The Audi A5 Sportback is a distinctive variant of the brand’s A5 lineup of small luxury cars, which also includes a coupe and a convertible. This Audi was introduced just a couple of years ago and gets a refresh in exterior styling and features for 2020. Competitors include the BMW 4 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class as well as the Kia Stinger and Genesis G70.

The A5 Sportback’s sleek design gets updated with a new honeycomb grille inspired by classic Audi performance models. The front end also gets larger air inlets and new trim elements for more aerodynamic looks. LED lighting comes standard front and back, and Premium Plus and Prestige trims each get a distinctive upgraded LED light design. The optional Black optic package adds black trim, exclusive 19-inch wheels, body-matched door handles, and dark aluminum inlays.

The A5 Sportback’s powertrain carries over unchanged. It features a 2.0-liter TFSI 4-cylinder engine, plus a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic (DCT) transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD). This system is good for 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque and gets fuel economy ratings of 24 mpg city, 32 highway, and 27 combined on premium gas. Four driving modes come standard for Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual settings, and a sport suspension system is available.

The A5 Sportback’s sophisticated and athletic design carries over inside, across Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige trims. Standard features include an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, and a power liftgate. Options include ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel.

For 2020, the A5 Sportback gets updated with Audi’s latest infotainment system, the all-new Modular Infotainment Matrix 3. The touchscreen display now measures 10.1 inches and features voice control with cloud connectivity. Audi hasn’t yet specified, but it’s reasonable to assume Bluetooth, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay will remain standard. The Audi Virtual Cockpit 12.3-inch customizable information display is available. Other options include WiFi connectivity and a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the 2019 A5 Sportback with top Good scores in six crash tests. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2020 model a 5-star overall rating out of a possible 5 stars. Standard safety features include a reversing camera, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and a pre-collision preparation system. Options include a surround-view camera system, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, front and rear parking sensors, a head-up display, traffic-sign recognition, and safe-exit assist.

The Audi A5 is a relatively practical option for a small, entry-level luxury car, and the Sportback model adds practicality to Audi's typically strong performance.