2024 Audi RS5 Sportback
Overview
Audi’s shapely Sportback achieves peak performance in RS5 guise, which is powered by a 444-hp twin-turbo V-6 and stands above the 349-hp S5 Sportback and the four-cylinder A5 variant. The Sportback designation is your hint that this four-door doesn’t come with a sedan’s trunk but with a hatchback instead. The extra doors and that versatile hatch give this RS5 a greater measure of practicality compared to the RS5 two-door coupe (a model we review separately). Either RS5 pairs its high-strung V-6 exclusively with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. The RS5 delivers far more cornering prowess and accelerative thrust than its lesser stablemates, but its driving demeanor can be more clinical than involving, especially compared with max-performance four-doors from BMW and Alfa Romeo. The Competition package that arrived last year, however, goes some way toward addressing that shortfall.
What’s New for 2024?
The RS5’s standard equipment list grows to include adaptive cruise control, active lane assist, and park assist. Carbon-ceramic brakes, formerly included with the Competition model, are currently unavailable, however. The optional navigation system adds traffic-sign recognition along with six months of Audi Connect Plus, which integrates outside apps into the multimedia interface. Progressive Red metallic replaces Tango Red metallic, otherwise the color choices remain the same.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The Competition version (actually an option package) now commands a $10,300 upcharge, substantially less than it did last year. At that price, we’re persuaded. The Competition model is more involving than the standard version, even if the extra scratch doesn’t get you a bump in horsepower. It does have a more vocal engine note, thanks to its sport exhaust system (also available separately) and reduced sound deadening. The package also ups involvement with Sport Direct steering, and its firmer suspension offers manual ride-height adjustment. We’d also spring for the RS Driver Assistance package ($1500) in order to net the head-up display and surround-view camera system, and for $500 we’d add blind-spot monitoring (Audi’s Side Assist package).
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The RS5 Sportback’s sole engine choice is a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 that makes 444 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. It pairs with a paddle-shifted eight-speed automatic transmission that routes that torque to all four wheels. Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system not only maximizes traction, but also can direct more torque to the rear wheels when needed. Our first drive revealed that the car is stable at autobahn speeds and a hoot to hustle around corners, with well-controlled body motions and predictable handling. The adaptive dampers provide a smooth ride in all but the sportiest Dynamic setting. We also tested the RS5 Sportback at the track, where it hit 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. That shows that the RS5 can hang with the more powerful 505-hp Alfa Romeo Giulia QF and 503-hp BMW M3 Competition, at least up to 60 mph, though those two pull ahead by the quarter-mile mark. Credit the Audi’s all-wheel-drive traction advantage off the line relative to the rear-drive Alfa and Bimmer.
More on the RS5 Sportback
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The RS5 Sportback gets an EPA-estimated 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. Compare that with the Giulia QF’s ratings of 17 mpg city and 25 highway, as well as the M3 sedan’s 16 mpg city and 23 highway. The last RS5 Sportback we ran on our 75-mph highway route—part of our extensive testing regimen—earned 26 mpg. For more information about the RS5 Sportback’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Inside, the RS5 Sportback shows off the company’s typically sophisticated design and exemplary build quality. The driver faces a handsome flat-bottom steering wheel, behind which sits a large 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. A pair of stubby paddle shifters is mounted on the wheel, should you have the sudden desire to drop a gear or two and charge into your favorite set of esses. The RS5’s cabin is also highlighted by intricately stitched seats that feature heated and cooled surfaces, power side bolsters, as well as massaging functions. The car’s lengthy roster of standard equipment includes ambient interior lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and three-zone climate control. Those who want even fancier amenities can opt for the RS Design package, which substitutes Alcantara for the standard nappa leather and livens up the cabin with red highlights. Of course, the Sportback’s longer dimensions and four doors make it a more practical alternative to the RS5 coupe. The Sportback’s rear seat is roomy enough for two, but the BMW M3 has superior rear-seat accommodations. The hatch body provides more cargo space than the coupe and greater versatility than competing sedans.
The Car and Driver Difference
Infotainment and Connectivity
Unlike the new MMI infotainment interfaces featured in the Audi RS7 and RS Q8 crossover, which have dual touchscreens entombed in their dashboards and center consoles, the RS5 Sportback has a single 10.1-inch touchscreen that protrudes from the middle of its dash. Not only is it bigger than the 8.3-inch display it replaces, but the new system is no longer manipulated through the rotary controller and touchpad that once lived on the car’s center console. Despite the switch to mostly touch-sensitive controls, the setup responds quickly and has large icons that are easy to activate without much distraction. Every model comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, plus wireless charging. Navigation and a more powerful Bang & Olufsen stereo are optional.
How to Buy and Maintain a Car
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The four-door hatchback comes standard with several driver-assistance technology features, blind-spot monitoring and self-parking assist cost extra.
For more information about the RS5 Sportback’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking Standard adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Audi has competitive limited and powertrain warranties that align with high-performance luxury rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles No complimentary scheduled maintenanceArrow pointing downArrow pointing down
Specifications
Specifications
2023 Audi RS5 Competition
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door coupe or 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE
Base: Coupe, $93,595; Sportback, $93,895
ENGINE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 177 in3, 2894 cm3
Power: 444 hp @ 6700 rpm
Torque: 443 lb-ft @ 1900 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 108.9-111.3 in
Length: 185.9-188.3 in
Width: 73.5 in
Height: 54.0-55.1 in
Passenger Volume: 84-91 ft3
Trunk/Cargo Volume: 11-22 ft3
Curb Weight (C/D est): 4000-4100 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 3.4-3.9 sec
100 mph: 8.8-8.9 sec
1/4-Mile: 11.9 sec
Top Speed: 180 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 21/18/25-26 mpg
More Features and Specs
