Models
3dr Coupe / 5-Door Hatch (2.9 TFSI)
History
Can a more efficient high performance sportscar also be a more rewarding one? Audi says it can and in 2017 confirmed its intention to deliver just that with this model, the fearsomely fast second generation RS 5, launched in 2017 as a Coupe and in 2019 also in five-door Sportback form. Unlike with the previous generation RS 5, there was no Cabriolet version.
The word 'efficient' always has to be used with a degree of relativity when you're talking of a contender that fronts up with as much as 450PS, but it's certainly applicable here. This MK2 model claimed to be up to 25% more efficient than its predecessor, yet was every bit as quick. The credit for that lay with the two fundamental changes made to this B9-era design; the introduction of an all-new stiffer, lighter MLB platform. And the replacement of the previous version's 4.2-litre V8 with a cutting-edge 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6.
That last change was the one that made the headlines when this car was launched in the Summer of 2017. After all, that old V8 was in many ways the engine that really established Audi RS products as top flight performance contenders. Back in 2005, this was the powerplant used to launch the glorious R8 sportscar and the one that at last put Ingolstadt's RS 4 model on an equal footing with its BMW M3 arch-rival. Whether it was also the right unit to power the first generation version of this car, launched back in 2011, was more debateable. That old RS 5 Coupe was already much heavier than direct rivals from BMW and Mercedes and plugging in such an enormous engine up-front hobbled it further when it came to trying to provide the kind of engaging driving dynamics that buyers in the high performance coupe segment crave.
So the engineers at Audi Sport started again, working with Porsche to create a lighter, more responsive 2.9-litre twin turbo V6 able to equal the total output of the previous model and vastly improve upon its pulling power. They then mated that engine not only to those more agile underpinnings but also to a more responsive 8-speed Tiptronic paddleshift auto gearbox. In addition, Audi's traditional advantage over direct rivals like the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe and the BMW M4 - its quattro 4WD system - was here retained and improved. And there was a standard rear Sport differential to further help get the torque to the tarmac through the turns. There was a mid-term update for both Coupe and Sportback RS 5 models in 2020; and production finished in 2024.
What You Get
There were two B9-era RS 5 models, the Coupe version most chose or an alternative five-door Sportback model. The RS-branded A5 Coupe wasn't quite as stylistically subtle as its lesser S5 stablemate - nor would you want it to be. Appropriately, aesthetic inspiration came from a competition model, Audi's 90 quattro IMSA GTO racer, hence the blistered wheelarches, the lacerated air intakes and the huge oval exhaust pipes. It's certainly a slightly larger car than its predecessor - thank the new MLB Evo platform for a 74mm increase in length - and the more purposeful stance is a touch lower too.
As for the elements that set this RS 5 model apart at the wheel, well of course, the flat-bottomed RS sport leather steering wheel with red contrast stitching is bespoke. So are the stainless steel pedals and the lovely nappa leather-trimmed honeycomb-stitched winged RS Super Sport seats. Otherwise, apart from the leather-fashioned door armrests and kneepads and the black cloth headlining, the ambience is exactly as it would be in any plushly-specified A5 model.
You'll really like the seats, anatomically-shaped and perfectly positioned in front of a wheel through which you view the all-digital Audi 'Virtual Cockpit'. You may be familiar with this set-up from some of the brand's other models from this era. Here, it was standard, a 12.3-inch LCD colour monitor that replaces the usual instrument binnacle dials with a layout that's fully digital and customisable, using smart 3D graphics and highly detailed effects. Anything the 'Virtual Cockpit' set-up can't tell you will almost certainly be covered by the slimline MMI infotainment display that dominates the top of the dashboard. Appropriately, this flagship model includes Audi's top 'MMI Navigation Plus with MMI touch' package with its 8.3-inch monitor featuring crisp 3D maps and responsive Nvidia graphics. This display was upgraded in size to 10.1-inches as part of the 2020 model update.
