2023 Audi RS 5 Review: Beefy Muscle Car Wrapped in German Luxury

After a run 15 years and two generations long, Audi's A5 coupe feels like part of the family. But, it's still a relatively recent addition as the German luxury brand went without a two-door vehicle in its lineup for half of the '90s and 2000s. Since the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, Audi has been moving midsize coupes in A5 and S5 guises, despite the body style shrinking in popularity.

In 2010 it introduced the bulked-up Audi RS version, which, with a different badge could be confused for an American muscle car. It's a reminder that as fun as electric vehicles are to drive with their instant torque and low center of gravity, internal combustion engine (ICE) cars still have some life left.

The 2023 Audi RS 5 rides on the company's MLB platform, shared with the A4 sedan family, and uses a high-tech turbocharged 2.9-liter six-cylinder engine shared with Porsche. It received a recent update with new suspension tuning, a sport sway bar, enhanced software and optional Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires.

Pushing the ignition, the 2023 RS 5 again reminds the owner it's a muscle car with a loud roar before settling into a deep idle noise. The new turbocharged six-cylinder delivers 443 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque to go along with 444 horsepower. It can get to 60 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds, but it feels faster.

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With all-wheel drive standard, a driver can press the pedal as hard as they like, with the wheels pointed in any position, and the RS 5 will leap from a standstill with g-forces usually reserved for an EV. The eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel hustles the car along in manual or automatic mode.

In automatic the Audi happily shifts down for more power whenever the driver moves the gas pedal. It has a top track speed of 155 mph, which can be increased to 174 mph with the optional Dynamic plus package.

There's no wheelspin at any normal speeds, even with this test vehicles winter tires prepped for Michigan's incoming cold temperatures. The all-wheel drive system automatically figures out where to send torque.

In Sport and Race driving modes more of that power goes to the rear. Those modes also stiffen the suspension, quicken the shifts and more the steering more sensitive. On the highway it can easily pass in oncoming traffic with three or four downshifts at a time for maximum thrust.

In Comfort mode the adaptive suspension keeps the two-door very comfortable, even on pockmarked and dirt roads. Sport and Race certainly make it more sensitive to the surface, but the RS 5 was never harsh and the sound of the suspension rarely makes it into the cabin.

Two brake systems are available including steel brakes with cross-drilled discs and six-piston front brake calipers in black or red. Carbon ceramic front brakes are offered as part of the Dynamic Plus package, but they aren't necessary if the driver isn't going to the racetrack on the weekends.

With a long hood and short trunk, the 2023 Audi RS5 has the looks of a classic sports car (and the colors to match with greens, blues and reds to go along with the boring blacks and silvers). The front end was restyled with a more-prominently-shaped, blacked-out Singleframe grille and larger wheel arches. The rear is wide and low and looks planted to the ground with its dual exhaust integrated into the rear diffuser.

All Audi cabins are tech-forward, this RS 5 has that, but with a racing bent. Suede and carbon fiber are everywhere, including on the steering wheel. That makes it not only easier to grip but also less cold in the winter. Similar to the S5 coupe, the RS 5 features a wrap-around dashboard with a good number of physical controls.

The chunky gear selector is right in the center and acts as a wrist rest and the drive mode and traction control switch are directly in front of it. The climate controls have clicky dials and the vents are straightforward to use. That's worth noting as several vehicles now keep their vent controls buried in the on-screen menus.

Audi's new smartphone interface with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is standard while Audi's virtual digital cockpit and full-color head-up display are optional. The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system uses NVIDIA computer processors and is as quick to change functions and anything we've used.

The 12-way Alcantara-covered seats have heat and massage functions and a cool, futuristic-looking hexagonal pattern. They're stiffer than the average sedan or SUV but they have high side and back bolsters to hold the driver in their seat when cornering. The Alcantara (faux suede) also helps keep the driver in place. However, for those that enjoy it, leather seats are available.

The RS5, starting at $78,600, has natural competitors in the Mercedes-AMG C 63 (the 2023 model with a V8 is $83,000), Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 (pricing has yet to be announced) and BMW M4 ($78,100). Cadillac and Alfa Romeo also have options, but the CT4-V and Guilia only come with four doors. Both the BMW and Mercedes overpower the RS5's 444-hp output, but the Audi does more than the sum of its parts would suggest.

As noted above, both coupes from Mercedes and BMW have more power than this Audi RS 5. But a car purchase is an emotional one, and this RS 5's combination of massive (but not overpowering) power, true comfort and stability in colder climates (the BMW M4 is the only of the three that offers a solely rear-drive version), and sensible controls will tempt some buyers. The M4 is better on the racetrack, the C63 has more luxury; the RS 5 is holding the middle ground.