The 2018 Audi RS5 was launched in India earlier this year and with the second generation, Audi has skipped the NA V8 engine of the older RS5 and plonked in a 3.0-litre V6 bi-turbo engine. With the new engine, better looks and more technology, how different is the new RS5? Time to find out.
Exteriors - The 2018 Audi RS5 combines sharp styling elements with cutting edge looks and the sports car looks absolutely droolworthy. The headlamps, grille, alloys look sexy and the side profile of the RS5 shows off its sporty nature. The rear looks quite attractive too, with its thin black boot lid spoiler and the LED lights.
Interiors - The interior layout of the new RS5 is very similar to the Audi S5. This one gets a full-black layout with premium leather and alcantara used. The front seats offer tremedous comfort and are well-shaped but space for rear passengers gets quite limited. The cabin is well-finished and comes loaded with a lot of gadgetry like Audi's futuristic Virtual Cockpit. The flat-bottom steering wheel looks cool and so does the centre console with its sleek buttons and the striking gear knob.
Performance - At the heart of the new Audi RS5 is a 3.0-litre V6 bi-turbo petrol engine which produces 450 PS of power and 600 Nm of torque. As you start the car, the engine settles with a nice burble. Driveability is just excellent and we love how Audi has tuned this engine to offer clean power delivery all the way to 6800 RPM. Low-end punch is quite good and so is the lusty mid-range with unending pull and power continues to be grunty right till the top-end.
The RS5 is blisteringly quick, with 0-100 km/hr coming up in just 3.6 seconds (claimed figure). You get different driving modes like Comfort, Dynamic and Individual which alter responses from the steering and engine. Needless to say, Dynamic mode is the most fun if you're driving on open highways or on the track. For regular driving within the city, Comfort mode suits just fine. The V6 engine doesn't have a very loud exhaust note but still it does produce a good sound which is kind of music to the ears. The engine comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission which offers very quick gear shifts.
Driving Dynamics - The Audi RS5 comes with a stiff suspension set up but it eases off a bit in Comfort mode. The car is offered with 19-inch standard wheels but our test car came with 20-inch wheels which are an optional extra. The ride is stiff but the car always remains very stable and composed on straights as well as corners. The steering is very direct and precise but somehow it doesn't offer the kind of feedback that you'd want from a performance car. The brakes are very sharp and do a brilliant job of bringing the car to a halt.
Safety and After Sales Service - The 2018 Audi RS5 comes equipped with 6 airbags, Hill Hold Assist, Park Assist and quattro with a self-locking centre differential. Audi India also has a good network of showrooms and service centres in all major cities in the country.
Verdict - The Audi RS5 is definitely a very good car offering incredible performance, latest technology and ravishing looks. This car is also practical enough to be used on a daily basis. It is priced significantly lower than its immediate rival the BMW M4 Coupe and we feel it makes for a good buy because apart from a couple of minus points like the limited space at the rear and stiff ride, the RS5 is very lovable.
