Commanding a slight price premium over its Coupe sibling, the Sportback offers increased practicality in the form of a larger boot with a more practical loading area and two extra doors but coming in at 35kg heftier than the two-door.
Performance brand cache
Since its introduction a few years back, the RS5 has cemented its place in the German sports saloon segment as the most comfortable, most all-weather capable and indeed the most sensible proposition. But is sensibility what performance aficionados crave? I’d like to think that in our economy, the proverbial ‘jack of all trades’ approach would be sales gold for manufacturers, with vehicles needing to do it all when it comes to performance, practicality and daily usability.
The sales figures don’t lie though, with the Mercedes-AMG and BMW M divisions out-selling the Audi Sport brand on a global scale, even our local performance saloon enthusiasts seem to prefer the BMW M Division and Mercedes-AMG within this segment.
The rivals
After my time with the RS5 I surmised that it really comes down to what you’re looking for from your fast, four-door saloon car. With the F80 BMW M3 being discontinued and a new, XDrive all-wheel drive G-generation variant on the way, the RS5 Sportback’s only natural rivals locally are the recently updated Mercedes-AMG C63S and the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, both formidable rear-wheel-drive entrants.
These vehicles are so different, one powered by a monstrous V8 that can obliterate its rear tyres, the other a Ferrari-built V6 with rear-wheel drive and the other a howler of a turbo V6 with the assurance provided by Quattro all-wheel drive. The Alfa, however, is starting to fall behind now, not from a performance perspective but rather from an interior and connectivity viewpoint.
Driving RS5
The Audi immediately made an impression on me, the 331 kW and 600 N.m of torque are fully utilised thanks to the all-wheel drive, although the ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic gearbox isn’t as slick as a dual-clutch unit, it is still admirably quick and effortless when completing the daily grind. Despite drive going to all four wheels, the RS5 is far more prone to oversteer than previous Audi RS models, which have been criticised in recent years for their tendency to understeer excessively.
This comes down to the fact that the RS5’s engine is mounted further back, towards the cockpit whereas previous models had their engines far more forward, protruding over the front axle, leading to nose-heavy handling. The Quattro system also sends the bulk of the power to the rear wheels allowing for better handling. The steering is an area where I found the RS5 to be lacking somewhat in a daily driving scenario and while parking, its light and easy to use but when pressing on, it lacks feel, not letting you know what the front wheels are doing.
The other area where the RS5 loses ground to rivals and even to its smaller sibling, the RS3, is in the aural drama department. While the V6 does sound sonorous at times, it cannot compare to the muscle car soundtrack provided by the AMG, nor hard-edged wail of the RS3. Where the RS5 excels though is in the Gran Tourer department where its adaptive dampers, more relaxed demeanour and plush interior make it a phenomenal car to cover great distances in.
Verdict
For a track day, I’d go for the AMG or Alfa Romeo every single time, but for a mountain pass blast after a lengthy drive, the RS5 would be my weapon of choice. Perhaps the engineers at BMW are creating a vehicle the combines the virtues of both the Audi and the Mercedes, only time will tell. For those looking for a fast, usable and practical saloon car, the RS5 is a must-drive before making your decision.
Pricing
Audi RS5 Sportback Quattro R1 312 000
Likes:
Effortless performance
Gran Tourer levels of refinement and comfort
Practicality afforded by Sportback
Dislikes:
Understated versus rivals
Slightly numb steering
