---
title: 'New Audi RS5: Has Audi Ruined It?'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=sw8wmoeKSvE'
video_id: 'sw8wmoeKSvE'
date: 2026-08-24
duration_sec: 1288
channel: 'carwow'
---

# New Audi RS5: Has Audi Ruined It?

> Source: [New Audi RS5: Has Audi Ruined It?](https://youtube.com/watch?v=sw8wmoeKSvE)

## Summary

This video compares the new Audi RS5 plug-in hybrid against the BMW M3 Competition, testing acceleration, braking, and driving dynamics. The reviewer finds the RS5's hybrid weight blunts its performance and fun, while the M3 feels more agile and engaging, though the RS5 offers tax advantages for company car drivers.

### Key Points

- **RS5 Hybrid Powertrain** [00:02] — The RS5 has a 2.9L twin-turbo V6 with an electric motor, producing 639 hp and 825 Nm of torque. It offers a 10-second boost and an RS torque rear setting for drifting.
- **Acceleration Test Results** [00:59] — The RS5 does 0-60 mph in 3.74 seconds and a quarter mile in 11.9 seconds, missing Audi's claimed 3.6 seconds. The BMW M3 Competition does 0-60 in 3.2 seconds and a quarter mile in 11.27 seconds.
- **Weight Difference** [02:27] — The RS5 weighs 2,355 kg, while the M3 weighs 1,780 kg—a 600 kg difference. The RS5's power-to-weight ratio is 271 hp/tonne, while the M3 is over 290 hp/tonne.
- **Braking Test Results** [02:54] — The M3 (with carbon ceramics) stops from 70 mph in 32 meters, while the RS5 (with steel brakes) stops in 28 meters, surprising the reviewer.
- **Drift Mode** [04:09] — The RS5's rear differential with an electric motor allows torque vectoring, enabling controlled drifts. The M3 uses a simpler rear-wheel-drive mode.
- **Exterior Design** [05:39] — The RS5 is 90mm wider than the standard A5, with new wings and a wider track. The reviewer prefers the M3's design overall, but likes the RS5's side profile.
- **Interior and Practicality** [07:17] — The RS5 has RS sport seats, Alcantara trim, and a passenger screen (which the reviewer dislikes). The boot is 330L, 100L less than the standard A5 due to batteries.
- **Fuel Economy and Range** [09:48] — The RS5 claims 74 MPG, but the reviewer saw 15 MPG during hard driving. The fuel tank is 48L (vs 56L in the A5), and the electric-only range is about 22 km.
- **Boost Button Criticism** [10:15] — The RS5's boost button just changes throttle map and gear selection, similar to a sport mode. The reviewer calls it marketing nonsense, preferring a simple kickdown switch.
- **Practical Issues** [11:22] — The RS5's front is low, causing trim damage. The rear diffuser flew off during filming. The reviewer also finds the start/stop system confusing.
- **Tax Benefits for Company Cars** [13:29] — The RS5's benefit-in-kind tax over 3 years is £14,000, compared to £39,000 for the BMW M3. This makes the RS5 attractive for company car drivers.
- **Towing and Child Seats** [14:24] — The RS5 can tow 1.9 tonnes and has ISOFIX points. The M3 cannot have a tow bar at all.
- **Driving Dynamics** [15:06] — The RS5's weight makes it understeer and feel less fluid than the old RS4. The M3 feels more agile, trustworthy, and fun, though it has some turbo lag.
- **Pricing and Value** [18:47] — The RS5 starts at £89,000 (tested at £97,000), while the M3 starts at £91,000 (tested at £118,000). CarWow discounts can save £18,000 on the M3, making it better value.
- **Final Verdict** [20:07] — The reviewer says the RS5 is a decent car but blunted by hybrid weight, so he'd choose the BMW M3. However, a friend prefers the RS5, and the reviewer hints his next car might be different.

