Then you have to consider the handling and the overall dynamic ability of the car. Taking corners goes like a breeze in the RS5, and the levels of grip and the power on offer give you an assured feeling in the back of your mind that getting out of a tight situation, if it were to present itself, would not be a problem.
Another huge positive is the ride height and layout of the car’s aero bits and underbody. It can tackle speed bumps, and, as we found out the hard way, it can handle ditches in the country roads created by tractors; three wheels on the ground and one high in the air. It’s not a pleasant thing to do, but it is indeed reassuring that the car is capable of it, and that gives you peace of mind like no piece of paper with a stamp on it can.
The RS5, then, is a proper everyday car, if you don’t mind the petrol bills. The 4.2-litre V8 is a BSIV-compliant engine with extremely good CO2 and emission ratings for its class, but it is still a V8 and it loves to drink petrol! So, if you do too, not literally, of course, you’re going to just adore this number from Ingolstadt.
Once you manage to get past the sheer performance aspect, you realise just how much more the RS5 has to offer. You get a good dose of luxury, a heavy dose of performance and a more than adequate dose of everyday practicality as well; and we’re serious about that. Don’t consider the 5 km/litre overall efficiency figure and it’s a great package. Consider that it can deliver up to 7 km/l on the highway and reason begins to see eye-to-eye with you, well, sort of. This is a car which can turn any drive into an experience to be enjoyed. That’s not to say there aren’t better options out there, but most of those are in a much higher price bracket, and you can blame our beloved import duty structure for that. For what it’s worth, the Audi RS5 is a complete package and given the pockets it calls for, I would love to pick one up, no questions asked.
Story: Jim Gorde
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
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