2017 Audi RS5 vs Audi Quattro
Was the 2017 Audi RS5 a worthy successor to the legendary Quattro? We drove them back-to-back to find out...
The Audi RS5 follows a recipe that was created way back in 1980 by the original Audi Quattro. And while we’re now very familiar with Audi’s cookbook, the combination of four-wheel drive and a turbocharged engine in a four-seat coupé was little short of revolutionary back then.
Does the RS5 really retain the spirit of the Quattro, though, or has the extra power, luxury and technology turned it into little more than a very fast cruiser?
2017 Audi RS5 vs Audi Quattro – styling
There’s no doubt the Quattro is an icon. Its boxy form found fame in the 1980s on rally stages and later on the television show Ashes to Ashes. Back in the day, it looked far more modern than the chrome-bumpered cars people were used to.
Both the quattro script and boxed wheel arches are referenced on the Audi RS5, even if overall it’s a very different shape. But what it doesn’t do is differentiate itself from the regular Audi A5 as effectively as the Quattro did from the regular Audi Coupé.
2017 Audi RS5 vs Audi Quattro – engines and driving
The Quattro was only ever available with one engine: a five-cylinder petrol with a turbocharger. This was developed over the years, starting at 2.1-litres before growing to 2.2-litres then gaining four valves per cylinder instead of two. The late 20-valve version we’ve got here produces 217bhp, enough for performance that’s still pretty rapid.
It drives all four wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox that doesn’t like to be rushed. Throw in a heavy clutch and plenty of clonks when you engage a gear, and it feels almost agricultural.
The steering is numb around the straight-ahead, but has reasonable feel with some lock on and weights up nicely. Once you’ve got used to the nose-heavy balance and brakes that require a firm shove, the Quattro is both fast and rewarding to drive.
Tread on the accelerator of the Audi RS5, and it feels like you’ve gone into warp speed by comparison. The new car's 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6 produces 444bhp, which, combined with a swifter-shifting eight-speed automatic gearbox, is enough to weld you to the back of your seat under hard acceleration.
It’s a very easy car to drive quickly thanks to loads of grip and much faster steering, but one that is ultimately less rewarding. It feels like it shows you everything it can do quickly, whereas the Quattro slowly reveals its huge talents. Even so, the RS5 is technically better thanks to being quicker, quieter, almost as comfortable, yet with far less body lean in the corners.
2017 Audi RS5 vs Audi Quattro – interior and equipment
Slide into the RS5’s supportive leather seats and it’s hard not to be wooed by the clean yet stylish lines of its dashboard, the high-quality materials and the amount of space you have. A massage function is available, while standard kit includes climate control, parking sensors and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display, which provides a vast array of information clearly and attractively.
The Quattro also gets a digital dashboard, but comparing the two is like comparing a Casio digital watch to an Apple watch. The old car shows all the basics but in a very 1980s style that offers minimal amounts of configurability on what is a basic trip computer.
In terms of equipment, the Quattro has a height-adjustable drivers seat, a rear wash wipe, a cigarette lighter, a leather steering wheel and, well, not much else. You don’t even get air conditioning or a cupholder.
2017 Audi RS5 vs Audi Quattro – infotainment
The RS5 features Audi’s brilliant MMI infotainment system, which is operated by a rotary dial between the front seats. Sat-nav with 3D mapping is included along with smartphone connectivity and a DAB radio. All of this is displayed on a high-definition screen that’s mounted in an easy-to-see spot on the top of the dashboard.
As for the Quattro’s infotainment, there’s an AM/FM radio with a cassette player. We would have tried it, but we put all of our tapes in the bin years ago.
2017 Audi RS5 vs Audi Quattro – space and practicality
Neither the RS5 nor the Quattro are particularly practical in the grand scheme of things. They both have only two doors, hold four and their seats don’t do anything particularly clever. That said, they both have enough room for four adults to sit in relative comfort, assuming those in the back aren’t too tall.
Overall, though, it’s the RS5 that's the clear winner here. It has the larger boot opening and you can fold the rear seats in order to get longer items in. The Quattro’s load bay is short in comparison and partially taken up by a space-saver spare wheel.
2017 Audi RS5 vs Audi Quattro – costs
Even when you take into account inflation, the Quattro cost slightly less than the RS5 when new. However, you do get an awful lot more for you money with the RS5.
Of course, the RS5 will only lose money for the foreseeable future, whereas if you buy a good Quattro now, it's value is only likely to go up.
Just bear in mind that buying any classic car should be done with care, because repair bills can be very costly. The RS5 is covered by a manufacturer’s warranty and will be far more dependable.
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