Overview

Now that Audi has eliminated coupes from the A5 lineup, the RS5 is only available in five-door Sportback form, and that’s fine by us. Sure, it’s a little bit bigger than the coupe, but the RS5 Sportback makes it much easier to reach the back seats, and a convenient top-hinged rear hatch gives it a cargo-capacity advantage, too. A 444-hp twin-turbo V-6 and standard all-wheel drive keep the RS5 competitive with more powerful rivals, and when optioned with the Competition package it offers a level of driver involvement comparable to hi-po sedans from BMW and Alfa Romeo. A manual transmission would help in that regard, but Audi hasn’t offered a stick in the U.S. in years; check out the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing or BMW M3 for a three-pedal option. If you want this Audi’s look for less, consider the 349-hp S5 Sportback or the four-cylinder A5 variant.