Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Audi RS5 – design

The RS5’s mid-cycle update wasn’t entirely successful, but there’s still a presence to its boxed arches and aggressive stance

Evo rating
RRP
from £74,365
  • Covers ground effortlessly; superb build quality and refinement
  • Lacks the excitement and precision of its rivals; muted soundtrack

The RS5 certainly looks the part, thanks to muscular styling that’s said to be influenced by the firm’s monstrous 90 quattro IMSA GTO race car, which dominated American sportscar racing in the late ’80s.

Based on the standard A5, the RS gets subtly pumped wheelarches, a larger grille and a deeper front bumper that’s crammed with intakes and sharply defined creases. Neat touches include the small vents either side of the headlamps and tail lights, plus the familiar silver door mirror caps.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The facelift in 2020 did turn some of its design details on their head, namely the new fake slip vents between the bonnet and grille, and the complex new front and rear lights, but while we would say the previous model looked better, when specified well the RS5 does have an innate aggression that works in most contexts.

You get 19-inch alloys as standard, with larger 20-inch items on the two upper models, although you can upgrade the base car separately if you so wish.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Honda Civic Type R for £5k off – save 10 per cent on the ultimate hot hatch
Honda Civic Type R deal
News

Honda Civic Type R for £5k off – save 10 per cent on the ultimate hot hatch

The Civic Type R is not long for this world and there are deals to be had on Honda’s pricey but near-perfect hot hatch
26 Jun 2025
Frontline MGA Factory Edition review – a quaint classic with a modern heart
Frontline MGA Factory Edition
Reviews

Frontline MGA Factory Edition review – a quaint classic with a modern heart

The MGB restomod specialist turns its attention to the B’s pretty predecessor. The result is compelling
26 Jun 2025
Can Lotus survive its latest crisis?
Lotus factory
Opinion

Can Lotus survive its latest crisis?

Lotus’s latest troubles are grabbing headlines, but the writing’s been on the wall for some time.
28 Jun 2025