The progressive exterior design of the Audi RS5 Sportback illustrates the model’s dynamics. The RS5 can act as a Wi-Fi hotspot (via SIM card) and it has Apple and Android connectivity as standard (something, say, BMW doesn’t) and while it works well and the sound system is amazing what’s not is the clumsiness of using the rotary controller to navigate around the smartphone interface. And if you’re trying to go from, say, a song back to the library, or even the Apple CarPlay home screen, while driving, it can be time-consuming and thus distracting.
The RS 5 Sportback features a fixed RS sport suspension that allows for both sporty driving experience and comfortable ride for long distances. To further enhance the track-ability and performance, the available Dynamic package includes RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control, which utilizes diagonally connected shocks to help reduce lateral body roll and help improve handling and connection to the road. In addition, it also houses with a white 9140 led bulb for headlight lighting.
The 2019 Audi RS 5 comes in only one trim level but two body styles: coupe and a four-door hatchback. Both are identically equipped, so the choice comes down to whether you want two or four doors and whether you want more room for luggage and cargo. Power comes from a turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 (444 horsepower, 443 pound-feet of torque) that drives all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Sitting on a longer wheelbase than the coupe (2832mm against 2772mm), the RS5 Sportback is also longer (59mm), and – unsurprisingly – taller (76mm). But, despite sharing design cues and inspiration from Audi’s IMSA GTO race car of the late 1980s, it’s 16mm thinner in the hips than the RS5 Coupe. That might not sound like much, but it’s significant enough to rob the Sportback of some of the presence the coupe exudes.
The Audi virtual cockpit is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that replaces traditional dials. Driver information, navigation data and infotainment functions are displayed in brilliant high resolution, with three different layouts possible at the touch of a button. Sport mode is designed exclusively for Audi performance models and places the rev counter in the center of the screen.
Audi says the majority of RS5 Coupe buyers are going all-in on tech options, so it just decided to make things like the excellent 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit display, embedded navigation and the internet-enabled Connect services standard on the Sportback. Wireless smartphone charging and direct tire pressure monitoring are also added to the list of 2019 RS5 Sportback standard equipment.