Ranking Every Audi RS Wagon from 'Worst' to First!

Intro

Audi has now been building RS wagons, or Avants in Audi-speak, for 30 years. During those years there have been nine different generations of RS Avants. And while most of them were never sold here in the U.S., we have always admired them. They are all fantastic automobiles, and we would welcome any one of them into our permanent garage.

But what if you had to rank them from "worst" to first? Calling any RS Avant the worst is a bit harsh. Perhaps a better way to describe the ranking in this case is from least awesome to most awesome. But our task at hand today was to rank them, so we had to make some tough choices. We considered performance, historical significance, looks, sound, and features when ranking these vehicles. And the following is the ranking we landed on. Do you agree? If not, let us know how you would complete the ranking.  

9. Audi RS 6 Avant (C5: 2002-2004)

Well, we had to put something in last place, and that ended up being the C5 RS 6 Avant. Again, we want to be clear that this does not mean this is a bad car. It just doesn’t measure up to the other RS wagons on this list. The twin turbo V8 engine has good power, but the overall package is not fully baked. The steering is not sharp, the gearbox is not crisp, and the brakes are on the weak side. This is a fun car but not a great RS wagon.

8. Audi RS 6 Avant (C6: 2008-2010)

The C6 RS 6 Avant ranks ahead of the C5 almost solely due to the fact that it has a stonking 5.0L twin turbo V10 under the hood that makes 580 horsepower. It can hit 60 mph in about 4.3 seconds and depending on configuration could hit a top speed of 188 mph. It is no slouch. But the chassis and the gearbox let this car down. We love the insane V10 but the overall driving experience is not up there with the best.

7. Audi RS 4 Avant (B8: 2012-2015)

The B8 Audi RS 4 Avant is a great all-around performance car. But it just isn’t as exciting as some of the others on this list. One reason is that this car came only with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The B8 also used electric power steering. Those two things combine to sap a little bit of the fun out of this machine. Otherwise, there is not much to complain about. This is a handsome and quick car. Even today this would make a lovely daily driver.

6. Audi RS 4 Avant Competition (B9 MLB Evo: 2017+)

The B9 RS Avant Competition is a quick and agile machine. The 2.9L twin turbo V6 throws out 444 horsepower. The car tops out at 174 mph. 60 mph comes up in about 4 seconds flat. This wagon has the perfect amount of performance for the street. And its smaller size makes it easier to maneuver than some of the larger wagons. There are no glaring weak spots with this car. It just might not give you the goosebumps that some others on this list will. 

5. Audi RS 4 Avant (B5: 2000-2001)

The B5 RS 4 Avant has that perfect mix of old and new. There is plenty of modern performance. The twin turbo 2.7L V6 makes 375 horsepower. That is enough to get you to 60 in less than 5 seconds. But this car is also old enough to make it feel more alive than some newer versions. There are not as many electronics getting between you and the driving experience. That makes it more fun but also not as quick, which is why it lands it mid-pack.

4. Audi RS 6 Avant & RS 6 Avant Performance (C7: 2013-2018)

Now at this point in the list we are really starting to split hairs. You can take our top four choices and rearrange them in almost any other order, and probably make a good case. The C7 RS 6 Avant comes in two flavors. The regular Avant spits out 552 horsepower. The Avant Performance ups that figure to 597. Either way you are getting a wagon that can hit 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. Yet the ride is quiet and comfortable. It will attack corners with verve. It is beautiful inside and the outside might be our favorite on this whole list. This is a wonderful car, but like the B9 RS 4 this car is not the most involving.

3. Audi RS 4 Avant (B7: 2006-2008)

This is an all-time great car. Not just a great wagon, or a great Audi or a great Audi RS wagon. This is a great car when compared to anything else any other manufacturer has built this century. This car comes with a lovely normally aspirated 4.2L V8 that sounds the business. It makes 420 horsepower, and you get to control all that power with a 6-speed manual transmission. The car looks as good today as it did when it was brand new. It is well built and lively. This is one of the best driver’s cars Audi ever built.

2. Audi RS 2 Avant (B4: 1994-1995)

We could have put the RS 2 Avant up here based on historic significance alone. This was the first Audi RS model ever. But this car getting a second place ranking is not just because of the historical significance. This car has the goods to back it up. With the help of some Porsche magic the 2.2L inline 5-cylinder makes 311 horsepower. With a 6-speed manual transmission the car can hit 60 in less than 5 seconds. And remember this is a wagon from 30 years ago. A Corvette from that era would be looking at the taillights of this Audi wagon. The RS 2 Avant is almost the best RS wagon ever.

1. Audi RS 6 Avant Performance (C8 MLB Evo: 2019+)

Some may argue that our pick for the C8 RS 6 Avant Performance as the best RS Avant ever exposes our recency bias -- I.E., the tendency to place too much emphasis on the most recent events or experiences. But hold on for a moment. This car puts up some staggering numbers. 621 horsepower. 0 to 60 in just over 3 seconds. In any contest of speed, it will pummel every RS Avant that has come before it. This new car can take on super cars on a racetrack. And easily carry a spare set of wheels in the back while doing it. It is the most advanced with incredible technology. The car looks fantastic. It sounds fantastic. Oh, and the C8 was the first RS Avant ever offered for sale in the U.S.

Want something even spicier? Audi just announced the GT version. It is bonkers expensive, but also extremely limited and looks like it was plucked right off the IMSA circuit. This C8 generation has it all. In our minds it is the best RS Avant Audi has ever created.

Images: Audi