It was the performance division of German car-making titan Audi that transformed the coveted Audi A5 series into the incredibly fast Audi RS5. Think of the RS badging to Audi, what the AMG is to Mercedes or the M badge for BMW. There is no denying that the RS lineup from Audi is one of the best in the segment, across the world. These cars deliver great performance, superb handling thanks to Audi's Quattro AWD system, and of course, insane luxury in every car, which is part of the package with the Four Rings.

Having debuted in 2013, the Audi RS5 used to house a massive V8 that made almost 450 horsepower, and over time, the vehicle has only evolved and become better with time. Available today as a two-door RS5 Coupe and a four-door RS5 Sportback, the Audi RS5 truly does justice to "racing sport," which is what the RS badge stands for.

10 The V6 Performance Leaves Nothing To Be Wanted

Audi RS5 Sportback with the Competition Package
Via Audi

Sure, the RS5 used to come loaded with a V8 engine, but the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 it now comes with has proven itself to be worthy of the RS badge as well. With 444 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, the Audi RS5 delivers smooth and exciting power delivery which is an absolute joy to experience. The Quattro all-wheel system, mated to the eight-speed automatic transmission that has time and again demonstrated nothing but class makes driving the RS5 a thrilling ride.

Audi RS5 Sportback Engine
 via Torque.com

The RS5 Coupe delivers a great 0 to 60 time of 3.7 seconds, with its Sportback sibling just 0.1 seconds behind at 3.8 seconds. The torque remains the king of the show and is definitely a healthy figure for a car the size of the RS5. Furthermore, if you opt for the Competition Plus package of the Audi RS5, you would no longer be limited electronically to a top speed of 155 mph, and instead be able to use the whole speedometer to touch speeds of up to 180 mph.

9 The Audi RS5 Comes Loaded With Tech

Audi RS5 Sportback Competition Plus
Via Audi

This one is for the gearheads as well as the tech freaks, as the RS5 never sacrifices performance for either interior comfort or technology. A gorgeous 12.3-inch instrument display and 10.1-inch touch and voice-operated infotainment system are the stars of the show in the Audi RS5. Running on SiriusXM in-car technology, the RS5's tech enhances the driving experience.

Audi RS5 19-Speaker Surround Sound System
 via AudiUSA

Paired with the infotainment system is a phenomenal 19-speaker audio system that takes media consumption to the next level. However, that's not all, with the technological prowess of the RS5 reaching the driving department driver-assistance tech that includes adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and self-park assist, to name a few. There's also a top-view camera system that makes parking a breeze, along with a slew of optional safety features to spoil the customer for choice.

RELATED: Why The Audi RS5 Is Worth $20,000 More Than The S5

8 Audi's Sophisticated Interior Design Is An Experience

Interior: 2023 Audi RS5 with the Competition Package
Via Audi

Would Audi really be Audi if they didn't deck out their cars with properly luxurious interiors? It comes as no surprise that the beautiful Audi RS5 comes with elegant and premium-quality materials on the inside, announcing the brand's sophisticated design language the moment you step into the cabin. The RS5 Sportback, particularly, offers ample seating room for two adults at the rear, and even though taller occupants might feel a little constrained in the Coupe, anyone under 6 feet will still be seated in utmost comfort.

2021 Audi RS5 Sportback front row layout view
Via: Audiusa.com

The seats on offer in the Audi RS5 are extremely supportive, and come loaded with massage functions to enhance the cabin's luxury. Furthermore, ambient interior lighting, a three-zone climate control, and a panoramic sunroof make the entire cabin experience even better, ensuring that it isn't just the performance, but the interior of the RS5 as well that makes riding it a pleasure.

7 Phenomenal Exterior Design Makes The RS5 The Center Of Attention

The 2022 Audi RS5 Sportback parked off-road.
Via: Audi

The Audi RS5 sure is a looker. In a market where every car does everything to stand out, the RS5 does more with less. 19-inch alloy wheels and LED Matrix-design headlights adorn the RS5. 20-inch wheels are also available as an option if you're looking to add that extra bit of character to your RS5.

silver 2022 Lexus IS500 vs green 2022 Audi RS5 side view
Via: YouTube on Sam Car Legion

The two-door Audi RS5 Coupe looks especially sporty, ready, and raring to go. The Competition Plus package comes with a new rear diffuser and front splitter, and exterior mirror housings designed in carbon fiber complete the package, setting the Audi RS5 apart from the rest of the competition.

RELATED: 8 Reasons Why The Audi R8 Spyder Is The Perfect Supercar For Gearheads

6 The RS5 Competition Plus Variant Dials Up The Insanity

Audi RS5 Coupe Competition Plus
 via Audi MediaCenter

Audi doesn't mess around when it comes to the Competition Plus variant, which, while in many ways similar to the standard RS5, makes the car faster and a whole lot more fun to drive. For a $16,000 premium, the Competition Plus trim removes the electronic 155-mph top speed restriction and allows the RS5 to reach 180 mph.

