Hatchbacks are the new coupes – that’s according to Audi, which says as many buyers move away from coupes they’re embracing what it calls Sportbacks.
Such is the trend away from coupes that when it came time to close out the current Audi RS5 in Australia with the swansong Competition Plus edition, the company didn’t bother bringing the coupe offered overseas.
Instead, it brought only the Sportback, which is similarly sleek but much, much more practical.
The Competition Plus, technically an option package on the RS5 Sportback, doesn’t feature any extra power or torque. However, it features various mechanical changes such as new coilover suspension that’s a first for Audi.
It’s effectively a celebratory sendoff for the current RS5 Sportback, which first arrived in Australia in 2017. The next generation of the A5 it’s based on has been revealed ahead of a 2025 local launch, and it’s only a matter of time before a new RS5 is revealed.
Before then, Audi is bringing just 75 Competition Plus vehicles in total to Australia across the RS4 Avant and RS5 Sportback lines.
Should you be rushing to your dealer to place an order?
How much does the Audi RS5 cost?
| Model | Price before on-roads |
|---|---|
| 2024 Audi RS5 Sportback | $168,015 |
| 2024 Audi RS5 Sportback Competition Plus | $182,005 |
To see how the RS5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What is the Audi RS5 like on the inside?
In the case of the RS5, the Sportback body style means a large, readily accessible load space (the ‘back’ in the name) but a sloping roofline (the ‘sport’).
Rear headroom, therefore, isn’t as good for taller occupants as, say, an A4 sedan. You do still get rear air vents, climate controls and USB outlets plus a 12V outlet.
The large rear hatch is handy, though, allowing you easy access to the 465 litres of cargo space. This expands to 1280 litres with the rear seats folded.
Of course, if you want a big load space and plenty of rear headroom, you could just get the RS4 Avant Competition Plus…
As with its wagon sibling, there’s a sporty, low-slung feeling on account of the 10mm lower ride height.
You can opt for sporty front bucket seats and we found these surprisingly comfortable in the RS4 Avant. However, you lose out on the excellent massage function, as well as power adjustment.
Sadly, no seat option is offered with ventilation. The Germans continue to be stingy with this with their smaller vehicles.
The standard seats are supportive enough that we wouldn’t bother with the buckets unless you plan on tracking your RS5.
While the RS4 Avant gets a panoramic sunroof, the RS5 Sportback gets a large single-pane unit.
It adds some light into a cabin that’s a sea of black, though metal accents and available red stitching add some contrast. It’s clear, though, that this is one of Audi’s older cabins – but that’s not entirely a bad thing.
There are physical climate controls that are satisfying to use, and material quality is quite good with soft-touch trim used for the tops of the dash and doors, with even the bottoms of the doors – somewhere even luxury brands often skimp – featuring rubberised trim.
Audi ditched its non-touch infotainment system a few years ago, which meant the lovely rotary controller didn’t need to stick around.
All told, though, we don’t miss it – the RS5’s infotainment system works well and even boasts haptic feedback.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect wirelessly, and there’s a wireless charging pad – but, admittedly, not much else – under the centre console armrest. Storage isn’t in abundance up front.
While we’re grumbling, the steering wheel switchgear feels plasticky, though the wheel itself is lovely, and there’s too much smudge-, dust- and scratch-attracting gloss black trim.
Audi’s superb virtual cockpit features, with multiple views including a map display, though you won’t need to look down here to view your speed as there’s a head-up display.
There’s also an exquisite Bang & Olufsen sound system. Whether you choose to listen to it with that sonorous V6 under the bonnet though, is up to you.
| Dimensions | Audi RS5 Sportback Competition Plus |
|---|---|
| Length | 4777mm |
| Height | 1407mm |
| Width | 1866mm excl. mirrors 2029mm incl. mirrors |
| Wheelbase | 2831mm |
| Cargo capacity | 465L (rear seats upright) 1280L (rear seats folded) |
To see how the RS5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What’s under the bonnet?
Ah yes, that twin-turbo V6. It doesn’t actually produce any more power or torque in Competition Plus guise, but the RS5 is one-tenth of a second quicker to 100km/h due to various under-the-skin tweaks.
| Specifications | Audi RS5 Sportback Competition Plus |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.9L twin-turbo V6 |
| Power | 331kW @ 5700-6700rpm |
| Torque | 600Nm @ 1900-5000rpm |
| 0-100km/h time | 3.8 seconds |
| Transmission | 8-speed auto torque converter auto |
| Driven wheels | All-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1720kg |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 9.4L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 12.1L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 58 litres |
| Fuel requirement | 98 RON |
| CO2 emissions | 213g/km |
To see how the RS5 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
How does the Audi RS5 drive?
Audi engineers retuned the quattro sport differential and transmission. and fitted coilover suspension with a higher spring rate and stiffer stabilisers; a louder exhaust; and fixed-ratio (1:13.1) steering.
The end result is a vehicle that’s even more dynamic than before, but not at the expense of day-to-day liveability.
The adjustable dampers allow you to toggle a Comfort mode that’s really quite hospitable, or engage Dynamic mode which still won’t require you to book in with a chiropractor after a drive.
The Competition Plus sits 10mm lower than the regular RS5, and you can further manually adjust the suspension to lower it by another 10mm.
