The forthcoming 2019 RS5 Sportback enhances the performance and luxury of the A5 model lineup, placing Audi back into direct competition with premium options from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and even fellow Volkswagen AG subsidiary Porsche.

Two extra doors and a hatchback trunk improve interior space and utility when compared with the A5 Coupe and Cabriolet, while the extensive RS badging indicates significant performance improvements to match.

Though BMW’s M5 and Mercedes-Benz’s AMG E63 S may outperform the RS5 Sportback slightly, Audi’s overall package offers potent performance nonetheless, all in an attractively styled package at a significantly lower price point.

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Exterior Design

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European markets have enjoyed the luxury of Audi’s four-door Sportback models since the introduction of the first generation A5 all the way back in 2007. The American market proved a bit of a quandary for Audi over the next 10 years, however, as the German manufacturer spent nearly a decade trying to decide whether to ship their A1 and A3 hot hatches, the increasingly desirable Avant lineups, or Sportback sedans to the United States. In the end, the success of the A7 Sportback platform (and its upgraded S7/RS7 counterparts) proved too significant for Audi to continue withholding the A5 Sportback from these shores.

Audi’s A5 Sportback builds on the success of its A7/S7/RS7 platform, transferring the hatchback design’s increased interior size to a slightly smaller model which benefits greatly from the addition of an extra pair of doors and a liftback trunk. The overall length increases by only around three inches, but the rear seats are now fully accessible for a grown adult—in the A5 Coupe and Cabriolet, children might feel cramped in the rear.

 

 

For the RS5 Sportback, Audi tacks on a more aggressive front grille and fascia combination, a body kit, the option of either 19 or 20-inch wheels, and Audi’s distinctive RS-trim oval exhaust pipes. A rear diffuser and subtle trunk spoiler round off the look, though additional carbon fiber accents can be optioned—at an additional cost, of course.

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Under The Hood

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The RS5 Sportback shares its powertrain with Porsche’s Panamera 4S and the RS4 Avant that so many Audi fans continually lament will never grace these shores. Where the S5 Sportback packs a single-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V6 under its sleek hood, the RS5 reduces displacement to 2.9 liters in order to increase the engine’s ability to handle the additional boost created by a twin-turbocharger setup.

Total output is up to 444 horsepower, while torque figures in at 443 lb-ft from way down at 1,900 RPM. Of course, Audi’s legendary Quattro all-wheel drive puts that power to the ground with a 40/60 front to rear bias and help from an eight-speed automatic with manual shifting mode. This engine does create too much torque for any of Audi’s dual-clutch trannies, however, so the RS5 models have to settle with a slower-shifting, single-clutch gearbox. (The Panamera 4S gets Porsche’s dual-clutch PDK automatic, which is not shared with any other Volkswagen AG brands.)

The engine with its turbos weighs in at 68 pounds less than the outgoing RS5 model’s V8, and though peak horsepower is down slightly, the twin turbochargers torque results in significant performance gains. A sprint to 60 miles per hour will take the RS5 Sportback just under four seconds, despite a curb weight well above 4,000 pounds. That’s about a half second faster than the outgoing RS5 model, though also 2/10ths of a second slower than the incoming RS5 Coupe.

Additional enhancement options include carbon ceramic brakes, an exhaust featuring movable flaps and a resonating cross pipe, carbon fiber engine covers, adjustable damping suspension, and more.

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Interior and Tech

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The RS5 Sportback reveals Audi’s intention to improve every facet of the car’s performance, from touring to outright track shredding, and the interior ups the ante over lower-spec A5 models, as well. Amenities include multi-adjustable massaging seats, an RS-specific digital gauge cluster, and contrast stitching to match a wide range of RS badges plastered on every surface. Though not specifically stated, Audi’s continuing partnership with Bang & Olufsen seems likely to figure into the mix.

The RS5 Sportback doesn’t skimp on driver assistance technology, especially when optioned with the range-topping RS Driver’s Assistance package. For the added cost of around $15,000, the RS5 Sportback can get adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, head up display, lane assist, and traffic sign recognition. Automated steering below 40 miles per hour further enhances the RS5’s dual role as a comfortable daily commuter equally at home on city streets, mountain highways, and in the tight curves.

Pricing & Buying

The RS5 Sportback figures to nestle in just above its A5 and S5 siblings, with a base price right around $70,000. The A5 and S5 start at $42,600 and $54,400, respectively, though as with any German automotive product these days, prices can skyrocket quickly with the selection of options packages. Expect an RS5 Sportback with every box checked to cost upwards of $85,000—or slightly more than the larger S7 Sportback. Sales begin summer 2018.

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Competitors

The performance sedan, station wagon, and sportback market has seen an uptick lately, though significant competition mainly still comes from Audi’s fellow German brands. Both BMW and Mercedes have added all-wheel drive and powerful turbocharged engines to their lineups, although the M5 and the AMG-tuned E63 in S-trim both have the ability to toggle to strictly rear wheel drive for track days and canyon carving. Still, with the M5 starting north of $100,000 and the E63 S right around the same price, the RS5 Sportback undercuts the cost of ownership for one of the world’s premier sports sedans, while offering interior cargo space that approaches station wagon status.