### Conclusion

The Audi RS5 is a capable but heavy plug-in hybrid that sacrifices driving fun for tax efficiency, while the BMW M3 remains the more engaging choice for enthusiasts. The RS5 makes sense for company car drivers, but the M3 is the better driver's car.

## Transcript

steering wheel of the new Audi RS5, you get 10 seconds worth of maximum attack from the hybrid system. And then if you press this RS button, you get this menu up here when you can choose the new RS torque rear setting which allows the car
torque rear setting which allows the car to drift. color scheme it looks a little bit like Spider-Man. Question is though, is it
more like Spider-Man in Spider-Man 3 where he puts on the black suit and then becomes more powerful but also less good. Well, we're going to find out. I'm good. Well, we're going to find out. I'm at Watson. You're watching Carow.
a 2.9 L twin turbo V6. However, it's mated to an electric motor. And as a mated to an electric motor. And as a result, you have 639 horsepower and 825 Newton me of torque. That's like RS6 numbers. It's insane. So, how quick is
this thing? Well, let's launch it and find out. Here we go. Left on the brake. find out. Here we go. Left on the brake. Floor the throttle. N control. Now,
Apparently, it's supposed to do it in 3.6. Oh, dear. What's a quart mile? Come on. 11.9 seconds. Let's give it one more go. Audi, you're supposed to be German, better than the claim manufacturer times. What's wrong with you?
Oh, that was a good gear change. Oh, we got 3.74. It's the same. got 3.74. It's the same. Where's my 3.6
it's got so much power? It's all down to the weight. This thing's heavy. 2,355 of the weight now. I'm going to jump into something else. I'm now sat in the BMW M3 Competition. It has a 3 liter twin turbo straight 6. It only puts out
530 horsepower and 650 new meters of torque. Obviously, it's going to be torque. Obviously, it's going to be slower than the Audi, right?
That felt faster. Yeah. More aggressive. What we got? 3.2 to 60. Quarter mile is going to be quicker than the Audi. But by how much? the Audi. But by how much? Wow. 11.27. 27.
That Audi weighs 2,355 kg. This is 1,780 kg. It's like 600 kilos difference. And the power that the Audi has, the system isn't enough to make up for it. The Audi's power to weight ratio is 271
The Audi's power to weight ratio is 271 horsep. This is over 290 horsep. But weight doesn't just affect your acceleration, it affects your braking of the M3 is on the optional common
ceramics. They're about 9 grand. We've got 400 mm disc up front, 380 on the rear. We're also on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. Are we coming into the braking zone now? I'm going to break in exactly the same place for the Audi.
What do we get? We're looking for around 34 m. Wow. 32 m. Now for the Audi. Now, this has four 20 mm discs at up front and 400 at the rear, but is on the standard steel brakes. We're on Bridgestone Patenza Sport tires. Here we
Bridgestone Patenza Sport tires. Here we go. Braking zone now. Three, two, one. cameraman was stood, but actually that's better. What? What? 28 m 28. What? No.
engineers have tried to make this car as fun as possible. So, they've given it a special rear differential, which combines a normal LSD with an electric motor to send torque to the outer wheel, whichever wheel needs the most power
almost instantaneously. And so, they have this drifty mode. So, let's see if it works. It's saying stability control off.
I think it'll work. What is this witchcraft? transition it. I can't even say transition.
Oh, that's enough of that. It works. It's actually not meant for donuting. It's meant for on tracks, big smoky drifts such as these.
simpler approach. It just allows you to decouple the four-wheel drive system. So, the car goes just purely rear wheel drive. I think that was first introduced on a Mercedes ages ago. This is the actual car in the day. But what it means
is Sliding because you're not having the front wheels trying to pull it forward.
Hello Louis run. maybe there's an area where the Audi does shine. Visually, this new RS5 is a previous generation and the RS4 as well, which is sort of what it actually
replaces. You got this whole new front design over the normal A5. Very, very opinion. It's a little bit large, but all the vents and everything you see are real. Now the car is actually 90 mm wider than the standard A5 and the track
is wider. Part of this is new wings. Really wide shoulders on this car and somewhere but when you actually look into the wheel arch liner I don't know where the air is going. Wheel sizes these are 21s dark 20. Moving down the
