Audi RS5 review

Introduction

The Audi RS5 has quite a difficult task on its hands, because it’s here to carry on the tradition of being a high performance executive car that you can use everyday. The thing is, life in this class has become a bit complicated nowadays.

You see, in the not-too-distant past, the BMW M3 would be the driver’s choice, the Mercedes-AMG C63 provided a loud, muscle car soundtrack and the Audi RS5’s predecessor (the Audi RS4) was the classier, more user-friendly four-wheel drive option. Today, while the M3 is still leading the pack, the C63 appears to have lost its excitement (and baritone voice) - so where does the RS5 come in?

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Well, since those two rivals now also come with four-wheel drive, the RS5 is having to work even harder to stand out - and it appears the brand has effectively thrown everything they can at it.

With massively flared wheelarches, a big honeycomb-patterned front grille, side air intakes and two huge oval exhausts, you certainly won’t mistake the RS5 for the regular A5. And, for the first time, it’s offered as a hatchback as well as the usual Avant estate.

It’s taken a leaf out of the C63’s book by being a plug-in hybrid, and it promises to rival the M3’s cornering fun by deploying some clever tech. So, is it the best of both worlds?

What’s new

- July 2026: Deliveries of RS5 arrive in the UK

Overview

Has all the Audi RS5’s clever tech paid off? Not quite. It’s certainly a much better plug-in hybrid than the Mercedes C63 S, with a far more exotic engine, superior all-electric range and a trick RS mode for more playful handling. Can it match the BMW 3 for outright thrills? No, but we can see how the RS5’s wider breadth of usability will appeal to some buyers.

Pros

• Hugely fast
• Good electric range
• More fun to drive than Mercedes C63

Cons

• Not as agile as the BMW M3
• Top-level Vorsprung is really expensive
• A BMW M3 is slightly more practical

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Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

How fast is it and which motor is best?

The RS5 is the first performance model from the brand to use a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) setup, combining a revised version of its predecessor’s 2.9-litre V6 engine (developing 503bhp) with a 174bhp electric motor.

The combined power output of 630bhp isn’t quite as huge as the Mercedes-AMG C63’s number (671bhp), but it is significantly more powerful than the 503bhp BMW M3 (which isn’t a plug-in hybrid).

The system will default to driving on battery power alone in its gentler Comfort and Balance modes, being nippy around town and able to get up to motorway speeds at a moderate pace. Even in Hybrid mode it’s easy to drive without worrying about waking the engine up too often; it will take an incline or a more determined press of the accelerator pedal to do so.

Things are much livelier when the engine and electric motor combine forces in the sportier Dynamic and RS drive modes, being incredibly quick and providing a heftier shove into your seat than in the M3.

Meanwhile, it sounds more exciting than the four-cylinder C63 S while being less gravelly than the M3’s slightly agricultural note. The RS sports exhaust – which is standard on top-level Vorsprung versions – produces a slightly higher pitched note than the M3’s.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

In Comfort mode, with its softest suspension setting and lighter steering, the RS5 is quite docile to drive. Working your way through Balance and Dynamic mode incrementally firms up the adaptive suspension while adding weight to the steering.

In its firmest Dynamic mode, the ride is quite busy on the largest 21in wheel option we’ve tested so far, but the pay-off is that the RS5 will effortlessly consume a fast sweeping country road with minimal body lean. Plus, the steering is set up in such a way that the nose turns in with minimal input at the wheel. In fact, it can sometimes feel a little too sensitive. Meanwhile, traction levels are high, with a rear-biased power delivery (split 40:60) to feel like it’s pushing you out the corner.

However, there’s no doubt the RS5 still lacks the M3’s agility and a big question mark remains as to how much fun you’re having over the Audi S5 - a stablemate that weighs 480kg less, also has a V6 petrol engine, four-wheel drive and is already quick from point to point.

That question evaporates, though, when you discover the RS5 is equipped with a party trick up its sleeve, courtesy of an electric motor mounted on the rear axle that produces additional torque (independently of the engine). Select one of the more performance-focussed RS drive modes and this motor sends a boost of power to the outer rear wheel depending on the steering angle, encouraging the RS5 to break traction and briefly rotate like a rear-wheel drive car.

The four-wheel drive system will help straighten up the car soon after, resulting in the RS5 being more playful than the rather neutral Mercedes-AMG C63 S, but without the sheer driver commitment that the BMW M3’s rear-wheel drive mode demands. And it's here, that the sharp steering response makes sense, helping you quickly correct and adjust the direction you’re pointing in.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

Selecting Comfort and Balance modes will turn off the digitised engine sound and make the exhaust note quieter. However, to experience the RS5 at its quietest you can drive in pure electric mode. There’s a hint of motor whine at low speeds and a moderately low level of road noise, but it’s still a relatively relaxed way to wind down, especially if you’ve been enjoying a stint of spirited driving.

