Item: Audi R8
Rating: 4
Author: Steve Huntingford

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

Compared with supercars such as the Ferrari F8 Tributo and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lamborghini/huracan/coupe/review/n17163">Lamborghini Huracan</a>, the Audi R8 looks good value, especially the RWD. However, it still costs considerably more than many other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-cars-2022/n24412">sports cars</a>, including most versions of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a>.

With its maniacal V10 engine, it's obviously not going to be cheap to run, with insurance, servicing costs, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-are-wltp-and-rde-new-fuel-tests-explained/n1223">fuel consumption</a> and road tax all coming in at 'extremely pricey'. The R8 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/depreciation-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-avoid-it/n1122">depreciates slowly</a>, though, which will help if you’re planning to sell it on in a few years, and that's also good news if you’re planning to buy your R8 on finance – its hefty residual values keep the monthly instalments competitive.

As a cash purchase the Performance RWD, our favourite model, costs far more than the entry-level 911 but you make a lot of that back in the equipment it comes with. The highlights include: 19in alloy wheels, keyless entry, heated seats, metallic or pearlescent paint, climate control, nappa leather with Alcantara sports seats and power-folding door mirrors.

Upgrading to Performance quattro adds full nappa leather bucket seats, 20in alloy wheels, some exterior styling tweaks, extended nappa leather throughout the interior and, of course, more power and four-wheel drive. Both Performance RWD Edition and Performance quattro Edition add further styling tweaks and an upgraded Bang and Olufsen stereo system.

The R8 doesn’t come with as much safety and security kit you find on more down-to-earth Audis, but then neither do most sports cars. You get four airbags, an alarm and immobiliser, and that’s about your lot. A tracker is available as an official dealer-fit accessory – worth considering for the extra security it provides.

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The Audi R8’s wonderful 5.2-litre V10 comes in two states of tune: 562bhp in the Performance RWD versions (rear-wheel drive) or 611bhp if you opt for Performance quattro four-wheel drive versions.&nbsp;

Whichever you choose, there’s one constant: the fusion of noise and visceral performance that beats the competition hands down – well, apart from the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lamborghini/huracan/coupe/review/n17163"> Lamborghini Huracan</a>, which uses the same motor but with even more volume. Er... and perhaps the fantastic flat six in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n17328">Porsche 911 GT3</a>.&nbsp;

Regardless, there’s much to be adored about the R8’s V10 and whichever version you choose, it sounds belting. At low revs, it’s rich with deep induction noise. At mid revs, you get the distinctively discordant V10 tune. At high revs, it’s screaming with the mechanical thrash from its four flailing cams. It’s thrilling. Quite, quite thrilling.&nbsp;

On top of the noise though, there’s another reason the R8’s V10 is so good; it’s naturally aspirated. That means that there’s no turbocharger inducing lag (the delay between putting your foot down and the car starting to accelerate) like you’ll feel in the turbocharged <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/amg-gt/coupe/review/n17866">Mercedes-AMG GT</a> (even if it is only slight). Instead, this V10 responds instantly to every tendon twitch and rips through the rev range to 8000rpm.

It doesn’t feel as forceful at low revs as a turbocharged engine, but who cares? It’s far from weak and in higher gears, at low speeds, it starts pulling well from 3000rpm. Yet the real fireworks begin after 5000rpm, and that staged trajectory adds to its appeal: the shove isn’t all in one hit, like a turbocharged slam dunk at 1500rpm.