and roof are exactly the same as the standard A5. And while some people don't them. It's that little switch in there. Now, the rear door is not the same as on the A5 because if you notice, you got this rear hunch again that Oh, hello.
Didn't mean to do that. That's the charging port. Move around to the back. This in the roof, but obviously you get a little tail spoiler. And then a whole new lower bumper here, which is quite a good looking rear bumper. I like the
diffuser design. I like the exhaust design. It's pretty cool. I do like the look of this new Audi RS5, but overall, I do prefer the M3's design. Remember what we were all complaining about? It's new grill looks cool now. It's
Audi. Also, while I like the rear end on this, the BMWs with its quad pipes just chef's kiss. The only angle that I prefer this RS5 from over the BMW M3 is a side profile. This has a great side profile. It does look better in this
it a saloon. It's actually a hatchback than the Avant Estate. But what about the inside? Over the standard A5, the RS model gets a sports steering wheel which is is octagonal and it also has these buttons, the RS one which you can use to
then your boost button there. More on that in a bit. You also have a red got these RS sport seats which are quite nice. So I prefer these seats and the standard seats you get in the BMW and I prefer the bucket seats in the BMW apart
them cuz the high sides are a bit annoying. You also get RS on the kick the seats. You can actually get different colored stitching. You get Alcantari race type of material here on the dash. And you can get different
materials here for the center console and so on and so forth. You also get RS Sport mats. Why are the sport mats? Foot mats. Mats. Matt. Just RS mats. Lewis like that, do you? >> No. It looks weird.
top of the footwell. What else do we have in here? Oh, look. We got red seat of seat belt as well. Then you have some RS dials. I don't really like the quite simple because it's a rev counter with your speed underneath, but it could
information down here with all your battery and blah blah blah blah blah blah hybrid blah all that kind of stuff. Ah, and you know what? Just general thing on the A5. I don't really like the infotainment system that much. Using the
air con is a faf going in through here. Ah, and then the passenger screen. Bloody pointless. Hate passenger screens. Just stop it now. We don't need much. >> Fortunately, there's more to like in the
room for adult passengers. The seats are comfy and it's easy to fit a child seat. Just a bit dark with this black interior trim. Definitely get the sunroof. Get it calling this a saloon cuz it's a hatchback, but hatchback doesn't sound
as cool, does it? It's more useful though. The boot is quite a big space. It's easy to climb into. James, would you like to shut the boot on me? Yeah. if I can fit. Actually, it's quite comfy. You can come in here with me,
Probably wouldn't fit actually because the bit capacity is only 330 L, which is 100 L less than a normal A5 because you got the batteries for the hybrid system brings up to five annoying things about this car. GET ME OUT YOU BOOGERS. The
problem with hybrids is that you have to have a release button for the fuel filler so that you don't Something tried to get me. What a delay. Anyhow, I hate the way you
when the car's unlocked. And then there is the fuel economy. So, what is car, James? >> 74. >> 74. >> 74.
What the bollocks? It's doing 15 MPG. Have been thrashing it, but 74. No, no, not a chance. And then there's the fact that the fuel tank is quite small. Normal A5 is 56 L. On this one, it's 48 L. You're going to be filling this up a
ever does with plug-in hybrids. Just load of nonsense. You might be thinking wheel gives you some more power for a short period of time. No, it doesn't. sportiest setting. So, sets into a slightly lower gear. Um, increases a
throttle map and just makes it a bit more urgent. Same as just pressing the accordingly. Now, the idea is is that if you suddenly need to overtake when set up, ready to go. But that involves going, "Oh, I want to overtake. I'm
going to press boost button and now I'm going to floor the accelerator. Why not just have the full setting in the kickown switch for the accelerator? So, overtake. You just floor it and then you get all the power, all the urgency and
the gearbox and everything just in the right mode just on your right foot. Simpler. That's just marketing nonsense and I hate that. Bigger plug-in hybrid, you obviously have to carry around all of this kind of stuff. Look, I mean,