Like the regular A5 e-Hybrid, the RS5 has regenerative braking to recoup some electric energy for the battery while slowing the car down. There are two levels of braking strength to choose from (including an additional coasting mode) which can be selected by using paddles on the back of the steering wheel in pure electric mode. The system activates smoothly as soon as you lift off the accelerator pedal.

The brake pedal itself has a keen initial response but stopping power doesn't build up progressively beyond that. The braking system doesn’t quite seamlessly blend the initial regenerative braking effect with friction brakes, although there is plenty of stopping power from the ceramic brakes we’ve tried when you give the pedal a good stamp.

What’s the range and efficiency like, and how quickly can it charge?

With a 22kWh (usable capacity) battery, both the Audi RS5 saloon and estate can officially cover around 50 miles on pure electric power. That’s far more impressive than the Mercedes-AMG C63’s all-electric range of around seven miles, and slightly better than the bigger and pricier BMW M5 Touring (circa 40 miles).

Audi quotes a 0-100% charging time of around 2 hours and 30 minutes from an 11kW charger, but since UK homes are typically fitted with 7kW units, expect it to require nearer to four hours. That’s still on a par with the C63 S, which has a lower peak rate of 3.7kW. The RS5 doesn’t have a CCS socket, so you won’t have the ability to use a public DC charger to fast charge.

The RS5’s official fuel consumption also looks favourable, with mpg figures ranging from the high-60s to the mid-70s, which is far more impressive than the M3 (around 28mpg) and the C63 S (around 31mpg). The RS5’s economy rating will have been achieved in hybrid mode with the help of the electric motor, so you’ll need to have the PHEV battery topped up as much as possible to achieve anywhere this level of efficiency.

"The RS sports exhaust sounds pretty good and to experience it at its loudest you can press the Boost button on the wheel or select RS mode. It’s louder than when you’re in Dynamic mode.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

The RS5 gets a set of figure-hugging leather sports front seats and a sports steering wheel with a red central stripe and two red buttons labelled Boost and RS. You can choose from grey, green or red stitching on the dash, doors and seats to add a hint of colour, while suede-like material is found across the centre of the dash.

Some of the plastics lower down on the doors and dash feel a bit cheap and scratchy but they are mostly well hidden. We have said this current generation Audi A5 has taken a backwards step in quality and material use, but the RS5 is available with an Audi Exclusive Design Package that allows you to choose from a range of trim finishers and bold colour schemes for the upholstery and seatbelts to make it feel more special and upmarket.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

You won’t have too many issues finding a comfortable driving position in the RS5. The driver's seat lines up well with the controls and there’s plenty of (electric) seat adjustment to help you find your perfect driving position, including lumbar support. You can’t sit as low to the floor as you can in the BMW M3, but that shouldn’t be a deal breaker for many buyers.

At its lowest setting we found the steering wheel can partially obscure the top of the 11.9in digital driver's display, which could be a slight compromise for some drivers.

Visibility is pretty clear all round. It’s easy to look around the chunky front pillars and the large side windows provide a good view out over your shoulder.

The rear headrests obscure the view out of the rear windscreen, but at least front and rear parking sensors, and 360-degree view camera come as standard to help out with manoeuvres.

The RS5 comes with self-adjusting matrix LED headlights that reshape their light pattern when using full beam to avoid dazzling other drivers.

Is the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

The digital driver's display sits on top of the dashboard in a curved housing and offers a few layouts to choose from. One change we’ve noticed from earlier models is the fitment of roller switches on the steering wheel that make it easier to scroll through the instrument panel and adjust the stereo volume. Unlike in earlier A5s, the sat-nav map can be shown here so you don’t have to glance across at the 14.5in infotainment touchscreen beside it. Both screens use OLED technology and the graphics are crisp and clear to look at.

However, most of the car's functions are buried into the touchscreen. That means you have to adjust the temperature for the climate control system using either the Audi Assistant voice-control system or the touchscreen, but you also have to do that in the BMW M3 and Mercedes C63. On the plus side, the temperature and heated seat icons are always visible.

There's a physical button for the drive modes and parking camera, and a rotary knob for the volume, but little else. The RS5 doesn’t get a rotary dial like you do in the M3 that allows you to scroll through menus in a far less distracting way.

