S5 signifies the best combination of everything the automaker offers.
For the 2021 model year, Audi continues to offer the S5 in various body styles, including Cabriolet (convertible), Sportback, and coupe. Despite having different bodies, they all share the same powertrain, styling, and high-quality materials. All body styles enter the new year with minimal changes that include wireless Apple CarPlay and an integrated toll module in the rearview mirror. Sportback models now come with lane departure warning as standard, too. The range-topping Premium Plus trim gets a few upgrades, as well, now coming with adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera. Once again, the Sportback’s Premium Plus trim gets an extra goodie with lane keeping assist.
The 2021 Audi S5 may not be the newest luxury small car on the market, but it continues to be one of the best offerings. It currently sits in third place in our ranking, because of its high-end interior, powerful powertrain, and comfortable ride. In this article, we’ll give you a preview of the 2021 S5.