look at all this. And then there's your tire sealant and your first a kit as well. Unfortunately, there's no under floor storage because of the aforementioned batteries. Just that your jack. So, that's annoying.
Also, I found this car front to be quite low. As I pulled out my driveway, I managed to rip this bit trim off it. And then when we're filming a drag race with this car, this just flew off. It's part of the rear diffuser.
One of the many problems I have with plug-in hybrids is I'm never sure Either when getting in and trying to start it or when like driving off. So, is it on? Is it on? Is it on? Is this it on? The engine's not running. Can you
hear that though? That's fake noise coming. Dre, is that outside the car as on? I don't even know if it's on. Is it on? >> Where? Where? Let's go to RS. Now it's on. Right. And then if I did
that right now, is it off? Have I turned it off? Tesla, I've got a Tesla Model 3. You just get in it, shut the door, go into
your drive off. Or I like my Toyota GI. So I get in it, I press a button, I start it, I hear the engine, I know it's working, and then I turn it off and I get out of it. This I'm never entirely sure what's happening.
Is it on or off now? Is it? You get the idea. Do you want to have a look at this car's engine? Look, it's here. 2.9 L V6. It's capable of 177 mph, but only if you have the Vol. Otherwise, it's limited to 155. Also,
something. Maybe that's where the battery was, and they've moved it to the battery was, and they've moved it to the rear for this RS5. But it does mean look rear for this RS5. But it does mean look I know.
that I'm not the biggest fan of plug-in hybrids because you get an internal combined in one. So, there's two different systems to go wrong. And then together which could also go wrong. So, as a used vehicle, yeah, it could be an
you're buying new, that's not a problem, is it? It's not your issue. And this is where plug-in hybrids start to make sense. if you are a company car driver, because the benefit in kind taxation that you'll pay on this car over 3 years
is £14,000. And you compare that to the BMW without the plug-in hybrid system on it, that'll cost you £39,000 to the tax man. All of a sudden, I'm loving the RS5. You are able to remote park the RS5 using an app on your phone. So, if you
press a button, it will pull forward out of a space or reverse backwards into it. You choose. However, you have to have that app authorized by your dealer. I So, I'm having to use a James instead. Look, everyone should get themselves a
>> Your life is better with a James. Get yours today. You won't regret it. >> And usually for a sporty seat, look down here. There are ice fixed anchor points so you can have your child next to you if you're mad. This car can tow 1.9
And you can get it with an electrically deployable toe bar. This car doesn't have it, but you can't get a toe bar at all with the BMW M3. So there, that's isn't it? For a plug-in hybrid, this car has quite a big battery. It's 22 kW
range and electric only power. And it can be quite aggressive with the kick down switch when you're in EV mode, it will stay in EV mode. And that means you can use this car just to nip to the shops and stuff like that without heat
cycling the engine. I like that the engine isn't on and I'm doing 70 m an engine isn't on and I'm doing 70 m an hour.
84. There we go. Kicked in. There are benefits to plug-in hybrids. After all, RS4, and I absolutely loved it because it blended like comfort and refinement with sporty, fun handling. Now, this one, it's similar, but not quite as
good. And it's all down to the weight. So, first off, the suspension in comfort mode isn't quite as supple. does have a slightly firmer edge than the old RS4. it feels firmer still. Now, it's not terrible. It's not like the BMW M5
after a while because it suspension was just too firm. This is definitely car. Even though Audi's fitted it with clever two valve dampers, other things they've done to the car is give it stiffer springs front and rear. They
have also fitted the car with upgraded bushings and links, so everything's just and the rear axle especially is modified over the standard A5. And of course, you got wider track front and rear. And
that's not all. They've even made the body 10% stiffer than the A5 in which it's based. So, when you go into RS mode, is it as much fun as the old RS4 I used to have? Well, the answer to that is unfortunately no, it's not because
you can tell that this car feels quite heavy. everything is good and everything is fine and everything is dandy up until the point where you're pushing really quite hard and then it just doesn't want
