Audi

Audi RS5 Sportback 2025: Price, consumption, picture, technical data.

Last Updated: 16.09.2024

With sports coupes like the Audi RS5, performance takes precedence over practicality, but the Audi RS5 Sportback successfully balances these two attributes. Although the four-door Audi has the sleek shape of a sedan, there’s a cleverly disguised fastback opposite its intake-dominant face.

Audi RS5 Sportback

It’s that menacing front end, blistering fenders and 444bhp twin-turbo V6 that separate the RS5 hatch from its less eccentric family members: the four-cylinder A5 Sportback and the 349bhp S5 Sportback.

The RS5’s engine doesn’t always make pretty music, but its mating with a snappy eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive means it moves with dogged determination. Its sharply tuned chassis also helps make for an entertaining driving experience, even if the sportiest damper setting makes for a bumpy ride. With a racy and spacious interior and countless luxury features, the Audi RS5 Sportback is fabulously functional, but it would benefit from more character and warmth.

What’s new ?

For , the RS5 Sportback receives several improvements and updates. The new RS Design package adds floor mats with the “RS” logo; microsuede on the center console, shifter and steering wheel; and seat belts with red accents. The new Bronze Styling package includes black exterior badges and front spoiler and rear diffuser in matte carbon. It also adds a set of bronze-colored 20-inch wheels with summer performance tires. And the cabin is accented with bronze stitching. Not satisfied with an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph? With the new Dynamic Plus package, that limit is now raised to 174 mph. The upgrade also brings a carbon fiber engine cover, gray brake calipers and ceramic front brakes.

We think the new Sonoma Green metallic paint is the perfect shade to make the already confident-looking Audi even more eye-catching. We’d also choose the 20-inch five-spoke anthracite wheels, which also require the Black Optics package. This includes a set of summer tires and other glossy black accents on the outside. The Dynamic package also impresses with red brake calipers, specially tuned RS suspension and a powerful sports exhaust system. The RS5 Sportback won’t go on sale until this summer, and we’ll update its starting price as soon as Audi announces it.

Engine, transmission and performance

The RS5 Sportback’s sole engine choice is a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 that makes 444 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters that sends that torque to all four wheels. Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system not only maximizes traction, but can also send more torque to the rear wheels when needed. Our first drive showed the car to be stable at highway speeds and hustling around corners, with well-controlled body motions and predictable handling. The adaptive dampers provide a composed ride in all but the sportiest Dynamic setting. We also tested the RS5 Sportback on the race track, where it hit 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and closed the gap between 80 and 70 mph in just 2.9 seconds. The bold Audi raced the quarter mile in just 11.8 seconds at 115 mph. These results show that the RS5 can keep up with the more powerful 505 hp Alfa Romeo Giulia QF. They also show the advantage of all-wheel drive traction, which made the Audi’s launch easier compared to the rear-wheel drive Alfa.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The RS5 Sportback is expected to earn 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. Compare that to the Giulia QF’s ratings of 17 mpg city and 25 highway, as well as the Mercedes-AMG E63 sedan’s 17 mpg city and 26 highway. The last RS5 Sportback we ran on our 75-mile highway route – part of our extensive testing program – earned 26 mpg. For more information on the RS5 Sportback’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, comfort and cargo

Inside, the RS5 Sportback displays the company’s typically sophisticated design and exemplary build quality. The driver faces a handsome flat-bottomed steering wheel, behind which sits a large 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. A pair of short paddle shifters are mounted on the wheel, should you suddenly feel the need to shift into gear and hear the engine roar. The RS5’s cabin is also highlighted by intricately stitched seats with heated and cooled surfaces, as well as massage functions for the front passengers.

The car’s extensive standard equipment includes ambient interior lighting, a panoramic sunroof and three-zone automatic climate control. Those who want something even fancier can opt for a head-up display and nappa leather upholstery. The longer dimensions and four doors naturally make the Sportback a more practical alternative to the RS5 coupe. The Sportback is still not ideal for transporting five people, but its back seat has room for two, even if its sloping roof compromises headroom back there. And the hatch offers more cargo space than the coupe.

Infotainment and connectivity

Unlike the new MMI infotainment interfaces found in the Audi RS7 and RS Q8 crossovers, which feature dual touchscreens in their dashboards and center consoles, the RS5 Sportback has a single 10.1-inch touchscreen that protrudes from the center of the dashboard. Not only is it larger than the 8.3-inch display it replaces, but the new system is no longer manipulated via the rotary controller and touchpad that once lived on the car ‘s center console . Despite the switch to mostly touch-sensitive controls, the setup is responsive and features large icons that are easy to activate without much distraction. Every model comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, built-in navigation and wireless charging. A more powerful Bang & Olufsen stereo is optional.

Safety and driver assistance functions

The four-door hatchback can be equipped with driver assistance technologies such as adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, self-parking assist and more. For more information on the RS5 Sportback’s crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

Standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking
Standard blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert
Available lane departure warning and lane keeping assist

Warranty and maintenance coverage

Audi has competitive limited and powertrain warranties that are in line with high-performance luxury rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz . But while the company offers more free maintenance than Mercedes, it’s nowhere near what BMW offers.