The Audi RS5 is incredibly fast in a straight line, sticks like little else in the corners and yet it’s refined, comfortable and easy to live with at the same time. However, buyers can get 90 per cent of that feeling from a slightly less powerful car in the A5 range, the S5 being the obvious choice - and this top-end model just isn’t as sharp as its high-performance rivals from BMW and Mercedes. It’s also missing a crucial ingredient that made previous models fun - a great engine. The new model’s V6 is just too plain to make an impact.
Many buyers will be happy knowing that their car is the fastest, most expensive A5 in the range - and of course the cabin’s red stitching, Alcantara trim and sport seats mean it has the best interior of the bunch. Audi’s interior design is out in full force here, beating all comers with its neat, clean design, hi-tech infotainment system and beautiful materials all around.
Audi’s Virtual Cockpit comes as standard, and it’s one of the best in the industry. It clearly shows sat-nav and any other info right in front of you. There’s a special RS mode that shows a prominent tachometer and other performance-related info.
The exterior matches that, too - it’s aggressive without being overblown, and the sporty exterior add-ons really suit the RS5. The LED headlights with vents at the sides hint at previous RS models, and the wider grille gives the Audi a very smart look.
As you’d expect, the RS5 is mighty in a straight line, especially as that four-wheel drive system means the wheels stick to the road - and it’s the same story in the corners. It’s easy to throw into bends and power out of them, relying on the clever torque control system to send power where it can help pivot the car around the bend.
There’s loads of grip, but the RS5 is still behind the M4 and C63 on fun in the corners. It tends towards understeer unless you push it really hard - something that requires perfect road conditions (or a track). The others feel more playful and rewarding. It’s great if you simply want to go really fast down a great road, but we’d still like it to be more involving.
The RS5’s quick steering and grippy chassis are complimented by a stiff suspension set-up when you select Dynamic mode. This reduces roll and makes the car feel sharper - and the steering is weighted well and has a decent amount of feel. It’s still a little way behind an M4 on that front, though.
Flip the adaptive dampers into comfort mode and the RS5 settles down very well. It’s much more refined than a BMW M4 when you’re driving normally, and felt pretty comfortable on our French test route. While the RS5 has a dual character with its driving modes, it’s clearly focused on comfort over ultimate sharpness, as the Dynamic mode doesn’t make it feel like a totally different car, just a slightly stiffer one.
On the motorway the RS5 is quiet, composed and comfy - it’s what this car was built to do. The seats, driving position and high-quality interior all contribute to the RS5’s ‘fast cruiser’ feel. Of course the torquey engine means overtaking is a cinch.
However if you’re thinking of buying an RS5 on that basis, an S5 - or even the 249bhp high-power four-cylinder petrol - is a lot cheaper to buy, and you still get all of those things that make it a top motorway cruiser.
The RS5’s eight-speed tipronic automatic gearbox is pretty good, changing gear quickly and smoothly. A parp from the exhaust on each upshift will please some (and annoy others), but the gearbox’s only real issue is the set of plastic, clicky paddles on the back of the wheel that seem cheap in a car of this price.
Engines
The new engine is a disappointment, as it feels - and sounds - flat. It’s nowhere near as exciting as the old V8, nor the V8 in the Mercedes C63 AMG - and even the boosty straight-six in the BMW M4 has more character.
Similar to the unit in the S5, the V6 appears to have been designed to deliver performance on a spec sheet rather than excitement on the road. It’ll do 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, and does feel extremely quick when you hit the throttle, but the dull engine note and torquey power delivery mean it’s more like a big diesel than a frantic, exciting petrol in character.
The torque figure of 600Nm is eye-catching on the spec sheet, and you can certainly feel that on the road. From 1,900rpm to 5,000rpm it surges, though that does sacrifice the top-end somewhat, so short-shifting is the way to go here.
In our 2017 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, Audi scored am 18th place finish in the manufacturer section - just behind Fiat and in front of Ford. That was a poor result for the brand, but it did at least manage to win against key rival Mercedes in our poll. 15 per cent of owners said they had experienced a fault with their cars, and owners ranked their Audis poorly for reliability and build quality.
Five stars from Euro NCAP mean the A5, and RS5, are very safe cars, though. The 89 per cent score for adult protection is strong, and there’s ISOFIX, autonomous braking and stability control as standard.
Warranty
Every Audi comes with a three-year or 60,000 mile warranty. That’s the same as industry standard, but rivals Mercedes and BMW both offer an unlimited mileage three-year warranty period.
There’s 465 litres of space in the boot, so the Audi is more practical than the M4 or C63. The load area is wide and opens up easily, so there won’t be an issue with big suitcases or heavy bags.
There’s enough space in the rear seats for adults, but legroom and headroom aren’t good enough for long trips spent there. If there’s a tall driver, passengers in the back will find that they’re feeling very cramped, but that’s true of almost every car in this segment, particularly the BMW M4 and Mercedes C63 AMG.
Four-wheel drive means it’ll be more capable in a muddy field than its rivals, though, which could be a problem on a trip to a music festival or even a car show.
With a fuel economy figure of 32.5mpg claimed by the manufacturer, the RS5 is actually a surprisingly economical car considering that it’ll go from 0-62mph in less than four seconds. Take it out of that context, though, and you’re still left with a car that will cost quite a lot to run. 197g/km CO2 emissions and a high list price means you’ll have to pay £450 a year in tax just to keep it on the road, too.
At £62,900, it’s not cheap to buy either, and insurance costs will be through the roof. We’d still go with a lower-powered S5 model if you absolutely have to have an Audi, as it’ll be cheaper to buy, run and be nearly as fun overall.
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