As for the rear, well buyers in search of a two-door design tend to transport adults in the back very infrequently but when the need does arise, this RS 5 Coupe can improve a little on the claustrophobic quarters provided by some of its closest rivals. Finally, let's consider the boot. This trunk area gained 10-litres in size with this second generation model's longer design and at launch was the largest in the segment at 465-litres. The RS 5 Sportback, in contrast, offers a 480-litre boot, extendable to 1,300-litres in size if you push forward the rear seat back.
What to Look For
The main issues with this B9-era RS 5 relate to carbon build-up on the intake valves, potential rocker arm failures and occasional issues with things like exhaust rattles and engine misfires. Steer well clear of any cars that have been tuned because that can exacerbate some of the engine issues, particularly those related to the rocker arms. And check the service record extremely carefully because regular maintenance can address the intake valve carbon build-up issue, which can be alleviated by adequate regular lubrication.
Otherwise, it's the same things that apply to the S5. We've heard of gearbox problems, seat backrest faults and suspension issues, so check all these on your test drive. The steering rack can experience electrical and mechanical failure and might be noisy too. The most reported faults related to interior trim and non-engine electricals. Look out for bodywork scrapes and kerb damage to the large alloys. We've had some reports of issues with wear to the side bolsters of the leather seats, as well as squeaking front brake pads, so it's worth looking out for both of those. There were a few issues with the car's infotainment system, with phones not connecting properly and flickering screens being the main problem. Buzzing interior trims were also reported. The automatic gearbox should be checked to make sure it's had a regular oil and filter change, as should the quattro four-wheel-drive system.
Many RS 5s will have been company or lease cars and, as a result, you should check the condition of the bodywork carefully. The high-quality fit and finish of an RS 5 also makes it an ideal candidate for clocking, so ensure the history is absolutely verified.
Replacement Parts
(approx based on an RS5 Coupe 2018 2.9 TFSI - Ex Vat - autodoc.co.uk) An oil filter costs in the £10-£23 bracket. An air filter's in the £16-£40 bracket. Front brake pads sit in the £26 to £94 bracket for a set; for a rear set, it's around £20-£43. Front brake discs sit in the £41-£78 bracket; for a rear pair, you're looking at around £17-£100. Radiator prices vary widely - from £125-£368, depending on brand. As do costs for a thermostat (anywhere in the £43-£70 bracket we found).
On the Road
On the move, there's absolutely no doubting that the engine switch made with this second generation RS 5 delivered significantly more speed. Forget the fact that 450PS total power output of this MK2 model's six cylinder turbo unit is pretty much the same as that delivered by the old V8. The stat that really matters here is that of pulling power: the 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 delivers far more of it. Audi quoted an astonishing 44% power-to-weight ratio improvement. It's enough to make this RS 5 feel like a bona fide junior supercar. 62mph from rest takes just 3.9s and the top speed can be as high as 174mph. True, the engine's aural fireworks aren't s engaging as they were with the old V8, but with the optional 'RS Sport' exhaust fitted, this model's 2.9 TFSI V6 has its own theatrical fizz that you rather warm to after having lived with it for a bit. Plus, as expected, it's considerably more efficient than the old unit, managing official figures of 32.5mpg on the combined cycle and 197g/km of CO2.
This RS 5 also tackles the turns more effectively in MK2 form. Part of that is down to the re-developed quattro system which usually directs 60% of torque to the back wheels but, if conditions demand, can send up to 85% of power to the back or, if necessary, as much as 70% to the front. The set-up was designed to work with a torque vectoring system that applies minimal brake interventions to the wheels on the inside of any given curve before they start to spin, maximising traction and making handling more precise, agile and stable. Also playing its part is the standard-fit 'sport differential' which at speed through tight corners can constantly vary the amount of torque distributed to each of the rear wheels. As usual with Audis, there's a 'drive select' driving modes system enabling you to tweak throttle response, stability control thresholds and the impact of that 'sport differential' system. It'll also alter suspension feel if you get a car whose original owner paid extra for adaptive damping. Plus of course, the 'drive select' settings alter the response of the transmission, an 8-speed tiptronic auto paddleshift set-up.