2023 Audi RS5 Coupe Competition Plus
Via Audi

Furthermore, the Competition Plus trim also comes outfitted with a sports exhaust, making the car much louder and more aggressive than the standard RS5. In fact, Audi removed around 18 lbs of insulation material in the Competition Plus trim so that drivers can better hear the more aggressive exhaust note. Lastly, the gear ratios on the Competition Plus trim are also slightly tweaked in order to help acceleration off the line, which consequently results in taking a full tenth of a second off the 0-60 time from the RS5.

5 'Sports Direct Steering' Makes Handling A Dream On The Audi RS5

2023 Audi RS5 Coupe Competition Plus On The Move
Audi

While the Audi RS5 comes with a bevy of technological aspects and features, it also is built on a phenomenal chassis that the brand keeps improving with time. The new RS5 comes with a revised steering ratio that improves the car's handling characteristics. This feature is what Audi dubs the "sports direct steering."

2023 Audi RS5 Competition cornering front view
Audi

Paired with the superb Quattro all-wheel drive system, the handling of the Audi RS5 remains a dream, ensuring that you always have sufficient grip in the corners, allowing you to push the car going in and out of turns.

RELATED: 5 Top Handling Modifications Explained

4 Manually Adjustable Coil Springs Make You In-Charge Of The RS5

Audi RS5 Sportback Competition Plus
Via Audi

The Audi RS5 also has another feature that makes it so much more appealing to true gearheads and drivers. The Competition Plus trim of the RS5 uses coil-over springs which have been reduced by 0.4 inches as compared to the standard RS5. However, that's not all, as drivers can even go ahead and reduce this ride height by another 0.4 inches (10 mm) if they wish to. This is thanks to the manually adjustable coil-over springs that the Competition Plus variant comes loaded with.

2023 Audi RS5 Competition Package
Via: Audi
 

This would result in the Audi RS5 Competition Plus trim being 20 mm closer to the ground than the standard car, if one so pleases. Along with this come the RS Ceramic front brakes, which reduce the stopping distance of the RS5 further.

3 Audi's Quattro System Helps You Push The RS5

Audi-RS5_Coupe-2020-1280-0c
Audi

The Quattro all-wheel drive system on the Audi RS5 doesn't just improve handling and grip, but a lot more. In fact, compared to its rear-wheel drive competitors, the Audi RS5 actually is a lot easier to not only drive but push hard. Other RWD cars would end up punishing you if you take too many liberties as a novice driver, but the Quattro system mitigates the problems by working for you rather than against you.

2023 Audi RS5 Coupe with the Competition Package
Via Audi

Compared to the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio or the Mercedes-AMG C63, the Audi RS5 might not be as engaging, it is far easier to use all the available power by the V6 engine on the RS5. Armed with the Quattro AWD system, the RS5 holds your hand as you test the car's limits, and even lets you know beforehand if you're pushing too hard. When it comes to the RS5's rivals, one truly needs to be an expert-level driver to get the most out of them, while the Audi remains thrilling even for the less masterful.

RELATED: 10 Things Every Gearhead Should Know About The Mercedes-AMG C63

2 The Audi RS5 Sportback Returns Better Fuel Economy Than Major Rivals

2023 Audi RS5 Competition and BMW M4 Competition side-by-side comparison side view
Via: BMW, Audi

The Audi RS5 Sportback has great fuel economy, returning 18, 25, and 21 miles to the gallon in the city, highway, and combined cycles respectively. When compared to its six-cylinder rivals, the Alfa Romeo Giulia returns 17, 25, and 20 MPG across city, highway, and combined cycles.

Alfa Romeo Giulia 2020
Alfa Romeo

When compared to the BMW M3 Competition xDrive AWD, the RS5 has even better economy, as the Bavarian machine returns just 16 MPG in the city, 22 on the highway, and 18 combined. With a 15.3-gallon fuel tank, the Audi RS5 has a range of around 320 miles in mixed driving conditions, which is solid for a sports sedan.

1 The Audi RS5 Proves To Be A Viable Daily Driver

Audi RS5 Coupe Competition Plus
Audi

The Audi RS5's biggest rival is the Mercedes-AMG C63, both in its Sedan and Coupe models. However, Audi comes ahead with the RS5 being the more practical choice, as well as a better daily driver. The Sportback RS5 has four doors, with decent rear-seat space, along with a big trunk at one's disposal for long trips. Furthermore, the Quattro AWD system makes the car a breeze to drive enthusiastically.

Audi RS5 Sportback Competition
Audi

The Merc fights back with a bigger 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8 power unit, which might appeal to V8 purists, and delivers 469 horsepower with 479 lb-ft of torque, and even over 500 horsepower and torque on the C63 S. However, it definitely is improbable that one would get to unleash all of that horsepower on a daily basis, with intrusive traction control always lurking in the shadows to jump out and stop you from using all the horses. With a better fuel economy than its BMW and Alfa Romeo rivals, the Audi RS5, while catering to the enthusiasts and thrill-seekers, also remains a great daily driver.