Used Audi RS 5 Review (2010-2015) MK1
Independent review by Bruce Booth from Driving Force
5-minute read
Overview
- High performance
- Good level of practicality
- Well-equipped as standard
- Pricey
- Thirsty
- Heavy
What's the Audi RS 5 like?
You just have to fire up a super-sleek Audi RS 5 and you immediately know you’re sitting in something very special.
Just push the start button and the gorgeous roar that emanates from the highly-tuned 4.2-litre V8 engine tells you that what you're cocooned in is nothing short of a true supercar that has the looks to compliment the snap, crackle and pop that blasts from the large oval exhaust pipes.
Design
Yes, this without doubt had to be Audi at its very best. On the outside, the sleek coupé-styled body looked great from any angle, all thanks to the RS 5’s aggressive, sporty stance, while on the inside you’ll find Audi’s trademark high-end craftmanship shining through all around the cabin.
From the outside, the car’s athletic, muscular design made it abundantly clear that the RS 5 came with huge performance credentials.
From the single frame grille painted in high-gloss anthracite, to the exterior mirror housing and highlight trim in matte aluminium, wherever you looked the RS 5 delivered the road presence expected from a model with a long sporting heritage.
To emphasise the RS 5’s sporting credentials over its sibling A5, its body was widened and to add to its road presence. It also received the added benefit of flared wheel arches and side sill trims.
Interior
On the inside, the RS 5’s soft Nappa leather sports seats offered optimum comfort for all on board, while a three-spoke, flat-bottomed perforated leather-clad multifunction steering wheel enabled the driver to get to grips with the aggressive nature of the machine.
The cabin put many a competitor to shame, thanks to its high levels of refinement, attention to detail and fabulous finish. And, just as you would expect from Audi, the instruments were also beautifully designed, while being clear and easy on the eye.
In the centre of the instrument panel sat the driver’s information system, a large colour digital display unit which provided a raft of information.
But forget about all the fancy gismos which Audi subtly added throughout the car, the RS 5 was a machine that just screamed to be taken out and driven hard.
Performance and Practicality
With a 0 to 60mph sprint time of around 4.5 seconds and a limited top speed of 155mph, it's very easy fall in love with this machine.
Bruce Booth
Acceleration via the 7-speed S tronic automatic transmission is blisteringly fast yet beautifully smooth, thanks to the delivery of power from the 4.2-litre V8 petrol-driven engine.
With what was then the latest in Audi’s quattro four-wheel-drive system, the car’s road-holding abilities were second to none and even the tightest of twisty B-roads could be attacked at pace as the car was more than happy to demonstrate its limpet-like grip on the black stuff.
Yet, for those who wish to use the car as a long-distance grand tourer, even the boot is of a generous size, with a capacity of 455 litres which could be increased to 829 litres when the rear seats were folded flat.
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Find your Used Audi RS 5 your way with CarStore
The Audi RS 5 is a sports coupé that offers crazy performance figures and plenty of kerb appeal. But with a long list of advanced equipment and a good level of practicality, the RS 5 is far more than just a bit of fun.
