Six word summary
It’s fast, but makes us furious
What is it?
Audi has added to its RS 5 range with the removal of the roof from the Coupe model to create the Cabriolet. It uses the same high-revving 4.2-litre V8 engine that offers 444bhp and 0-62mph in a swift 4.9 seconds. For fans of getting a sun tan while covering the ground fast, the Audi RS5 Cabriolet is an alternative to the BMW M3 Convertible.
What’s it like?
Take a look at the performance figures and the Audi RS5 Cabriolet is a very impressive machine. It can get from rest to 62mph in a mere 4.9 seconds, sprint on to 155mph or you can opt for a raised top speed and see 174mph before your tonsorial arrangement will see any relief.
The RS 5 Cabrio’s engine leaves just as lasting an impression thanks to its 444bhp peak power arriving at a giddy 8,250rpm. Throw in generous shove from the engine ranged between 4,000 and 6,000rpm and this is a car that can get a shift on as and when the driver demands.
Audi also equips the RS 5 Cabrio with its Quattro four-wheel drive system, a seven-speed S tronic gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and the company’s latest system to send power to whichever wheel can make the best use of it.
As for the open-top side of the equation, the RS 5 Cabrio uses the same thickly lined and well insulated fabric roof as other A5 drop-top models. It’s a hood that keeps noise and weather at bay with ease and it works quickly at the touch of a button for minimum fuss when you want to enjoy the sun or hide from the rain.
Inside, the RS 5 Cabrio has front sports seats with more bulges than a weightlifters’ convention, while some RS 5-specific details lift the ambience a little over the standard A5 convertible.
Add in 26.4mpg average economy, which isn’t too bad for a car of this power and performance, and the RS 5 Cabrio’s on-paper appeal is complete.
On the road, it’s a very different story. The RS 5 Cabrio tips the scales at a hefty 1,920kg, which gives the suspension a lot of work to do to control the RS 5 over anything other than perfectly polished smooth roads. Every lump, bump and aberration is felt with a crunch through the suspension.
This situation is not aided by using the Drive Select programmes, which offers three modes for the steering, throttle and suspension settings. In its most sporty Dynamic mode, the RS 5 Cabrio is simply unbearably crashy and crude on the UK’s average road, which compromises the handling and the driver’s ability to make the most of the car’s power.
Further hampering the RS 5’s handling and sporting credentials is the amount of flex that can be felt through the body as the car passes over any type of dip or ridge. Where a BMW M3 Convertible feels solid and assured, the Audi just feels a bit shaky, even when ambling along at a cruise.
Given the Audi RS 5 Cabriolet costs almost £10,000 more than the BMW M3 drop-top, and even allowing for the Audi’s lengthy standard specification that includes an auto ’box and four-wheel drive, it’s just way too expensive for a car that is several notches below the standard set by its Bavarian rival.
Verdict
The Audi RS 5 impresses with its pace and an engine that is ravenous to rev. It is also packed with classy touches and materials, but they are just not enough to hide the fact the RS 5 Cabrio is simply not a sports car, despite its performance. Far cheaper versions of the A5 Cabrio are much more appealing to drive.
Alisdair Suttie
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