5 Iconic Audi RS Wagons And What Makes Them Special (2024)

Feb. 08, 2024 2:12 PM ET by Gerhard Horn Sports Cars / 4 Comments

To celebrate the introduction of the bonkers Audi RS6 Avant GT that launched earlier this week, we took a glance back at a few of the German automakers' blistering wagons of yesteryear. Audi has a history of hot wagons, and the RS6 GT may be one of the hottest in, well, ever.

Despite not being a wagon, Audi's sporting history started with the famous Audi Quattro, which was a rally car, a hom*ologation special, and a production car. Audi was on the map once people started seeing the benefits of having all-wheel drive. A series of go-faster models followed, equipped with powerful engines and quattro all-wheel drive.

At the very top of the hierarchy, we find the RS models, many of which have been wagons. These models have a history of covering ground at an alarming pace, outpacing rivals in a little place we call the real world.

There have been many, but we decided to single out five fantastic station wagons and what makes them unique, and we've ordered them from least favorite to most favorite. Sadly, not all of these were available in the US, but that doesn't make them any less special in our eyes.

The C6 Audi RS6 Avant was nothing if not ambitious. When it was introduced in 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW and Mercedes-Benz must have been shaking in their boots. The German horsepower wars were in full swing. While BMW and Mercedes were still messing around with naturally aspirated V10s and supercharged V8s, Audi came out swinging with a twin-turbocharged V10 sharing DNA with the original Lamborghini Gallardo.

The Audi's impressive engine produced 571 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, putting it ahead of both German rivals. The Avant could reach 62 mph in 4.6 seconds and top out at 170 mph if you asked Audi to remove the limiter.

Audi only ever built 8,000 C6 RS6s, of which 6,500 were Avant models. That's the main reason why it was never sold in the USA. The C6 Audi RS6 Avant also cost $20,000 more than its main rivals at the time. An M5 and E63 cost roughly $80,000; if Audi sold it in the USA, it would have been over $100,000.

These things are also horribly unreliable, and fixing them requires loads of cash. This is definitely one of those used luxury cars you should never buy.

The Audi RS2 Avant was excellent, but the C5 RS6 Avant really made people sit up and take notice.

Let's create a bit of context first. The C5 RS6 was launched in 2002 as a competitor to the E39 BMW M5. Instead of a naturally aspirated V8, Audi went with a 4.2-liter V8 with two turbochargers. The engine produced 444 hp, which was 44 more than the Bimmer. Crucially, it got to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, while the M5 could only do it in 4.7. Pathetic. (We're kidding. The E39 is the finest M5 ever made and, therefore, one of the best cars ever made.)

The Audi was also only available with a five-speed automatic, and its reign at the top of the power wars was shortlived. A few months later, Mercedes-Benz hit back with the E55 AMG, which had nearly 500 horses.

Still, the C5 is remembered as an epic grand tourer. It had a rudimentary version of quattro, which meant loads of understeer. The front and rear differentials were also open, and Audi left traction and stability to a Bosch system.

What we remember most fondly about this car is the torque curve. The engine produced maximum torque at just over tick over until you reached 5,600 rpm. Couple that with all-wheel drive, and it left its rivals for dead on a wet road.

The current C8 RS6 is arguably the best go-fast wagon ever made, but we must include some emotion in this list. Not that you can't build an emotional bond with this car because it is devastatingly fast, albeit a bit on the heavy side. Plus, we've never heard anyone call it ugly. It's a masterpiece of modern design.

Underneath the hood, you'll find a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that produces 591 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque in base form. Audi claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, but independent tests have shown that it can get there as quickly as 3.1 seconds. That's supercar fast. In a straight line, this family wagon would humble a McLaren SLR, a Ferrari 456, and even a few electric cars. Have Audi remove the limiter, and it will hit 190 mph.

The best thing about it is that it adapts to your mood. If you're not in a rush, you can sit back and enjoy the high-quality cabin with all the latest features. It rides beautifully and can transport five people and two medium-sized dogs.

Why even bother with a coupe SUV when this exists?

The RS2 Avant would have grabbed the first spot on this list if Audi had not relied on Porsche's help. Yup, this humble Audi 80 was built by a joint venture between Audi and Porsche, which is a bit of cheating. This car had so much Porsche in it that Porsche actually celebrated it in a video you can watch below.

Still, it has all the hallmarks of a great RS Audi. Under the hood, it has a 2.2-liter turbocharged five-pot engine that will always be intrinsically tied to rallying. Unlike the modern RS3, which produces 400 horses, this 1994 model only had 311 horsepower and 302 pounds on tap. Despite some severe turbo lag, the six-speed manual and quattro system slingshotted this wagon to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 163 mph. That was more or less on par with the Ferrari 355 of the same period.

Audi only produced 2,891 RS2 examples, and they're worth a lot more now than when they were new.

Let's not beat about the bush: the B7 Audi RS4 was a revelation. It was the first Audi product that proved the German brand could do quattro without understeer. It had sublime handling, all because Audi decided to mount the 4.2-liter V8 as far back as possible.

Ah, yes. That glorious 4.2-liter V8, which Audi would later use to power the first R8. It's one of the best V8 engines ever made and sang an angry song all the way to 8,000 rpm while producing 414 hp with 317 lb-ft of torque. But wait, there's more. It was only available with a Getrag six-speed manual gearbox, making it the most engaging RS model ever.

Audi never sold the Avant version in the USA, which is a pity. The wagon was by far the best looking out of the sedan, convertible, and Avant. Fortunately, there are enough RS4 sedans roaming around the US, and if you want one, you can expect to pay as little as $20k for a rough model, while a fully serviced, low-mileage example with its timing chain issues sorted costs roughly $70,000.