There is, however, a sharp 10.9in touchscreen positioned ahead of the front passenger, which means you could get them to adjust certain settings for you.

"I love the red highlights used in the RS5, but you can really brighten up the interior with the Exclusive Design Package, by choosing orange highlights instead, or a classier look with grey leather upholstery" – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

How much space does it have for people?

There’s plenty of head, leg and elbow room for two six footers up front in the RS5. Two six footers will have no issues sitting behind them either, with a good amount of knee and head room, although space for feet underneath the front seats is a little tight. You can stretch out your legs a bit more in the BMW M3.

A third passenger in the middle seat will have to contend with a tall and wide central tunnel that eats into foot space, but that’s similar inside the M3.

You get a good amount of interior storage up front, including a shallow but wide tray under the adjustable armrest, two cupholders beside the gear selector and a tray for your phone with an integrated wireless phone charger. The door bins can hold a bottle but the access area is quite restricted.

How much room does it have for luggage?

Being a plug-in hybrid, the RS5’s boot capacity is the same as the regular PHEV e-Hybrid’s and a bit smaller than the S5’s. That means the saloon has a load capacity of 331 litres, while the Avant has 361 litres. Because of the hybrid battery and tech, you don’t get any underfloor storage and there's no dedicated space to store your charging cables either.

That compares well against the Mercedes-AMG C63 S saloon (with 280 litres) and the Estate (320 litres). Because the BMW M3 isn’t carrying any plug-in hybrid tech, it has the advantage here, with a 480-litre boot for the saloon and 500 litres for the Touring.

Despite being badged an RS5 saloon, it comes with a large hatchback boot design that makes access far more user-friendly than the equivalent M3 and C63 S, especially for bulkier or awkwardly shaped items.

The load area is also uniform in shape with a low load entrance. The floor itself is almost flush with the entrance so you don’t have to drop items down or heave items over a load lip. All RS5s have a powered tailgate.

As with the regular Audi A5, folding down the rear backrest is easy – it’s just a case of pulling the release levers positioned conveniently inside the boot to release them. The seats fold in a 40/20/40 arrangement, giving you various options when you need to carry long loads as well as people.

"The RS5 Avant is pretty practical but it misses out on the BMW M3 Touring’s rear window that can be opened independently of the tailgate." – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

The entry-level versions of the Audi RS5 have a list price of around £90,000, with the estate-bodied Avant costing around £2000 more than the saloon. This undercuts the BMW M3 Competition by a small amount and is around £10k less than the Mercedes-AMG C63 S.

That said, while those rivals are available with just one trim level, the RS5 has two higher spec trims that quickly drive up the price. The most expensive version, the Avant Performance Vorsprung, is closer to BMW M5 Touring money.

The RS5’s plug-in hybrid tech gives it an advantage for company car drivers looking to pay via salary sacrifice. The RS5’s battery range means it sits in a much lower tax band than the C63 S (by about six per cent), which, combined with its lower P11d price, makes it even more attractive. The BMW M3’s lack of electric assistance and much higher CO2 output means it will be much more costly.

The standard RS5 gets 20in wheels, three-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, and adaptive cruise control. Mid-level Carbon Black adds visual upgrades, with grey, 21in wheels and carbon trim highlights.

Vorsprung trim is hugely expensive but at least it adds just about every option Audi offers, including heated rear seats, OLED rear lights, a panoramic roof and the sports exhaust mentioned earlier.

The panoramic roof is available as an option on lower trims, as well as Technology Pack Pro, which adds 360-degree parking camera, OLED rear lights, speakers in the headrest and heated rear seats for more than £4000.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

We’ll have to see how the Audi A5 fares in general in our What Car? Reliability Survey, but we can tell you that Audi didn’t do amazingly out of the 30 car makers. It finished in joint 22nd place with Mercedes, and below BMW (sixth).

You do get a three-year, 60,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty, which isn’t quite as generous as the unlimited mileage cover you get from a BMW or Mercedes. For an extra cost, you can extend it for up to five years or 90,000 miles.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

The A5 Avant was awarded a five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP in 2024. It could have provided better chest protection for adults in front and side impacts, but provided a good level of protection elsewhere. It also achieved a strong result for those in child seats in the rear.

Standard safety kit includes automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-departure warning, driver attention monitor, speed-limit sign recognition, blind spot assist and rear cross-traffic alert.

The RS5 comes with an anti-theft alarm as standard.

"I’m loving Audi’s current use of Bedford Green for its sportier models, it’s available as an option for around £1500.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

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