2018 Audi RS 5 Road Test and Review

2018 Audi RS5 by Ron Sessions exterior front angle ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Adding considerable excitement to a lineup already chock-full of luxurious, driver-engaging sport sedans, coupes, convertibles, and crossover SUVs is the re-jiggered, high-performance 2018 Audi RS5 Coupe. Inspired by the Audi 90 Quattro GTO IMSA racer, the new RS5 sports a deeper Singleframe grille, features flares that are 15 mm wider on each side, and rides 7mm lower than the S5 Coupe for a ground-hugging look.

Completely changed from the 2017 version, the new RS5 has more power, a redesigned chassis, and the latest technology onboard to challenge the likes of the BMW M3 and M4 and other high-performance sedans and coupes. And being an Audi Sport model, the RS5 comes standard with legendary Quattro all-wheel drive. The well-equipped 2018 Audi RS5 Coupe starts at $70,875 including destination with a variety of enticing option packages available that can easily add $10,000 or more to the bottom line.

Biturbo Blast

The heart and soul of the 2018 RS5 is its new 444-horsepower biturbo V6 engine. At first blush, the switch this year from a lusty 4.2-liter V8 to the new 2.9-liter biturbo V6 may seem somewhat of a downgrade. But it’s just the opposite, with the 444-hp V6 developing 443 lb-ft of torque (up from just 317 lb-ft in last year’s V8-powered RS5), available from 1900 rpm all the way to 5500 rpm for tremendous flexibility and throttle response. Hooked to a responsive and lightning-quick-shifting eight-speed Tiptronic automatic, the RS5 is ready to rumble at virtually any engine or road speed.

And rumble it does, sprinting from rest to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds, according to Audi, much quicker than the 4.5 seconds the 2017 model took to achieve that speed. With the car’s standard sport exhaust, the large oval pipes broadcast a full-bodied engine sound that's worthy of the RS5’s performance stats. It’s the most exciting version of the A4/A5 one can buy with a good bit of R8 supercar character dabbled in. Even so, fuel economy has improved considerably, up 2-3 mpg to an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city/26 mpg highway/21 mpg combined.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Sport Chassis

You would expect a German car with the exceptional power to achieve autobahn speeds would also be imbued with impressive stopping power, and the RS5 delivers. Standard fare are extra-large 14.8-inch cross-drilled steel rotors with six-piston calipers up front and 13.0-inch steel rotors in the rear, with jumbo IMSA-racing-inspired 15.7-inch front/13.0 inch ceramic rotors optionally available. Both deliver a firm pedal, confidence-inspiring response for quick snubs and fade-free performance.

When cruising on dry pavement with good traction, Quattro apportions 60 percent of drive torque to the rear axle, 40 percent to the front. That changes during sporty driving or when traction conditions dictate with as much as 70 percent being delivered to the front axle or 85 percent to the rear. The Quattro Sport rear differential can further fine-tune drive torque delivery to just one wheel if necessary.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Quattro Action

The RS5’s standard sport suspension is firm yet reasonably pliant over bumps, ruts, and broken pavement. Dynamic Ride Control, part of a $3,350 optional Dynamic package that also includes sport exhaust and red-painted brake calipers, ups the ante with adjustable hydraulic dampers that are linked together to firm up the outside front wheel when cornering, thus reducing body pitch and roll.

The standard electric-boosted rack and pinion steering system is direct and precise with good on-center tracking and naturally-weighted response. Optional RS-tuned variable-ratio steering delivers optimal straight-line stability at highway speeds and quicker response at low speeds for improved maneuverability. The RS comes standard with grippy 265/35R19 summer performance tires. Offering even more stick, but at a slight loss of ride quality, are even meatier optional 275/30R20 summer tires. Although the RS5 is equipped with Quattro all-wheel drive, however, winter tires are necessary in consistently cold temperatures as well as snowy/icy weather.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Dashing Cabin

Audi has been a leader in interior design for several decades, and the RS5 exemplifies this with a driver-oriented cockpit that delivers an optimal balance of luxury and performance cues. Front-seat occupants face a wraparound dashboard in form-fitting, all-day comfortable heated sport buckets trimmed in perforated leather and Alcantara or $1,500 optional fine Nappa leather with honeycombed contrasting stitching. A flat-bottom perforated leather steering wheel with large shift paddles, leather-wrapped shifter, stainless-steel foot pedals, and carbon-fiber door, dash, and console trim finish out the well-crafted interior.

When you’re not delighting at the sound the of the biturbo V6 engine, the $950 optional Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system’s 19 speakers fill the cabin with 755 watts of listening pleasure. The standard Audi smartphone interface is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto via a USB connection.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Virtual Cockpit

The RS5’s instrument panel is more than just a binnacle with a tachometer and speedometer. It’s a hi-resolution 12.3-inch screen that’s totally reconfigurable, offering several gauge layouts, the ability to import the navigation map, and information on the car’s performance statistics.

One really cool feature is a real-time display that gives readouts on g-forces or the percentage of horsepower and torque the RS5 is delivering in real time, as shown in this photo. A full-color head-up display is also available.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Navigating the Earth

Opting for the $2,600 navigation package nets a larger infotainment screen (up from the standard 7 inches to 8.3 inches) and high-resolution TFT display with voice-activated and MMI remote control.

Particularly striking is the detailed Google Earth bird-view navigation imagery, which displays not only roads but buildings, streams, lakes, and topography in riveting detail.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Not a Squeeze

Unlike some other high-performance coupes, the RS5 does accommodate two rear seat passengers with some measure of dignity. The rear chairs are just as comfortable as the fronts, albeit less generous in legroom and headroom. An easy-to-use front-seat slide and tilt feature grants reasonable access to the aft compartment.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Expandable Trunk Space

As you might expect of any coupe, the RS5’s 11.6 cubic feet of trunk space is less capacious than, say, Audi’s A4 sedan’s. However, folding rear seatbacks greatly improves the coupe’s ability to carry longer items.

Photo by Ron Sessions

Safety Considerations

All new cars and SUVs now have government-required backup cameras, but the RS5 is also available with a top-view 360-degree display that greatly increases the car’s ability to communicate its immediate surroundings to the driver in graphic detail.

Standard safety gear on the 2018 Audi RS5 also includes Audi's Pre Sense City automatic autonomous braking for vehicles and pedestrians, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring, front and rear parking assist, rain-sensing wipers, and more. Adaptive cruise control, active lane assist (with steering correction), traffic sign recognition, and automatic high beams are available as options.

Photo by Ron Sessions

A Driver's Car First and Last

The Audi RS5 is one of those cars that you’ll totally get the moment you strap in and start down the road. No explanation is necessary. It’s an immensely pleasing machine to drive, one with all of the power, handling, and luxury fitments any performance-minded buyer could reasonably ask for in a stylish and tastefully executed $80,000 car.

And we did say drive, not ride. If you are looking for something with all sorts of semi-autonomous parlor tricks to relieve you from the odious chore of driving, look elsewhere. On the other hand, you don’t need to sprint to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds (the car will do it) away from every stoplight or (on an off-pavement closed-course racetrack) achieve 174 mph terminal velocity to enjoy it. The RS5 is a great everyday car that just looks like it belongs on the track. Or just superlative eye-candy sitting in your driveway. The RS5 engages the soul, right there with you as you travel the surface of this marvelous planet.

Photo by Ron Sessions