to go around a corner. It just seems to like under steer up until that point. It's not bad and it's more likely to rotate than Audi's of the past. But just something a little less fun, a little less fluid, and a little less
natural about this hybrid RS5. And it is all down to the weight because the engineers, they have done a good job on this car. I think in many ways they've done a better job than BMW did with their M5 hybrid. However, you know that
if they had the choice to not have to make this car a hybrid, they 100% would it is for emissions regulations and Otherwise, there would be no hybridization on this car whatsoever,
and it would drive better than it does because quite frankly, it doesn't feel any faster than the old RS4. And while you do get a little bit more pickup when you first put your foot down, because the electric motors fill in, the torque
gap in the turbos, it's momentary and minor and just outright playfulness and there. There we go. Just running wide. And you really notice it when you jump to the BMW. This is more like it. This feels like a
sports car in comparison. I feel more in tune with it. I'm not dealing with so much weight. It's just more agile in the corners and more trustworthy. The only thing you notice is that sometimes if you're not in the right gear, you got
that turbo lag. But this engine's so strong anyway, and it's not trying to hold so much mass that just feels more natural this. There is a harsh edge to it in some ways, but I think that's just the bushings with the subframes just
cabin. The suspension itself deals with again, it's not having to deal with so much weight. This is more fun. Does feel more aggressive. It's a bit more like, you know, aching you want to go faster.
So, driving it's more of an event. And I think on a long journey, the Audi's probably a little less tiring. But maybe not because of the suspension, the Audi is just that bit more jarring. One thing I don't like about the BMW, the stupid
fat steering wheel for the wheel in the Audi. Other than that, this is a car I will go out just for a blast in. I know that because I had one
and I used to do that. Sometimes older and less complex is better. And this M3 is a case in point. On paper, the Audi is better value than the BMW M3. It starts at £89,000. So it's about 2 grand less than the starting price of the BMW.
This one here with all the kit on it, £97,000. That BMW that I was driving, But that doesn't tell the whole story because through CarWow, you can save 18 grand off that BMW. So it comes down to £100,000. And as this is so new, there's
no savings on CarWow yet, but there will be in future. So, make sure you head to Carw Wow. With that in mind, the BMW looks like the better car to buy. However, if you don't want a BMW and you
don't want a hybrid, why not get an Audi RS6, beautiful 4 L V8? And here's one I RS6, beautiful 4 L V8? And here's one I found on Carw Wow, £80,000, 2023 model year car. There is, of course, a risk of buying a used car, and that's that it
might have a dodgy past. So, make sure you do a car vertical history check on any used car you're thinking of buying because here's an example of an Audi RS6 And you wouldn't know about that if you hadn't done this car vertical history
check on it. So, if you're thinking about buying a used car, use car description of this video and use the code car wow for 20% off. Thank me later. But if you are after a brand new car, where does that leave us with the
Audi RS5? Should you avoid it, consider it, shortlist it, or just go right ahead and buy it? Well, do you know what? It's a decent enough car, but it's kind of blunted by being a plug-in hybrid and so heavy. So, I reckon you should consider
it. Me, I just have the BMW M3. Thing is, while my verdict is the right one petrol head, um, it's not always the right verdict for we and I'll show you >> Hello.
Yeah, good. How are you? >> Yeah, I'm okay, thanks. I'm okay. Quick question. Right, remember we had a BMW M3 and we've now got this Audi RS5. If I was to buy one, which one would you rather I bought?
>> The RS5, definitely. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Bye. >> Bye. >> Bye. >> Cuz that happens to you
might think that I'm a bit of a s, and you'd be right, because my next car, well, you can find out what it is by watching that video there. Yeah, you can family. Anyhow, hope you enjoyed the video. If you did, give it a like. Let
comments below. If you haven't done so already, subscribe to this channel coming out. And as ever, thanks for watching and I'll see you next