Audi RS5 Reviews

Like the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove, the RS5 packs a powerful punch, boasting a 450-hp 4.2-liter V-8 that loves to rev. There is a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, Quattro all-wheel drive, and a sport-tuned suspension, all on hand for maximum driving enjoyment. The RS5 is available as coupe or as a cabriolet for those who like a little sun with their fun. While it’s pricey—and could still use a bit more soul—few cars combine speed and beauty at so high a level as the RS5.Overview: The Audi RS5 is what happens when you give the gang at Quattro GmbH, Audi’s in-house performance division, a long leash and an open checkbook. While it shares its basic silhouette with the comparatively pedestrian A5/S5 coupe, the RS5 is an entirely different beast. At its core is a 450-hp 4.2-liter naturally aspirated V-8 that loves to rev to its 8300-rpm redline. (For those keeping score, that’s more than double the 220 horsepower produced by the turbocharged 2.0-liter four found in the A5 and 117 more than the 333-hp 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 in the S5.) All-wheel drive is standard, and Audi’s seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic is the sole transmission choice.

Although the RS5-specific front fascia, large wheel flares, and slightly wider rear track hint at its pedigree, Audi plays this one close to the vest. The retractable rear wing, which deploys at about 75 mph, is one of the few extroverted elements. Well, that, and the finely tuned growl from the optional sport exhaust, which added $1000 to the bottom line of the 2015 Audi RS5 model we recently drove. Likewise, the interior keeps things on the down low, sharing the same basic layout and instrumentation as the A5 and S5. The materials imbue a reserved, high-quality feel, and the fit and assembly is befitting of a vehicle costing $70K-plus.What’s New: By the time the RS5 made it stateside, it had already spent two years burning up the roads on the Continent. We came away from a drive of the 2011 model so impressed we booked a return trip to Europe with the sole purpose ofpitting the Audi RS5 against the Cadillac CTS-V and the BMW M3. But while those cars have moved on—the M3 coupe is now the M4 and the CTS-V is all-new for 2016 and now sedan-only—the changes to the RS5 are minimal. Updates for 2015 include optional goodies such as matte-black 20-inch five-spoke wheels and red brake calipers, as well as the fact that blind-spot warning joins the $2900 Technology package and the Black Optic Plus package has been updated to include a carbon-fiber engine cover.

What We Like: At the top of the list is the engine. While the rest of the world continues to lean on forced induction to compensate for shrinking displacement and dwindling cylinder counts, the RS5’s 450-hp 4.2-liter V-8 stands as a textbook example of naturally aspirated performance. In a car sometimes criticized for a lack of soul—including by us—an engine capable of making every run to redline a sonically charged event is an asset. We’re also fond of the exterior’s understated elegance, the supportive and comfortable seats, and the fact that the rear seats are actually large enough for genuine humans—for short trips anyway. The electric power steering setup was one of the best on the market when the RS5 hit our shores for 2013; while competitors have caught up, the RS5’s system still provides linear response and satisfactory weighting without being twitchy. The RS5 offers predictable handling to counter the awesome thrust of the V-8, with moderate understeer signaling when the limits of adhesion are near.What We Don’t Like: We’d be lying if we said we wouldn’t want to experience the RS5 with manual transmission bolted to its lusty V-8 (as in the 2007 Audi RS4 sedan). In that same vein, the RS5 can come off as being a bit sterile and, yes, devoid of soul. At about 4050 pounds, it’s no lightweight, and despite its performance bona fides, at times it doesn’t seem to take any particular glee in demonstrating them. (Typical German, right?) And then there’s the price. With a base MSRP of $71,825, its point of entry is at least a few grand richer than that of competitors such as the Mercedes-AMG C63, Lexus RC F, and BMW M4.

Verdict: There are sharper tools in the sports-coupe shed, but the RS5 is arguably the easiest to handle and most forgiving of the bunch.