Tested on road and track, the new plug-in hybrid Audi RS5 throws up some big surprises.
Chasing Cars founder Tom Baker reviews the new 2026 Audi RS5, which keeps the 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine while adding an electric motor, battery and plug-in hybrid system.
The reason Audi did this was firstly to reduce the CO2 emissions, which is important in Europe and Australia, but also to power a new Dynamic Torque Control rear transaxle for serious power oversteer.
Rivals to the RS5 include the BMW M3 and M3 Touring, forthcoming Mercedes-AMG C53, Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifogolio and a slew of newcomers from China.
Time codes:
0:00 – Why is the RS5 a hybrid now?
0:28 – V6 PHEV system
0:40 – In this video
1:10 – Driving dynamics
10:20 – Safety technology
10:36 – Fuel economy and range test
11:40 – Small fuel tank
12:01 – Interior
13:35 – Back seats
14:10 – Styling
14:43 – Cargo room
15:08 – Our verdict
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Chasing Cars is Australia’s most independent source of new car reviews, car industry news, comparisons and car guides. We give you a critical look at every new car you should consider!
As someone with a current gen M340i I worry that the M3 is a bit too stiff and sacrifices some comfort for its great performance. So this seems like a logical next upgrade if I can manage to afford the cost in a few years. I just don't love the steering wheel and wish the front grill still had hexagons instead of diamonds, but aside from that this car looks amazing and seems like it hits that balance of being powerful and comfortable to daily.
Good review! Unfortunately, as a B9 RS4 owner, I cant fathom.that interior. Steering wheel design with 2D Audi logo looks cheap, as does the centre console. What is unforgivable is the removal of the gearshift lever, which in the B9 RS4 is perforated leather/alloy combination that looks & feels luxury,unlike the cheap substitute you've driven here with that plastic dickie switch from the VW parts bin. Audi forums have strongly criticised the current interior design that overall is not up to par of previous RS4s. Exterior looks good & muscular, but the use of the 2D Audi rings logo on the front grill another failure. Finallt, that boot soace is inadequate for a car of this size. From 515L (B9 RS4) down to 361L is unacceptable. Let's hope Audi are listening to customer feedback and fix the flaws at the mid-life refresh. I
I’m 9months into ownership of an S5 Avant and as good as that car is, this just feels like the right upgrade. 👏🏼👌🏼
A 48L fuel tank in a car that weighs as much as a tank you'll be at the garage every day filling that thing up
Why is everyone testing this car in Morocco?
It is frustrating to see this car all over and everywhere but not in the US. It is disappointing that Audi chose to bring the RS6 to the US and will not the try the RS5. The RS6 is too expensive for a practical or even justified purchase.
Very nice but the small fuel tank is a big let down. Good they are working on a larger fuel tank option but they should have thought of that before launching the car in my opinion, especially at this price point . The rest looks and sounds like excellent quality.
People's obsession with drifting/drift mode😂
Don't know how people complain about cars having plastic everywhere but want the car to be light. What's lighter than plastic?
I have watched about 10 reviews of this Intro Drive event. Every one of them stuck with the typical race track shots, fast cut away shots, and bass driven techno music in the back ground. Thanks for being the 1st that actually focuses on what most of is will actually do with this car, daily drive it.
Will be interesting to see the first head to head between this and the M3 touring.
Apparently AMG messed it up by turning the C63 into a four cylinder plug in hybrid!!! This Audi is a great car but weighs 200 kg more than the messed up AMG has less power and is slower! What is wrong about a four cylinder hand built 350 kw motor combined with sophisticated F1 technology? The C63se is more than a match for this car even though apparently AMG messed up!! How about an objective comparison between the two cars???
My god is this thing a beauty. I’d buy it just for the look of it if I could afford one 😅
Fantastic and HONEST review.. No long winded takes, plenty of accurate technical information and a brilliant analysis + articulation. well done. Most journalists ironically fail in most or all of these areas.
Terrible performance, plastic crap interior, extremely heavy, sounds horrid. 2026 RS5👎
Reviewers will be reviewers and praise shite to continue receiving cars to review.
Paid Bots will do their job and hype up this vehicle.
Dead internet theory.
Avant!
German Engineering <3
Looks great, but maybe too heavy from my perspective. From 0 – 100 I would have expected a smaller number; not sure whether I would trade in my RS4 latest model, but would love to drive it and compare.
