Audi RS5

Which Audi RS5 Version Should You Buy?

The Audi RS5 choice depends chiefly on whether you want the lighter, high-revving character of the earlier V8, the stronger low-speed torque and quicker acceleration of the turbocharged second generation, or the output of the third-generation Plug-in sedan.

The Audi RS5 choice depends chiefly on whether you want the lighter, high-revving character of the earlier V8, the stronger low-speed torque and quicker acceleration of the turbocharged second generation, or the output of the third-generation Plug-in sedan. Across the supplied catalogue, the model spans five listed production series grouped into three generations, with Coupe, Cabrio, Liftback, and Sedan body styles. Every listed version has AWD and ventilated disc brakes at both ends, but output ranges from 450 hp to 639 hp, torque from 430 Nm to 825 Nm, and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h ranges from 4.9 seconds to 3.7 seconds.

Audi RS5 generations: what changed?

The first-generation Audi RS5 Cabrio was produced from March 2010 through January 2012 with two listed versions, both named 4.2 S-tronic. Each uses a 4,163 cc Gasoline engine with 8 V-shaped cylinders, no boost, direct injection, a front longitudinal installation, a 7-speed Robotic gearbox, and AWD. Both produce 450 hp and 430 Nm, but their acceleration, weight, economy, compression ratio, and ground-clearance records differ.

The first-generation restyling ran from March 2012 through February 2017 and again appears as a Cabrio with two listed versions. Both are named 4.2 FSI quattro S tronic and combine 450 hp with 430 Nm. The catalogue specifies the same 4,163 cc Gasoline engine, 8 V-shaped cylinders, no boost, direct injection, a front transverse installation, a 7-speed Robotic gearbox, and AWD. Compared with the preceding entries, power is unchanged while recorded acceleration improves for both weight variants.

The second generation ran from March 2017 through January 2019 as a Liftback and contains three entries named 2.9 AT. It replaces the 4,163 cc unboosted engine with a 2,894 cc Turbo Gasoline engine featuring 6 V-shaped cylinders, direct injection, and a front longitudinal layout. Every version produces 450 hp and 600 Nm, drives all four wheels through an 8-speed Automatic gearbox, and reaches 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds.

The second-generation restyling began in January 2019 and is listed as a Coupe with two 2.9 AT entries. Its essential engine specification remains 450 hp and 600 Nm from 2,894 cc, with 6 V-shaped cylinders, Turbo boost, direct injection, a front longitudinal layout, an 8-speed Automatic gearbox, and AWD. The principal differences between the two catalogue entries concern weight, consumption, and emissions.

The third generation began in February 2026 as a Sedan with one 2.9 AT version. Its 2,894 cc Plug-in powertrain produces 639 hp and 825 Nm, representing gains of 189 hp and 225 Nm over every second-generation 2.9 AT. It retains 6 V-shaped cylinders, Turbo boost, direct injection, a front longitudinal layout, an 8-speed Automatic gearbox, and AWD.

Audi RS5 engine specs compared

The 4,163 cc versions deliver about 108.1 hp per litre, while the 450 hp 2.9 AT versions deliver about 155.5 hp per litre. The third-generation 639 hp 2.9 AT raises that figure to about 220.8 hp per litre. Torque shows an equally clear progression: the second generation adds 170 Nm over the first-generation cars, and the third generation adds another 225 Nm.

For buyers comparing engine character through the available figures, the first-generation 4,163 cc engines produce peak power at 8,250 rpm. The second-generation 2,894 cc engines produce peak power from 5,700 to 6,700 rpm and their 600 Nm from 1,900 to 5,000 rpm. Power and torque engine speeds for the third-generation 2.9 AT are not measured.

Audi RS5 performance and fuel economy

All listed cars share the same 250 km/h top speed, so acceleration separates them more clearly. The third-generation 2.9 AT is quickest at 3.7 seconds, beating every second-generation version by 0.2 seconds. The second-generation cars are between 0.6 and 1 second quicker than the first-generation entries.

Among versions with complete consumption figures, the restyled second-generation 2.9 AT at 1,707 kg has the lowest recorded combined consumption at 8.9 L/100 km. That is 1.6 L/100 km below the lighter first-generation 4.2 S-tronic and restyled 4.2 FSI quattro S tronic, which each record 10.5 L/100 km. The third-generation car records 10 L/100 km combined, but its city and highway figures are not measured.

