Audi RS5 Sportback Review 2023
The Audi RS5 Sportback is a four-door performance saloon that's a good balance of fun and practicality. With a powerful V6 engine and enough space to accommodate a family, the RS5 Sportback is a versatile and stylish car.
Rivals to the RS5 Sportback include the BMW M3 and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.
Our Audi RS5 Sportback review covers:
- Slick exterior with a sloping roofline and four doors
- Well-equipped interior with enough room for a family
- 465-litre boot
- Twin-turbo 2.9-litre V6 petrol engine
- Three trim levels
Pros:
- Rapid straight-line performance
- Luxury interior
- Enough interior space for a family
Cons:
- Not as engaging as rivals
- Expensive to run
- Added extras are very expensive
The RS5 Sportback's design is what you'd expect for a performance-based Audi; it's got slick headlights, a sloping roofline, and dashing alloy wheels. The main difference from the RS5 Coupe is that it has four doors instead of two.
Open the doors to the RS5 Sportback, and you'll find a spacious interior with enough room to accommodate a family. Up front, there's plenty of space for a pair of six-footers, while in the rear, there's plenty of leg and headroom even with the sloping roofline. You'll only struggle in the rear if you're really, really tall.
Boot space comes in at 465 litres, which is more than enough room for your golf clubs, but it does fall short of the larger BMW M3 and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. Open the tailgate, and you get a nice and wide boot, and you can fold and split the rear seats 40/20/40 to increase space.
The RS5 Sportback looks and feels the part. You get soft Nappa leather seats as standard, and the dashboard feels well-built and features some nice chrome and carbon fibre trim finishes. It's certainly better than the interior of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio but falls short of the BMW M3.
On top of the dashboard, you get a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a DAB radio, sat-nav, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The graphics are clear and responsive, but annoyingly, Audi has removed its rotary controller, meaning it can be tricky to use when driving.
Behind the steering wheel, you get a 12.3-inch digital driver display that provides all the relevant information in clear graphics.
Three trims are available: Sportback, Carbon Black, and Vorsprung.
Sportback has 19-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights, a virtual cockpit with an RS-specific display, an RS exhaust system, RS sports suspension, camera-based traffic sign recognition, and an Audi Beam lighting projector.
Carbon Black adds 20-inch 5-segment-spoke alloy wheels in glossy black, a carbon black styling pack, Audi rings in black, exterior mirror housings in gloss black, and carbon twill inlays.
Vorsprung has 20-inch 5-segment-spoke matt grey alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights with Audi laser light, a panoramic sunroof, a driver assistance tour pack, a head-up display, dynamic steering, and an extended LED interior lighting pack.
Under the bonnet, you get a twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 petrol engine that delivers 450hp and 600Nm of torque. It comes with Quattro all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
It's the engine that attracts most people to the RS5 Sportback, and it's not hard to see why. It's exceptionally quick, achieving 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds, which matches the BMW M4 Competition and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.
You'll also get an official fuel economy of around 30mpg, but expect much less if you're maxing out the engine or having some fun on a country road.
On paper, the V6 engine looks superb but get behind the wheel, and it does fall short compared to its rivals in terms of performance.
You'll have no issues with the RS5 Sportback around town; even with its relatively low hanging, the suspension deals with bumps in the road well to ensure you avoid any scraping. Even though the view out the back is a bit limited, you get a rear-view camera as standard, which helps navigate tight roads.
Head to the motorway, and the RS5 Sportback is a comfortable cruiser. Wind and road noise are kept to a minimum, but you don't get cruise control or lane-keep assist as standard.
On a country road, the RS5 Sportback is composed thanks to its Quattro four-wheel drive, even on slippery road surfaces. There's also accurate steering, which gives you more confidence when cornering, but if you're after outright enjoyment, the RS5 Sportback falls short of the BMW M3 Competition and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.
Prices for the new Audi RS5 Sportback start from £74,365.00 OTR* or to lease from £933.51 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the Audi RS5 Sportback? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.
