2023 Audi RS5 Coupe Performance

The Audi RS5 is less sports car and more luxury sports coupe; it comes with a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 that develops 444 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, all of which is channeled to the quattro AWD system via an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. Combined, these factors help it to achieve a 0-60 mph time of just 3.7 seconds, one-tenth quicker than the Sportback version can manage. Flat out, the RS5 will reach 155 mph but with the new Competition Package, the top speed limiter is raised further still to 180 mph. Thanks to six-piston brakes up front, the RS5 stops as well as it accelerates, and if you choose the Competition Package, you get carbon-ceramic front brakes for even better stopping performance.

There's only one powertrain offered with the RS5, but it's a pretty spicy one. The 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 develops 444 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, and throttle response with this mill is remarkably good. It pulls hard from low down and maintains its thrust far up into the rev range. That being said, it can't hold a candle to the V8's throttle response, sound, and linear power delivery from generations past. Nevertheless, pulling away from the lights with vigor is exciting, and overtaking on the freeway is easily achieved. The Competition model has less sound insulation and an RS sports exhaust that make it sound a bit naughtier, too.

The ZF eight-speed, here dubbed 'Tiptronic', is a perfect accompaniment to the engine, changing up smoothly and quickly in regular drive modes and taking on a crisp efficacy when you decide you want more sportiness. Once again, the Competition model is a bit more incisive as its transmission has been specially recalibrated. As is commonly the case, you can also take manual control with the steering-mounted paddle shifters, enabling you to change up or down as and when you please. Again, the transmission performs beautifully here, with no delay in providing smooth, clean shifts.

The RS5 Coupe's official EPA estimates are 18/26/21 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. Thanks to a 15.3-gallon gas tank, you can likely expect an average mixed range of around 321 miles per full tank.