When Audi made the decision late last year to drop the RS4 nameplate from their range, it was a sad moment for petrolheads, knowing the legacy of the RS4 that it leaves behind. The RS4 was a legend, especially in Avant format so how could Audi do this? Well, Audi have just unveiled their new RS5 and for the first time in the A5/RS5 lineage, it is available as an RS5 Avant. Merging the special RS5 lineage with the long roof practicality everyone has craved for years, Audi may have played a blinder. But does this make sense with the power and legacy that the RS6 Avant houses?
Performance
Never fear engine lovers, the new RS5 has not suffered a sacrifice of its engine for fully electric power, only partially. But despite being Audi’s first performance PHEV, don’t think it has ‘gone soft’. Powered by the same 2.9 litre, twin-turbocharged V6 as found in the previous RS4, it is paired with a 22kWh battery pack and a 174bhp electric motor, combined to produce 630bhp. This plus the 8-speed automatic gearbox give a 0-60mph time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 177mph, meaning it remains in the realms of the ‘fast Audi’ family, while not getting too close to the Audi RS6s performance. Weight is a slight issue, as hybrid power is not light, and at 2370kg, it is a bit porkier than older models. However, the fast figures suggest that it could be a solid rival to the G80 BMW M3 Touring and the Mercedes-Benz C63.
Design
Audi’s design team have always excelled in making normal saloon and estate cars look like sports cars and this new RS5 is no different. Channelling Audi’s top-tier motorsport DNA, the new RS5 is a masterclass in wide-body aggression. The arches have been pulled out by 4cm at each corner, giving it a stance so different from the A5 but still, notably, an Audi design. Then there are the exhausts. When asked how large the twin tailpipes should be, the designers simply answered ‘yes’ with two of the maddest exhausts ever fitted to a ‘non-supercar’. Inside, it’s the usual Audi masterclass in tech, no featuring the ‘Driving Experience’ hub for real-time telemetry. Perfect for those who actually plan on taking this 2.3-tonne ‘barge’ to a track day or just want to see exactly how much G-force they’re pulling on the school run.
Interior
The shift to PHEV power has given the new Audi RS5 Avant a massive performance boost, but you might feel the squeeze. With a boot capacity of 361 litres, the RS5 loses roughly 134 litres of depth due to its PHEV battery pack compared to the outgoing RS4 Avant, dropping it significantly behind the BMW M3 touring’s class-leading 500 litres. While it matches the C63 E-Performance for volume, the Mercedes is only a saloon, and so for an estate car, it is not the greatest statistic to hold. While Audi’s shift to a PHEV drivetrain does wonders for the performance of the car, the luggage space of the car compared with its rivals is not a good talking point to say the least.
Pricing
While the Rs5 Saloon and Avant are different body styles, it is thought that prices will remain about the same for both models. The base car will start at £89,400 which rises to £95,400 with the Carbon Black package, which will include carbon fibre options on the body and interior, and finally £107,400 for the Performance Vorsprung trim which will provide the higher 177mph top speed and extra tech on the interior. Compared to its rivals, it sits as the cheapest price wise (using the base model as an example), with the BMW M3 Touring starting at £92,000 and the Mercedes-Benz C63 E-Performance starting at £100,000. Despite being the cheapest of the three models, the RS5 has some stiff competition, mostly against the BMW M3 Touring, which, since launch, has become a truly special ‘super estate’ for the modern generation.
The new RS5 Saloon and Avant are expected to start delivery in June of this year but one looming question remains, do Audi need it as an Avant when the RS6 is still dominating the class? The RS6 is the ultimate testament to the estate car, with every generation getting better and, frankly, is a different league to any other car in its class. The RS5 is different, taking on the M3 Touring and Mercedes-Benz C63, but which is the car to take? For performance, it would have to be the Audi for the combined ICE and electric power, the design is a close call with BMWs controversial kidney grills and Audi’s new design. When it comes to luggage space, the BMW wins hands down and then for price it is another close call. They will both be top competitors in their class and when the Audi starts to appear, BMW’s crown may slip.