I am well impressed on how much Chasing Cars has improved over time. Great review and as always and thankyou.
The S5 will be great
Love it❤
God that's an ugly car
rear seating room /head room looks great– more spacious than Taycan sport turismo– wish they would bring the wagon to the states
2.5 Tons with me inside: thanks but no thanks
On a Kw to Kg ratio, the gains in performance come at huge weight cost which I frankly don't understand. It's a stunning car, but I'm not sure if that is enough for performance enthusiasts. I was hoping it would be competitive with the M3 but that extra 500kgs means probably not.
2350kg? It’s nearly as heavy as my Prado! Audi are you lost the plot?
Great looking on the outside, the interior not so much, almost the exact opposite of the M3 Touring. It seems closer to the M5 Touring in performance delivery, ride and character, not to mention weight…
If Audi comes out with a coupe version, I wager it will be one of the best-looking sports coupes in decades.
Love that Audi Sport didn’t make it another “understated” RS and went for more aggressive styling. Avant just looks stunning.
Interesting car but the transmission being a torque converter when the VW group has such awesome dual clutchs is a real shame
I can't fathom why Europeans love these hearses
To much weight for a spot car 😢😢😢
The exterior is absolutely stunning wow! But the interior for me is horrible. Yes I know I’m being unreasonable by wanting analogue dials & buttons but even the placement of the screens is not cohesive, where the tachometer is there is a lot of dead space, quite poorly done IN MY OPINION! But that exterior😭🔥🔥🔥🔥
I do a full year with a set of Pilot Sport 4S 20 inch on my RS4 Avant B9. If it only will be a half year in this new RS5 with 21 inch then it will be around 1500 Euros more a year only for tires 😮
The screens looks so bland and the UI doesn’t look good at all. It doesn’t look as good as the previous generations.
Yeah, but I always ask the question: Why would anyone want to drift a big, 4-door, family car on dry tarmac? I destroy the tires of my Porsche Turbo S in about 2 minutes on dry tarmac as well. Why would anyone want to do this? Is this really fun. I would call it lame. I go drifting in the mountain in a UTV and I drift my Porsche, on a snow mountain road. I love the RS5! I would buy it! I am just waiting for the RS6!
This wagon looks so good.
You tore the tires in 40 seconds, Hagerty did the same. This is not a coincidence. Yeah sure this is an expensive car, but nobody buying this is ok with paying 500 bucks to change the tires for just 40 seconds of use…
There’s got to be a place for a lighter wagon, like a hot version of the Passat All Track. It looks simply beautiful but is too heavy. It weights significantly more than an 8 seater Hyundai Palisade.
Brutal car!!
Hide it's weight well because of the horsepower it makes and the way traction works on this car. Immediately after some time it shreds it's tire within minutes that means if u want to be playful u need to have a huge tire budget.
The problem with modern cars is always adding more things so that more things get worn down and consumers pay for more. If car makers see it as progress then I have nothing to say.
Great to see an RS sedan back in the mix.
“Okay amount of boot space”. 361 litres for a wagon !!! That’s a bloody joke.
Awesome review.
Climate change is the biggest con job. The politicians in Europe should scrap their stupid emissions laws so that car makers can make real cars again.
This overweight RS5 isn’t anymore climate friendly than the previous version. Sure, it may use less fuel but it burns through more tires, which goes into our ground water. Not to mention the batteries will be an environmental hazard to discard once they run out of life.
Great vid, thanks
Great car but the price makes it way out of reach…. After all it’s a hot version of a car you can also get as a boring diesel.
Personally, the B9 RS4 Competition is still my halo dad car. However, there can be no denying the breadth of ability of this new one and the sheer fact the Audi Sport engineers have lent fully into the hybrid is outstanding to see. The exterior design is sensational! I haven't been excited about a realistic-ish new car for years from a design perspective, bravo Audi! The interior, goodness me… that passenger screen is utter garbage and the way the curved screen, though technically impressive, the edge is shocking and looks like something from aliexpress. Then there's the real elephant in the room sans the weight, only 361L of rear luggage space, what! That's less than a Golf 🤦♂Anyhow, the price will be scary when it's launched here in AUS but boy am I glad that it's not a 4cyl or pure EV and we can hear those 6 cylinders sing!