In-depth reviews

Audi RS5 review

The Audi RS5 is an incredibly fast and comfortable coupe, but it’s not as fun as some rivals

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Price
£76,950 to £94,850
  • Huge performance
  • Great cruiser
  • Top interior
  • Not as fun as rivals
  • Dull engine
  • Not exciting to drive
Find your Audi RS5
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Advertisement

The Audi RS5 is incredibly fast in a straight line, sticks like little else in the corners and yet it’s a refined, comfortable and easy car to live with at the same time. Since the introduction of the diesel-powered S5, there’s a little more to help the RS model to stand alone at the top of the family; however, buyers can get 90% of that feeling from the slightly less powerful car in the A5 range.

The RS 5 still lacks the outright sharpness and excitement of high-performance rivals from BMW and Mercedes. It’s also missing a crucial ingredient that made previous models fun – a great engine. While the twin turbo V6 certainly packs a punch, it doesn’t have the character – both in terms of sound and delivery – to make an impact.

Audi has established the RS badge as the name of its performance models, and the RS 5 is a mainstay of the range. RS cars benefit from input from Audi Sport, the company's motorsport division, and the RS badge carries as much weight with performance car fans as the M badge from BMW and Mercedes' AMG brand.

The RS 5 is the fastest version of the A5 on sale, available in two-door Coupe and five-door Sportback body styles. It slots in above the S5 models and features the same running gear as the high-performance RS 4 Avant estate. That means it gets a 2.9 TFSI 444bhp twin-turbo V6 under the bonnet, quattro four-wheel drive and an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox as standard. This gives a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds, while the top speed is 174mph. 

The main rival for the RS 5 is the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S, which is available in saloon, coupe, estate and convertible body styles.

Another model created in a similar vein to the Audi RS 5 is the Lexus RC F, while the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is a four-door saloon that offers performance in the same ballpark. What all these cars have in common – and marks them out from the quattro RS 5 –  is rear-wheel drive. Unfortunately for the Audi, that means most rivals are more engaging to drive, although the RS 5 does make up for this with the ability to cover ground at remarkable speed, even in inclement weather.

Compared to the standard Audi A5 Coupe and A5 Sportback, the RS 5 gets an aggressive makeover, with wider wheelarches evoking the look of the original Audi Quattro, 19-inch forged alloy wheels, LED headlights and satin silver trim. If you want to turn things up a notch, Audi offers the Carbon Black version with a black carbon roof, wing mirrors and extra detailing, along with the Vorsprung model which adds unique 20-inch alloys, a gloss-black styling pack and RS Sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC).

Prices for the RS 5 Coupe are identical and start at around £69,000 – a figure that puts it squarely against its BMW and Mercedes rivals.

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    RS 5 TFSI Quattro 2dr Tiptronic
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £74,365

Most Economical

  • Name
    RS 5 TFSI Quattro 2dr Tiptronic
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £74,365

Fastest

  • Name
    RS 5 TFSI Quattro 2dr Tiptronic
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £74,365

More on RS5

New Audi RS 5 Coupe 2020 review
Road tests
7 May 2020

New Audi RS 5 Coupe 2020 review

Facelift rejuvenates the Audi RS 5 Coupe’s looks, but not its character
Audi RS 5 Coupe and Sportback models get 2020 tweaks
Audi RS 5 Coupe - front
News
10 Dec 2019

Audi RS 5 Coupe and Sportback models get 2020 tweaks

New tech and design changes introduced to 444bhp RS 5 models; prices set to remain around the £70,000 mark
Audi RS 5 review
Audi RS5 Sportback - front tracking
Road tests
1 Jul 2019

Audi RS 5 review

We find out if the capable Audi RS 5 Sportback can also be fun
New Audi RS 5 Sportback joins line-up in New York
Audi RS 5 Sportback - New York front
News
29 Mar 2018

New Audi RS 5 Sportback joins line-up in New York

The new Audi RS 5 Sportback will arrive in the UK in the summer, using the same 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 found in the coupe
Audi RS 4 and RS 5 Carbon Editions priced from £71k
Audi RS 5 Carbon Edition - front
News
26 Sep 2017

Audi RS 4 and RS 5 Carbon Editions priced from £71k

If a standard Audi RS 4 Avant or RS 5 Coupe isn’t quite special enough for you, the Carbon Edition might be just the ticket.
Audi RS 5 vs BMW M4 vs Mercedes-AMG C 63 S
Audi RS 5 vs BMW M4 vs Mercedes-AMG C 63 S
Car group tests
26 Aug 2017

Audi RS 5 vs BMW M4 vs Mercedes-AMG C 63 S

We find out if the 444bhp Audi RS 5 can beat its BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C 63 S rivals
New Audi RS 5 2017 review
Audi RS5 - front
Road tests
3 Aug 2017

New Audi RS 5 2017 review

Potent new Audi RS 5 coupe has been downsized to a V6, but is it still fun to drive?
New Audi RS5 Sportback gearing up for Frankfurt Motor Show
Audi RS5 Sportback spy shot front quarter
News
1 Aug 2017

New Audi RS5 Sportback gearing up for Frankfurt Motor Show

RS5 line-up to grow with the addition of a five-door Sportback model at Frankfurt in September
New 2017 Audi RS5: UK prices announced for 444bhp coupe
Audi RS5 2017 - front cornering
News
3 May 2017

New 2017 Audi RS5: UK prices announced for 444bhp coupe

RS5 Coupe available to order this month for deliveries in summer, with prices starting from £62,900
Audi RS5 vs BMW M4 & BMW M3 drag race
RS5 vs M4 vs M3 drag race
Videos
26 Aug 2015

Audi RS5 vs BMW M4 & BMW M3 drag race

We pit the Audi RS5 against the BMW M4 in this drag race... but for an extra bit of fun, an E92 BMW M3 turned up to join in!
Audi RS5 (2013-2016) review
Audi RS5 front action
In-depth reviews
9 Jul 2014

Audi RS5 (2013-2016) review

The Audi RS5 offers masses of performance and four-wheel drive, but a BMW M4 is faster in the corners
BMW M4 vs Audi RS5: video track battle
M4 vs RS5
Videos
25 Jun 2014

BMW M4 vs Audi RS5: video track battle

We test the new BMW M4 against the benchmark fast coupe, the Audi RS5, on track
Audi RS5 Cabriolet (2013-2017) review
Audi RS5 Cabriolet front cornering
In-depth reviews
25 Jun 2013

Audi RS5 Cabriolet (2013-2017) review

Is the new Audi RS5 Cabriolet the best way to enjoy the firm’s excellent 444bhp 4.2-litre V8 engine?
Audi RS5 Cabriolet
Audi RS5 Cabriolet front tracking
Road tests
12 Dec 2012

Audi RS5 Cabriolet

Is the Audi RS5 Cabrio worthy of the esteemed RS badge? We headed to Southern France to find out
Audi RS5 and Ducati at Pikes Peak
Videos
13 Aug 2012

Audi RS5 and Ducati at Pikes Peak

German carmaker follows up Audi RS5 teaser image by teaming up with Ducati
Audi RS5
Audi RS5
Road tests
13 Apr 2010

Audi RS5

Is Audi's mighty new super coupe at last a successor to the original Quattro? We take a test drive to find out.