- Audi admits the new RS5 has added ‘some weight’, but swears you won’t notice it.
- The RS5 Avant weighs 5,225 lbs (2,370 kg).
- The sedan isn’t too light, at 5,192 lb (2,355 kg).
Weight is the enemy of performance, they say, but the company with the four rings is confident it has found a way to offset the massive weight brought by the new RS5’s plug-in hybrid system. In an official post LinkedInthe managing director of Audi Sport, promises that the new fast wagon “feels nimble and light on its feet.”
Rolf Michl admits that switching to a complex PHEV setup “adds some weight,” but there are benefits that go beyond the electric range of 53.4 miles (86 km) in city driving:
‘Plug-in hybrid hardware adds some weight, but it also opens up new possibilities for driving dynamics. Our electromechanical torque vectoring at the rear axle, together with the RS Sport suspension, makes clever use of this capability. The result is a new RS5 that is more stable and precise but at the same time feels agile and light on its feet.’
Photo by: Audi
Ultimately, the decision is for journalists and prospective buyers to discover during test drives. Meanwhile, the weight figures highlight just how much weight the original RS model from Ingolstadt has gained over the years. When the RS2 Avant debuted in 1994, it tipped the scales at 3,516 pounds (1,595 kg).
In 2026, its modern-day equivalent is 1,709 pounds (775 kg) heavier, weighing 5,225 pounds (2,370 kg). Of course, 32 years is a long time, especially with the extremely strict safety regulations that require automakers to mass assemble their cars. Modern vehicles also have significantly more technology, which isn’t necessarily a good thing, but that’s a story for another day.
Most of the weight accumulated over the years comes down to two factors: size and powertrain complexity. The RS2 Avant made by Porsche in the 1990s was only 177.5 inches (4,510 mm) long and 66.7 inches (1,695 mm) wide. The new long-roof RS5 is 15.2 inches (386 mm) longer and 10.1 inches (257 mm) wider.
Photo by: Audi
The move to a plug-in hybrid system with a 22-kWh battery pack has also contributed to weight reduction. The RS5 Wagon is 1,378 pounds (625 kg) heavier than its immediate predecessor, the RS4 Avant B9. In other words, most of the increase comes from packing the lithium-ion battery under the cargo floor.
Even so, Audi is confident you won’t notice it, and there’s a way to shave a small chunk off that big chunk. The optional ceramic brakes on both axles are about 66 pounds (30 kg) lighter than the standard steel brakes. Sure, it’s a drop in the bucket, but it’s worth mentioning.
Photo by: Audi
Motor1’s Tech: The RS5 is Audi Sport’s first plug-in hybrid and paves the way for an even bigger, heavier model: the RS6 Avant. We’ll likely see it in the coming months, with an electrified V8, all but confirmed to be shared with the returning RS6 sedan.
Why is Audi Sport following Mercedes-AMG and BMW into the PHEV era? Reducing COâ‚‚ emissions by offering an electric range that offsets the combustion engine. By doing so, performance cars can be sold in Europe while reducing their carbon footprint and still appeal to enthusiasts. Call it a compromise born of necessity.