You’ll be rewarded for revving it out with potent performance. So potent that even the entry-level RWD is fast enough, rattling off 0-62mph in 3.7sec. Not quite fast enough for you? The Performance quattro knocks over half a second off that (0-62mph in 3.1sec), owing to its extra power and the added four-wheel-drive traction.&nbsp;&nbsp;

But what about handling? Well, while the steering is well-weighted it doesn’t quite give the same engagement as the 911 GT3, nor does it communicate information about the road surface or how much grip you have with quite as much clarity. Even so, it’s intuitive and direct enough to allow you to place the car with accuracy.&nbsp;

Likewise, the R8 isn’t quite as hungry to dive for an apex as the Ferrari F8 Tributo or 911 GT3. But we're talking small degrees here, and the Performance quattro versions have that advantage of amazing traction to counter. At the same time, their four-wheel-drive system is rear-biased, so they’re still playful but unlikely to bite by spinning you through a hedge.&nbsp;

That said, the R8 RWD is just as approachable. It rotates from the rear as you back off the accelerator on the way into a corner, then maintains a predictable slide as you power out. It’s so much fun that it’s our favourite version, even though we accept that the Performance quattro is technically superior, especially in the wet.&nbsp;

When you need to slow down, the R8’s standard cast-iron brake discs offer good stopping performance and lots of feel at high speed but they’re a bit snatchy around town. The Performance quattro is equipped with ceramic brakes as standard, which are less likely to overheat on a circuit.&nbsp;

So far, we’ve been talking about the R8’s speed, noise and poise, but what about its usability? Well, it turns out that it’s one of the most useable supercars you can buy. When the engine’s not being thrashed, it’s pretty quiet and there are no annoying theatrics, such as the contrived pops and bangs you hear from the tailpipes of the Vantage and AMG GT. It’ll even be more efficient than those rivals, thanks to its ability to shut off five of the ten cylinders when you’re cruising around.&nbsp;

The gearbox, which is as fast and responsive as you need it to be on a track, is smooth and jerk-free around town. What’s more, at 70mph on the motorway, the R8 is pretty hushed, suffering from less wind and road noise than a 911, a car that’s generally perceived as the go to ‘usable sports car’.&nbsp;

The R8 also rides better than the 911, especially the RWD. It doesn’t have fancy adaptive dampers (optional on the Performance quattro) that can change stiffness at the touch of a button. Instead, you get one setting that is unbelievably compliant, working as well at keeping things settled at speed as it does absorbing sleeping policemen in the city. There’s no sense of peril every time you’re faced with a ramp or ridge, either. Unlike the Huracan, which will graunch its nose on a piece of discarded chewing gum, the R8 climbs them with ease.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

Being naturally aspirated, the V10 rips through the rev range and responds immediately without the turbo lag you experience in most rivals. You do have to work the R8's engine harder to release all its performance – the real fireworks don’t start until it's past 5000rpm – but that simply adds to its glorious appeal because by then the noise it's making is spectacular. We love the 533bhp RWD version, which is fast enough, but the extra power (562bhp), its haste (0-62mph in 3.4sec) and the stability of quattro four-wheel drive are very appealing.

http://example.com

5.2 FSI V10 Quattro 

52-fsi-570-v10-performance-ed

Being naturally aspirated, the V10 rips through the rev range and responds immediately without the turbo lag you experience in most rivals. You do have to work the R8's engine harder to release all its performance – the real fireworks don’t start until it's past 5000rpm –  but that simply adds to its glorious appeal because by then the noise it's making is spectacular. We love the 533bhp RWD version, which is fast enough, but the extra power of the Performance (a mighty 612bhp), its haste (0-62mph takes just 3.1sec) and the stability of quattro four-wheel drive are all highly appealing.

5.2 FSI V10 Quattro Performance

52-v10-quattro-performance-ed-carbon

A spaceship&nbsp;landing in the brand's line-up. That’s how the Audi R8 was described – by Audi – when it arrived well over a decade ago.

Back then, we were used to Audi’s considered approach to its everyday models and also its flurries into motorsport, most notably with the legendary Audi Quattro rally car. But a supercar? That was new. That was news.&nbsp;And, a decade or so on, the R8 has garnered the respect of its rivals.

