Over the past decade, what’s defined as a “sports car” has been slowly shifting and molding into something else, even though the cars themselves are breakneck fast. Sports cars are typically defined as two-door coupes that have out-of-this-world design and performance with a singular focus on driver and road. Think of a Porsche 911 or even a Toyota GR Supra. This segment, however, is now being challenged by a new breed of machinery.
The aforementioned challengers offer the same blistering acceleration, but offer unheard-of amenities that you wouldn’t find in something like a Lamborghini Countach, like rear seats, actual cargo space, everyday usability, and reasonably spaced out pedals. Enthusiasts aren’t necessarily abandoning performance altogether; they just want something that they can take from A to B in an exciting manner, but can also take to the country club on the weekends while reasonably fitting their golf bags.
Modern Performance Coupes vs. Traditional Sports Cars
This gets brought up a lot in the automotive world, but impractical cars are dying. SUVs make up more than half of vehicles bought in this current day and age. While there still absolutely (thankfully) is a market for these two-door, slick back sporty hoonigans (like a Ferrari), buyers are gravitating towards something that can do it all, and then some.
Performance Without Compromise
Let’s walk it back 15–20 years prior to the Porsche 911 Carrera S. It can do zero to 60 miles per hour in the mid-four-second range with only 355 horsepower to speak of. Today? Some coupe sedans are doing that in the low three-second range with 440 to 500-plus horsepower. There’s also more tech involved, like launch control and advanced traction mitigation systems.
Shifting Buyer Expectations
The data reflects the steep decline in two-door coupe sales as well. It’s happened over the last decade, but high-performance sedans and coupes have absolutely surged in comparison. For example, the Ford Mustang sales dropped significantly from their mid-2010s peak of about 75,000 units in 2010 to around 45,000 units just last year. Meanwhile, brands like Porsche now sell nearly as many Porsche Panemeras as they do 911s.
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The Rise Of Practical Speed Machines
According to J.D. Power, over 70 percent of new vehicle buyers rank “usability” and “comfort” as their why behind the purchase. Why shouldn’t people spending this much money on a new car have everything they need and then some? If the capability is there, the technology, and the buyers, then we say go for it. We just wish wagons were this popular in the States.
Putting The FUN In Functional
Audi’s have not always been known for their “ample cargo space” or their oversized interiors. However, the RS5 Sportback does sport a cargo space of 21.8 cubic feet of storage. Which doesn’t sound like, and isn’t a lot, but it’s more than most sports cars, that’s for sure. If you do need more storage, however, you can put the folding seats down, which gives you 35 cubic feet of storage, which feels more like a subcompact SUV than a sports car.
Technology Setting A Precedent
Modern engineering truly is a marvel. Adaptive suspension systems are great for switching between daily driving and more “spirited” adventures. Advanced traction systems ensure that the RS5 Sportback spins the wheel wherever it needs power most and could even double as a rally car in some scenarios, thanks to its AWD system. Forced induction engines like twin-turbochargers not only help push out more power from a smaller engine but, being a smaller engine, create more fuel efficiency in the long run.
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The Audi RS5 Sportback Blurs The Lines Between Sedan And Supercar
Few vehicles illustrate this shift better than the Audi RS5 Sportback. On paper, it looks like a sleek, upscale four-door. Some would say too sleek, maybe even boring, but that’s a topic for another day. Beneath its refined exterior lies a performance machine capable of rivaling far more exotic cars. Audi has been known for its sloping hatchback-style vehicles lately; this has been their signature. As you’ll see from the specs below, they don’t just look fast, they are fast too.
- Base Trim Engine
-
2.9L V6 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
-
8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
444 HP @6700 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
442 lb.-ft. @ 4700 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
18/25/20 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
-
Lead acid battery
- Make
-
Audi
- Model
-
RS5 Sportback
A Sleeper Hit
The RS5 Sportback doesn’t scream for attention in the way many high-performance cars do. It definitely screams, though, especially from its exhaust system. This makes it appealing to buyers who want performance without the flashiness often associated with supercars. The RS5 is almost like a sleeper car with how understated it is. You wouldn’t know what was coming until you heard it scream by you at 7,500 RPMs.
Performance That Speaks Volumes
Under the hood, the RS5 Sportback delivers the kind of performance that reshapes expectations. Not to reiterate too much, but this only makes 444 horsepower, and it gets a zero-to-60 time that’s comparable to some Ferraris and Porsche 911s. All thanks to a twin-turbo V-6. Not to mention, this thing used to come with a much larger 4.2-liter V8 and still wasn’t hitting times like this.
Audi RS5 Sportback Performance Specs
|
Engine |
2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 |
|
Power |
444 |
|
Torque |
442 lb.-ft. |
|
Drivetrain |
AWD |
|
Transmission |
8-speed auto |
|
0-60 MPH |
3.4 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
155 MPH |
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The Four-Door Iteration Isn’t Very Old
Did you know that the Audi RS5 Sportback didn’t become a four-door sedan until 2019? It actually started life started out as a coupe. Audi must have felt the way the proverbial wind was blowing and decided to take the long body and slap two more doors on it so it could stay relevant, and…sell.
Pricing Practicality
If you are a V8 purist, you can buy an RS5 with the V8 in the last model year, 2015. Our money is on the newer models, though, because it’s more technologically advanced, has better driving prowess, and has launch control. Who doesn’t love a coupe sedan with launch control? For the 2025 model year, it comes in two trims, the RS5 and the RS5 Competition. You’re either going to pay $81,195 or $93,245, but hey, it’s not $250,000.
Don’t Call It A Comeback
The RS5 Sportback was discontinued in 2025 and decided to take a production nap, aka, they weren’t being sold. It is, however, coming back for the 2027 model year, and it will be more tech-heavy and aggressive-looking than ever. Even though Audi’s design language has been hotly contested as of late, we think this is as cool as it’s ever looked.
Sources: Audi, KBB, JD Power