Audi RS5 Sportback Review — A Luxurious Yet Practical Beast!

However, the second-generation RS5 is a bit different. The engine has been downsized, which means that the car is now a V6 and not a V8. So, will the new RS5 keep up to its bratty nature? We took it out for a spin and here's what we have to say about it.

Design & Style

This is the first sports model to feature the RS design philosophy and is also inspired by the Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO. At first glance, the new RS5 is an eye-catcher, especially in the red and black paint scheme. It features the traditional coupe design and looks extremely gorgeous when seen from any angle.

Up front, the car features a huge bonnet that houses the V6 engine. Creases and contours are present on the bonnet to give it a more muscular look. The RS5 gets an all-black single-frame grille on which the RS badging rests. It also gets a really wide bumper with massive air ducts to feed and cool the engine.

The horizontally-placed ‘7-shaped' headlamps will grab your attention upon first glance. The RS5 also gets Audi's Matrix LED headlights that provide excellent visibility at night.

Moving on to the side, the Audi RS5 gets two doors. Again, character lines and creases run along the sides of the coupe and complement its sporty nature. The roof gradually slopes down and merges with the boot. It also gets an integrated boot lip spoiler which increases the downforce produced by the sporty RS5 coupe.

At the rear, the RS5 gets a twin-exhaust setup with a butterfly valve system that opens up and increases the volume of the exhaust note when Dynamic mode is selected. The rear diffuser helps generate more downforce at the rear to keep the car hunkered to the ground at high speeds. Overall, the Audi RS5 is nothing short of a looker.

The Cockpit

The interior of the Audi RS5 is as magnificent as the coupe's exteriors. The dashboard layout is a typical Audi affair with a vent-like element running along its length. A strip of carbon fibre runs across and a 'Quattro' badge is placed on it. There's a floating display platform for the MMI infotainment system and Audi's signature Virtual Cockpit takes the place of the regular analogue instrument console.

The multi-purpose flat-bottom steering wheel is wrapped in leather, and has an RS badge right at the bottom, as well. The steering-mounted controls are really helpful and keep the driver's attentionfocused on the road. It also helps scroll through the array of information available on the Virtual Cockpit interface.

Stereo & Infotainment

The seven-inch Audi MMI infotainment screen is sadly not a touchscreen. The screen is controlled by a dial present right in front of the gear lever. The rotary dial features Audi's MMI with a touchpad, through which you can write and scroll things on the screen.

The car gets a ‘19-speaker' Bang & Olufsen audio setup which supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The surround-sound quality from the system is just so mesmerising that it will almost make you feel like you're inside a theatre.

Practicality, Comfort & Boot

At the front, the RS5 features bucket seats. Although being sports seats, they offer really good comfort. The seats are covered in leather and Alcantara and have got RS5 logos stitched on it. Both the front seats are electronically adjustable and feature massaging too.

However, to get to the rear seat, one has to fold and move the front seats. Due to the sloping roofline, the rear lacks headroom as well as knee room. Only kids will be able to fit in the rear after the front seats are brought back to their original position.

Other equipment includes three-zone climate control and a panoramic sunroof. Sadly, the tailgate has to be released and closed manually. The car gets a decent 455-litre boot which is enough to gulp most of your luggage. The rear seats are split-foldable in 40:60 ratio, for just that extra bit of practicality.

Engine, Performance & Driving Impressions

Powering the RS5 Sportback is a turbocharged 2.9-litre petrol engine that makes 445bhp and 600Nm of torque. All the power is transmitted through the Quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system which boasts of a self-locking centre differential. The gearbox is an eight-speed Tiptronic unit which provides perfect shifts and does not lag in between.

There are four modes on offer: Efficiency, Comfort, Auto and Dynamic. The performance of the RS5 is just magnificent and there is so much of torque available from the very low-end. The car can do a 0-100km/h sprint in just 4.1 seconds and has a top speed of 250km/h (electronically limited). Throttle response is crisp with a strong power delivery in Dynamic mode. In this mode, the valves open and the exhaust symphony becomes extra good - drop a gear down and you will be greeted with pops and crackles.

The Audi RS5 is comfortable too; despite the fact that it rides on 20-inch low-profile tyres. There is no adaptive suspension, but the existing setup is not too soft or too hard; just the right amount. This greatly helps in handling, especially around tight corners.

The car does not lose out its balance when pushed harder. The bite from the brakes are phenomenal and will get the car to a halt within seconds. The RS decal on the callipers further adds to the looks.

Audi claims that the RS5 would return a mileage of around 11km/l. However, we drove the car mostly in Dynamic mode; thus returning a mileage only around 4-5km/l.

Specifications Overview Table

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Safety & Key Features

Standard safety features include six airbags, ABS, EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), EDL (Electronic Differential Lock), ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation), ESC (Electronic Stability Program), torque vectoring, tyre pressure monitor, lane departure warning and forward collision mitigation. It further gets auto parking assist, which helps the car find a place and park itself without any input.

Competitors

The Audi RS5 will lock horns with the BMW M4 and the Mercedes-AMG C63 as far as performance and pricing are concerned.

Fact Check Table

Promeet Ghosh Thinks!

The second-generation Audi RS5 is truly a fantastic car and yes, it definitely keeps up with its bratty nature. The sportscar gives its driver the best of everything; be it performance, power and practicality. All of this does not come cheap and the RS5 carries a price tag of Rs 1,10,65,000 ex-showroom (pan India). The Audi RS5 Sportback is a daily-usable sportscar. It packs decent comfort and practicality, while not compromising on the dynamic side.