Audi RS5 dimensions, weight, clearance, and tank capacity

The catalogue does not provide exterior length, width, or height for any version, so those dimensions are not measured. Wheel sizes are also not measured for every listed RS5.

Weight varies substantially. The lightest entry is the second-generation 2.9 AT at 1,655 kg kerb weight, while the third-generation 2.9 AT is the heaviest at 2,355 kg. The difference is 700 kg. Relative to power, the 1,655 kg car carries about 3.68 kg per hp; the 639 hp third-generation car carries about 3.69 kg per hp. The lightest first-generation 4.2 S-tronic carries about 3.81 kg per hp.

The first-generation 4.2 S-tronic entries have kerb/gross weights of 1,920/2,420 kg and 1,715/2,215 kg. Ground clearance is not measured for the 1,920 kg entry and is 120 mm for the 1,715 kg entry. Both have a 61 L tank.

The restyled 4.2 FSI quattro S tronic entries weigh 1,995/2,420 kg and 1,790/2,215 kg. Both have 120 mm ground clearance and a 61 L tank.

The second-generation 2.9 AT versions weigh 1,720/2,320 kg, 1,655 kg with gross weight not measured, and 1,685/2,210 kg. Ground clearance is not measured for the 1,720 kg and 1,685 kg entries; the 1,655 kg entry has 110 mm clearance. Every one has a 58 L tank.

The restyled second-generation 2.9 AT Coupe entries weigh 1,707/2,207 kg and 1,795/2,322 kg. Their ground clearance is not measured, and both use a 58 L tank. The third-generation 2.9 AT Sedan weighs 2,355/2,905 kg, has ground clearance not measured, and carries 48 L.

Which Audi RS5 version should you choose?

Choose the second-generation 2.9 AT at 1,655 kg if the priority is the best weight-to-power figure in the catalogue. It combines 450 hp, 600 Nm, a 3.9-second 0–100 km/h time, and about 3.68 kg per hp. Its city, highway, and combined consumption figures are not measured, however, so it is less useful for a purchase decision based on documented fuel use.

Choose either the 1,720 kg or 1,685 kg second-generation 2.9 AT if you want the same 450 hp, 600 Nm, and 3.9-second acceleration with complete consumption data. Both return 12.4 L/100 km in the city, 7.1 L/100 km on the highway, and 9.1 L/100 km combined. The 1,685 kg entry is 35 kg lighter and records 206 g/km rather than 207 g/km.

Choose the 1,707 kg restyled second-generation 2.9 AT Coupe for the lowest documented combined consumption. Its 8.9 L/100 km result is 0.1 L/100 km below the 1,795 kg Coupe and 0.2 L/100 km below the two fully documented earlier Liftback entries. It also weighs 88 kg less than the other restyled Coupe while matching its 450 hp, 600 Nm, and 3.9-second acceleration.

Choose the lighter first-generation 4.2 S-tronic if the 4,163 cc, 8-cylinder, V-shaped, unboosted engine is the deciding specification. At 1,715 kg it is 205 kg lighter than the other 4.2 S-tronic, accelerates 0.3 seconds sooner, and consumes 0.2 L/100 km less in city, highway, and combined use.

Within the restyled first generation, the 1,790 kg 4.2 FSI quattro S tronic is the stronger numerical choice. It is 205 kg lighter than the 1,995 kg version, reaches 100 km/h 0.4 seconds sooner, and uses 0.2 L/100 km less in each recorded consumption cycle.

Choose the third-generation 2.9 AT Sedan when maximum output and acceleration matter most. Its 639 hp, 825 Nm, and 3.7-second 0–100 km/h time lead the catalogue. The trade-off is a 2,355 kg kerb weight, which is 700 kg above the lightest second-generation version, while its 48 L tank is 10 L smaller than the second-generation tank and 13 L smaller than the first-generation tank.

No price or sale data is supplied, so these figures cannot establish which Audi RS5 is cheapest, most expensive, or best value for money. What the extra cost of any version buys is therefore not measured. On specifications alone, the 1,707 kg restyled second-generation 2.9 AT is the balanced choice for documented performance and economy, the lighter first-generation 4.2 S-tronic is the numerical pick among the early unboosted versions, and the third-generation 2.9 AT is the choice for the highest power, torque, and quickest acceleration.