2024 Audi A5

The 2024 Audi A5 is nearly a class by itself. Though related to Audi's A4 small sedan, the A5 comes in coupe, convertible and four-door hatchback body styles. Most luxury automakers have given up on offering two-door cars, but the A5 continues to impress with its understated style, refined interior, standard all-wheel drive and many available advanced technology features.

The BMW 4 Series is the A5's closest analog, a sporty German compact also available in coupe, convertible and four-door hatchback styles. It's a notch better balanced and more engaging than the Audi, but not enough to matter. The aging Lexus RC 300 and RC 350 are more affordable coupe alternatives, but they're slower and offer even less rear seat space.

The A5 is about due for a new look, but it won't be this year. Instead, the sporty coupe, convertible and compact four-door styles get a handful of new standard features, including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, parking sensors and a heated steering wheel. The navigation system is also updated with traffic sign recognition. Such complacency might raise an eyebrow in more competitive, faster-moving segments, but sporty coupes are few. Drivers seeking even bigger thrills can even opt for the higher-performance S5 and RS 5 models, which are reviewed separately on Edmunds.