Audi RS5 Review

There is no denying that the M3/M4 has always dominated the executive sports coupe market, but the Audi RS5 has taken away a big chunk of its market share. And how wouldn’t it, with its sophisticated Quattro four-wheel-drive system, a Porsche-derived V6 engine, and arguably much better looks when compared to the latest M4. With that in mind, it’s unsurprising that Audi is making a third-generation RS5 for 2025, but that doesn’t take away much from the current model, especially not with the 2024 update, which unlocks even more cutting-edge technologies that will be seen in future Audi models. Some of it includes a heated steering wheel, a more advanced adaptive cruise control, and an updated infotainment system. The pricing did become a bit more complicated, but we will discuss that later. Before that, have a look at the Audi RS5s currently for sale here at Exotic Car Trader in case you are in the market for one.

Carving Its Own Path

The Audi RS5 has always stood out from its competitors, and not in a good way, at least on paper. The M3/M4 has always been a much more capable weapon on a track, while the C63 was historically much more powerful and more fun to drive. However, while the RS5 was always a bit more conservative, that helped work in the real world much better. Coupled with more mature styling, and the RS5 made its own place in the executive sports coupe despite not being the fastest or the most powerful. As a result, Audi sold thousands of them in the US annually between 2014 and 2024. The second generation arrived in the US in 2018 and received a major update in 2021 that included a noticeable exterior redesign. Since then only a little has changed since the third generation was already planned out and is set to be unveiled in 2025. Even so, that didn’t stop Audi from updating the 2024 RS5 for its final model year, so let’s see what’s new.

The Interior Is One Of Its Highlights

Inside, the Audi RS5 is one of the best-looking cars on the market. The standard A5 looks amazing, but the RS5 adds many bespoke and sporty details. Some include a flat bottom steering wheel that can be finished in Alcantara with the seats and the shifter. The sports seats are made even more attractive with contrasting honeycomb stitching, which looks seriously attractive. The standard and industry-leading virtual cockpit gets sportier configurations and can now display more live drivetrain data, which all driving enthusiasts can appreciate. At the same time, the 2021 update brought along a huge 11.1” infotainment screen, which doesn’t look nearly as out of place as most modern infotainments do. As for the 2024 model year, the RS5 gets a heated steering wheel as standard, a more advanced adaptive cruise control, and park assist. The infotainment can now download third-party apps like Spotify although that’s a $1,500 option as part of the navigation package. Apart from that, the 2024 RS5 remains the same inside.

The Composed Exterior Aged Well

Thanks to a more conservative exterior design, the Audi RS5 looks just as smart as it did in 2018. That said, the 2021 update did modernize the exterior to a certain extent. Specifically, the update introduced redesigned matrix lighting elements and OLED tail lights. The RS5 also became more aggressive with bigger and more pronounced front bumper intakes and a taller diffuser in the rear with an integrated mesh grille. The front grille maintained the honeycomb pattern but now with a more complex design. Besides that, the RS5 didn’t see any other exterior changes, even for the 2024 model year. And while its latest competition from BMW and Mercedes looks more extravagant and modern, they will likely age much faster than the RS5 because of it.

It Packs More Than Enough Power For the Street

Horsepower and torque outputs remain the same for the 2024 Audi RS5. That means 444 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. That’s quite a long way from the M4’s 500+ horsepower, and as a result, the RS5 is slower all around. Starting with the 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds, it’s nearly half a second slower than the M4. That said, both finish the quarter mile in 12 seconds, which means the lack of power doesn’t bog down the initial acceleration but rather the extra 100 lbs. the RS5, as it weighs 3,990 lbs. The electronically limited top speed has generously been moved to 175 mph instead of 150, which is a big plus for a car like the RS5. The standard adaptive dampers do a great job of keeping the hefty RS5 light on its feet, and even though the four-wheel-drive system is rear-biased, the RS5 is still more prone to understeer, making it much easier and safer to drive at the limit. The only downside is that carbon ceramic brakes are no longer an option in 2024 even for the Competition trim.

It's No Longer The Bargain It Used To Be

While the prices for 2024 haven’t increased much, the Audi RS5 is a fairly old platform. The starting price of $81,000 matches the M4 and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio almost exactly. But remember that both cars have over 50 horsepower more than the RS5, and the M4 is built on a much newer platform. As a result, the Audi RS5 is hardly worth the money, especially since the carbon ceramic brakes are no longer available with the Competition trim which now starts at $90,000. Buying a used Audi RS5 is a much safer choice, so why check out the ones available at Exotic Car Trader?

Final Words

There is no denying that the Audi RS5 is a very capable and attractive car. Still, in 2024, it’s beginning to underperform when compared to its competition, especially for the price it goes for. That said, the RS5 does have its own specific character that no other sports coupe can match. But even so, it's probably worth waiting a year longer for the third generation. However, buying a used RS5 still makes sense. If you are after one or any other sports coupe, SUV, or luxury vehicle, consider buying it through Exotic Car Trader. With escrow protection, delivery, and first inspection, Exotic Car Trader makes the entire process as convenient and as safe as it gets. The same applies if you are looking to sell your current vehicle with Exotic Car Trader; only in that case, the process becomes even easier.