The latest version represents formidable competition to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/gt/coupe/review/n17866">Mercedes-AMG GT</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a>. It serves as a halo model for<a href="http://www.whatcar.com/make/audi"> Audi</a> Sports’ performance line-up, but it’s also been joined by the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/e-tron-gt/saloon/review/n22728">Audi E-tron GT</a> high-performance electric car.

That’s interesting because the Audi R8’s naturally-aspirated 5.2-litre V10 petrol engine is, perhaps, the very antithesis of the electric car. Looked at in basic terms, it’s a positively antiquated piece of engineering, and yet... it’s one of the best engines on sale today.&nbsp;

We’d go so far as to say that its only true rival in the Top Trumps of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-cars-2022/n24412">best sports cars</a> is the&nbsp;wonderful naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre flat six in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n17328">Porsche 911 GT3</a>. Why? Well, you can read all the reasons later in this review, but reason number one is: it sounds awesome. It can make anyone with a nuanced love of cars weak at the knees.&nbsp;

It comes in two different power outputs and both sport well north of 500bhp. Both versions come with an S tronic seven-speed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">dual-clutch automatic gearbox</a>, but there’s a choice of rear-wheel drive or quattro four-wheel drive.

Is all that enough to make it the pick of a talented bunch of seriously respected supercars? Read this review to find out. And whichever car you settle on, visit the free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car?&nbsp;New Car Buying&nbsp;service</a> to see how much we can save you on scores of makes and models, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/audi/r8/coupe/deals">Audi R8</a>.

While the Audi R8’s steering wheel doesn’t have quite the range of steering wheel adjustment that you’ll find in the Porsche 911, it’s comfortable and you’ll easily find your perfect driving position. The seat itself is also comfortable, even on a long drive, and it won’t give you the kind of hearty backache that even the entry-level Huracan seats will. In fact, you’ll step out of the R8 feeling like you’ve done the journey in something more like the Audi RS3 than a supercar.&nbsp;

The low windscreen scuttle and thin pillars give you a great view forward of the R8 hoovering up the road, and although the rear window is small, it's relatively easy to see out of the back of (as supercars go). Front and rear parking sensors plus a reversing camera are standard and take the jitters out of manoeuvring, and the standard LED headlights work well at night.&nbsp;

The R8’s multi-function steering wheel controls many things, including the driving modes and on-screen menus. You can also control the whole infotainment system (viewed through the 12.3in digital screen in the driver’s binnacle) via the steering wheel, although the rotary controller mounted behind the gear selector provides a more sensible and less distracting way of interacting with it.

It's one of the easiest infotainment systems to use, actually, with responsive software and simple menus that put some rivals to shame. The screen resolution is a bit old-hat these days, but you get mod-cons like sat-nav, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>/<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and wireless phone-charging.&nbsp;

All the other controls are well laid out, including the simple, physical buttons for the climate controls. They are also beautifully made, like the rest of the R8's interior and you’ll enjoy superior build quality to the Mercedes-AMG GT. It’s just a shame that the interior lacks the drama of the AMG GT’s; the R8’s shares tie-ins with other Audis, removing some of that ‘special factor’.

Coupe

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV have all won their classes at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards in recent years, while the TT coupé is the most decorated car in the history of the ceremony.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

The Audi R8 does everything a proper supercar should – and then some – while also being user friendly

The first thing that strikes you about the Audi R8 is how easy it is to get in and out of – when you can open the doors fully, that is. Even someone relatively mature should be able to slip in and out&nbsp;without groaning an "oooo"&nbsp;or "agghhh".&nbsp;The doors are very long and thick, though, so getting them to open fully in a tight car park can be a problem.

There's&nbsp;plenty of head room&nbsp;and leg room is decent&nbsp;too, but the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/review/n98">Porsche 911</a> offers that bit more room all round&nbsp;to stretch out if you’re tall.

Odds and ends storage space is acceptable. You get shallow door pockets that will each take a small bottle of water, and a glovebox big enough for that jar of coffee you&nbsp;dashed into the supermarket to collect. Your takeaway coffee, meanwhile, can sit securely in one of the two cupholders.