Driving both the RS4 and RS5, I found myself bracing for impact on some rougher roads… and then finding the suspension actually handles road acne quite well.
It’s firm, yes, and you’ll always know when the surface changes, but overall it’s still pleasant.
The new exhaust, as well as the removal of some insulation from between the engine bay and the cabin, means the Competition Plus is louder than the regular RS5… and yet, again, this doesn’t make the car inhospitable.
We welcome more of the sound of that V6 into the car, as it’s a delight to listen to its growl as you stomp the accelerator pedal and the pop of the exhaust as you let off.
If you put the car into Comfort mode, though, the RS5 is quite civilised.
The V6 has gusto, with peak torque available from just 1900rpm, and shifts from the torque converter automatic are quick.
The steering is communicative and well-weighted, regardless of which mode you have it in. You can customise two different RS modes, which can then be engaged using handy steering wheel buttons.
In addition to being able to change the steering and exhaust settings, you can also toggle between different levels for the drive system and quattro sport differential.
In our brief drive we drove the RS5 in both Comfort and Dynamic modes, and in either the RS5 feels superbly planted with essentially no body roll. The rear-biased all-wheel drive system gives this a wonderfully balanced feel.
There’s plenty of grip on tap. You can option Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres and carbon-ceramic brakes, but the standard brakes and Continental SportContact 6 tyres didn’t give us any cause for complaint.
You do get some tyre noise creeping into the cabin on coarse-chip roads, but wind noise is well-contained even at highway speeds.
What do you get?
RS5 Sportback equipment highlights:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Red brake calipers
- Matrix LED headlights with Audi laser light
- Rear privacy glass
- Sunroof
- RS sport exhaust
- Quattro sport differential
- Semi-autonomous parking assist
- Automatic headlights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Power tailgate
- Proximity entry with push-button start
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Satellite navigation
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- Head-up display
- Wireless phone charger
- 19-speaker 755W Bang & Olufsen sound system
- Tri-zone climate control
- Heated sports steering wheel
- Power-adjustable front seats
- Driver memory function
- Massaging front seats
- Nappa leather upholstery
- Dinamica door trim
- Aluminium inlays
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Stainless steel pedals
- 3yr Audi Connect Plus subscription, including:
- Live traffic and weather
- Remote location tracking
- Remote locking and unlocking
The $13,990 Competition Plus package adds:
- Unique 20-inch alloy wheels
- Coilover suspension
- RS sport exhaust system with matte black pipes
- Fixed-ratio dynamic steering
- 290km/h top speed
- Reprogrammed quattro sport differential and transmission
The same package, but with Dinamica and leather sport bucket seats without massaging, memory and power adjustment, costs $15,290.
There are various other option packages available: for example the RS design package in red costs $3400 and adds red stitching for the steering wheel, shifter and centre console, as well as red accents for the seat belts.
The matte carbon exterior styling package features the material on the front spoiler and side blades, exterior mirror housings, and rear diffuser for $6300.
Is the Audi RS5 safe?
The RS5 doesn’t currently have a grade from ANCAP or Euro NCAP – the A5 it’s based on was tested back in 2015 and its five-star rating has since expired.
Audi A5
Standard safety equipment includes:
- 8 airbags
- Driver attention assist
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Turn assist
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keep assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Safe exit warning
- Traffic jam assist
- Surround-view camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
How much does the Audi RS5 cost to run?
Like the wider Audi lineup, the RS5 is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Running costs | Audi RS5 Sportback Competition Plus |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 5 years |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 5-year pre-paid plan |
| Total capped-price service cost | $3630 |
CarExpert’s Take on the Audi RS5
The first-generation RS5 had a V8, the current generation has a twin-turbo V6, and the next generation could pack a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
The Competition Plus, therefore, is likely Audi’s sendoff to pure combustion power in its mid-sized hatch – sorry, Sportback.
It’s a shame we won’t get the shapely coupe version here, but the Sportback is no shrinking violet – and the unique Competition Plus 20-inch alloy wheels elevate the attractive exterior even more.
The interior is looking a bit old, but it still impresses with its excellent technology, classic switchgear, and good material quality. Oh, and having a hatch down the back makes this more practical than any sedan.
The Competition Plus package may not bring any more power, but the mechanical enhancements it does bring make an already compelling mid-sized performance car even more of a good thing.
It’s thoroughly enjoyable to drive, sounds great, and yet is entirely liveable in day-to-day driving. It may be in the twilight of its life, but the RS5 Sportback still shapes as a compelling luxury performance car.
How do I buy an Audi RS5?
The Audi RS5 is the most exciting member of the A5 and S5 range, although it’s not necessarily the most practical option unless outright performance is your goal.
With a handful coming to Australia, the Competition Plus won’t be a best-seller. There’s also a new A5 range coming Down Under, although it’s actually a new take on the bigger and more practical A4.
If you’re keen to buy or test drive an Audi A5 yourself before the current model runs out, you can connect with an Audi dealer quickly and easily through CarExpert. Our expert team is on hand for independent support at no cost to you via our concierge.
Alternatively, the BMW 4 Series has recently been updated and offers a hot rival to the RS5 in the form of the M4, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a sedan alternative headlined by the wild C63 S E Performance.
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