Audi RS5 Avant Review & Prices

The new Audi RS5 takes the classic recipe of a 2.9-litre V6 and Quattro all-wheel drive, but hybridises it, making this the most powerful example of the breed yet. It looks super-aggressive with a big body kit and it’s certainly quick, but its weight dulls performance and the caricature styling isn’t for everybody.

You can think of it as your old mate who’s decided to supplement up to the eyeballs and hits the gym seven days a week, because there’s no denying that the RS5 Avant looks beefy and its mighty powerful. The thing is, it’s all a bit unnecessary in the real world.

See, for all of its figures on paper the RS5 Avant is no quicker to 60mph than the far lighter, non-hybrid BMW M3, and only one-tenth of a second faster than the old Audi RS5 Performance. A Mercedes-AMG C63 S Estate is faster, still.

But boy, does the new RS5 Avant look menacing. The heavily blistered wheel arches, sculpted headlight surrounds, estate body shape and wheel choices are all fantastic, though it’s a shame the inset, enormous exhaust tips look naff.

The cabin goes some way to correcting the fussy Audi triple-screen dashboard, by taking your eyes away from it; fitting a pair of very attractive bucket seats up front with intricate stitching. The swathes of Alcantara across the dashboard, steering wheel and door cards look appropriately sporty, as do the red drive mode buttons.

Sharing a layout with the A5 Avant and S5 Avant means the RS5 ought to be just as practical, with just enough space in the back for adults to sit comfortably. The 361-litre boot is massively down on the regular cars to fit the plug-in hybrid gubbins and beefier limited-slip differential, making it smaller than a Volkswagen Golf GTI.

The RS5 produces an outrageous 639hp; the 2.9-litre petrol V6 contributes 510hp while the electric motor adds 129hp to the total. At a hefty 2.4 tonnes, however, a lot of that power is counteracted by the Audi’s prodigious mass.

We’ll report back on the driving experience once we get our hands on the RS5 Avant in person, but if BMW has managed to make the enormous M5 Touring hybrid feel agile, Audi’s engineers likely have, too.

In the meantime, have a look at the latest Audi RS5 Avant deals, and RS5 Avant lease offers, on Carwow. There are used RS5s to choose from, too, as well as other used Audis from our network of trusted dealers. Remember, Carwow can help you sell your car when it's time to change.

Starting at over £91,000, the Audi RS5 Avant is far from what you’d call ‘cheap,’ but even that’s around £2,000 less than you’ll pay for a BMW M3 Touring - which isn’t packed with as much tech.

The entry-level RS5 comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, matrix, dark-tinted LED headlights, honeycomb-stitched sports seats with heating, ventilation and massaging functions plus an RS-specific head-up display.

A step up the range, the £97,000 RS5 Avant Carbon Black adds 21-inch wheels in a grey/gold finish and carbon fibre trim accents, while the top-dog, £109,000 RS5 Performance Vorsprung gains nappa leather upholstery, rear seat heating, a glass sunroof and RS Performance bumpers. It even gets posh touches such as OLED taillights and Bang & Olufsen audio, as well as a top speed increase to 177mph (up from 155mph).