In the nose of the car, there’s a small&nbsp;112-litre&nbsp;boot that’s capable of swallowing a couple of overnight bags or a carry-on travel case. It's a two-seater, so there's nothing behind the driver&nbsp;except&nbsp;a shelf, which does provide some&nbsp;extra storage. It's not as useful as the small rear seats you get in a 911, though, which may not be big enough to fit adults in easily, but they're great as extra luggage-carrying capacity.&nbsp;

On top of the Quattro, the Performance adds 20in alloy wheels, a sports exhaust, black tailpipes, ceramic brakes, high-beam assist, bucket seats and carbon interior trim. The fuel tank is smaller, though, at 73 litres. 

R8 Performance

performance

Performance Edition

performance-edition

The Audi R8 does everything a proper supercar should and then some. It's rampantly quick in a straight line, especially the Performance quattro model, and features one of the best engines of any supercar on sale. The cherry on top is that the cheapest version is also the best – the rear-wheel drive RWD rides beautifully and is the sweetest-handling R8. It’s even surprisingly well-equipped, which is one reason we prefer it to the Porsche 911. Of course, if you're looking for the absolute last word in finesse and purity, there are dynamically superior cars, like the Lamborghini Huracan, which is fine as long as you have pots more cash to spend. If not, then bag yourself an R8 RWD.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Ride comfort shouldn’t be sacrificed at the altar of handling sharpness</li> <li>Plenty of power from a melodic engine</li> <li>Handling that doesn’t come at the expense of a back-breaking ride​​​​​</li> <li> Practicality is not essential but nice to have </li></ul>

Driving fun is right at the top of any sports car buyer's priority list, and every one of our award candidates has backroad entertainment coded into its DNA.

The Mazda MX-5 embodies sports-car spirit without wearing an exotic price tag, and has deservedly gained a strong following over the years. Much newer to the scene is the mid-engined Alpine A110. It may carry a name from the past, but this potent, mid-engined sports car was designed with the very latest lightweight thinking.&nbsp;

Rounding off our shortlist, though, is a name that'll be familiar to even those to whom sports cars hold little interest. The Porsche 911 was born an icon in 1964, and the latest generation bridges the gap between sports car and supercar. Yet, somehow, it manages to preserve a distinctly civilised character.

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Buying advice for the Audi R8 covering running costs, MPG, Fuel Economy, Reliability and Safety, from the expert What Car? review team.

Compared with supercars such as the Ferrari F8 Tributo and Lamborghini Huracan, the Audi R8 looks good value, especially the RWD. However, it still costs considerably more than many other sports cars, including most versions of the Porsche 911.,With its maniacal V10 engine, it's obviously not going to be cheap to run, with insurance, servicing costs, fuel consumption and road tax all coming in at 'extremely pricey'. The R8 depreciates slowly, though, which will help if you’re planning to sell it on in a few years, and that's also good news if you’re planning to buy your R8 on finance – its hefty residual values keep the monthly instalments competitive.,As a cash purchase the Performance RWD, our favourite model, costs far more than the entry-level 911 but you make a lot of that back in the equipment it comes with. The highlights include: 19in alloy wheels, keyless entry, heated seats, metallic or pearlescent paint, climate control, nappa leather with Alcantara sports seats and power-folding door mirrors.,Upgrading to Performance quattro adds full nappa leather bucket seats, 20in alloy wheels, some exterior styling tweaks, extended nappa leather throughout the interior and, of course, more power and four-wheel drive. Both Performance RWD Edition and Performance quattro Edition add further styling tweaks and an upgraded Bang and Olufsen stereo system.,The R8 doesn’t come with as much safety and security kit you find on more down-to-earth Audis, but then neither do most sports cars. You get four airbags, an alarm and immobiliser, and that’s about your lot. A tracker is available as an official dealer-fit accessory – worth considering for the extra security it provides.For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here

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