Audi RS 5 Sportback sure to thrill

FAST, frantic but perfectly practical, the Audi RS 5 Sportback aims to be the market’s definitive mid-sized high performance five-door hatch.

It gets a sophisticated quattro 4WD system and can hit 174mph on the Nurburgring but is just as happy collecting your dry cleaning.

If you know your fast Audis, you’re probably familiar with the RS 5 model – as a coupe. Here though, the Ingolstadt brand’s “Audi Sport” division has taken that model’s potent twin turbo V6 and installed it into the company’s Sportback five-door coupe body shape for a bit of added practicality.

It targets similarly-performing mid-sized models like the Mercedes-AMG C 63 and the BMW M3 but brings a key advantage – Audi’s quattro 4WD system which is mated to a stiff, light MLB platform.

Not a lot prepares you for just how quick this car really is. Rest to 62mph here occupies just 3.9 seconds, which is a fraction quicker than you’ll go in what is arguably this model’s closest rival, the Mercedes-AMG C 63 Estate.

The creamy, rather digitalised engine soundtrack you get as the revs rise from the 450PS 2.9-litre V6 isn’t a match for Audi’s old 4.2-litre V8.

This RS 5 certainly tackles the turns effectively. Part of that is down to the redeveloped quattro system which usually directs 60% of torque to the back wheels but, if conditions demand, can send up to 85% of power to the back or, if necessary, as much as 70% to the front.

The exterior design of this RS 5 Sportback is a blend of elegant curves and taut, athletic surfaces.

Inside, you get RS sport seats in Fine Nappa leather with honeycomb stitching, a flatbottomed RS multifunction sports leather steering wheel and a special RS information display in the standard Audi virtual cockpit.

As for pricing, well think in terms of around £60,000 and you won’t be far out.

This RS 5 won’t be quite as costly to run as you might expect a 450PS performance hatch to be.

Expect around 32mpg on the combined cycle and just under 200g/km of CO2, which isn’t at all bad.

Drive it and you’ll experience a slightly guilty thrill as if something this much fun really couldn’t be legal.