Audi RS4 vs Volvo S60

What's the difference?

What a way to send off this generation of Audi RS4 and RS5. The extra focus courtesy of those trick coil overs and drama from the exhaust plus the sharper gear changes deliver the best Audi has done with these RS products. 

There are some compromises, with the suspension favouring outright control over low-speed comfort. It’s also true that the current BMW’s M3 and M4 are more impressive, but when the products are nearly seven years fresher than Audi’s, what do you expect? 

Plus, those looking for a more restrained and polite fast executive sedan (or wagon) will gel with the Audi’s sophistication. There aren’t many of these Competition Plus RS4 and RS5s coming to Australia and they are impressive visually and from behind the wheel. It’s a fitting way to send off the current generations.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with accommodation and meals provided.

The Volvo S60 Recharge Black Edition proves sedans can still be sexy and an excellent family car, providing your family is on the smaller side. I only have one kid, so it's perfect for our activities and gear. It’s wonderful to drive and has a great features list but it's not without its quirks.

My son thinks it looks cool, and we enjoyed bellowing out a few renditions of the original Batman theme song this week. He has had a lot of comfort in the back seat, too.

The RS4 Avant’s 'Progressive Red' metallic helps the black milled 20-inch alloy wheels pop. Its stance is hugely purposeful with wheels tucked right up in the blistered arches courtesy of the lowered ride height — it's how the Avant would have looked in a design sketch.

The visual bulk of the long-roofed RS4 gives it the sort of proportions motoring journalists love to wax lyrical about, even if plenty of buyers still prefer coupes or lifted SUVs. 

The RS5's more flowing, elegant lines match well with the Navarra Blue paint work, silver-accented wheels and conventional leather-appointed seats within. 

Both cars have effectively identical front cabins reflecting Audi’s classy and sleek design language. The integration of technology is pretty good and the RS4’s additional red styling pack really makes it feel sporty within.

The S60 Black Edition nails it on design. It sports a handsome and sleek shape that manages to look sporty and elegant. It's exactly what you expect a luxury sedan to look like.

My seven-year old dubbed this the Batmobile, and for good reason, every accent is black!

The grille, badge and 19-inch five-spoke alloys look aggressive against the 'Hammer of Thor' LED headlights and make this design look hot.

You better like black paintwork, though, as that is the only choice for this variant.

The interior hasn’t seen any changes for the 2025 model and it seems Volvo is streamlining most of its interiors to look the same.

You could find this dashboard in most of its cars, which is fine because it’s a good-looking treatment full of soft-touchpoints and high-quality materials. But there’s also nothing that sets the Black Edition apart from its stablemates. It would be nice to see a point of difference.

The dashboard is headlined by the 9.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster. You have some other nice focal points in the large sunroof and massive air-vents, which add some interest to the dash.

Overall, it’s a pleasant interior but maybe not as fun as some of its rivals.

The RS4's cabin is excellent, with a good mix of physical buttons and responsive touchscreens for control. There’s enough storage space for this kind of vehicle, with good door bins and well-sized cupholders in the centre as well as USB-C and -A charge points. 

Audi’s multimedia system is friendly though the large touch targets and dark background aren’t as crisp as those fitted to the latest rivals. The screen isn't as big, either, measuring 10.1 inches for the multimedia item. The RS4 supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

That said, Audi’s 12.3-inch digital driver’s display with bright and poppy mapping software and generous customisation remains right at the head of the pack. 

There is a panel of switches below the touchscreen for climate control, physical selection of the five-or-so drive modes and a collection of helpful buttons on the perfectly-shaped and sized leather-appointed steering wheel.

It lacks F1 or DTM wow-factor compared to the C63 and M3 with their easy-access driver mode buttons and toggles on the steering wheel but the RS4's restrained looks will resonate with those that prefer a bit more elegance inside. 

Neither the RS4 nor RS5's back seats are designed for those over about 175cm. The RS4’s roof is a little higher so it is good enough for most adults but the RS5’s sloping profile compromises things. It has two individual buckets compared to the RS4’s three-wide bench. 

Rear seat passengers get air vents, an individual climate zone, bottle holders in the doors, USB charge points and ISOFIX attachments for the outboard seats, with matching top tethers in the seat backs.

The Audi RS4’s boot is a generous 505L with under floor storage and a netted area on the driver’s side. Folding the 40/20/40 split-fold bench increases space to 1495L. That said, the RS5’s 465L is still very good, though it is not quite as practical in the real world. 

Being fitted with roof rails makes for sleek integration of roof racks for the RS4 to slip roof pods, bike racks or whatever else you might choose to take on a trip away.

The cabin of the S60 is fairly practical with the front row feeling spacious for my 168cm height. It’s a low car, so if your knees squeak you might find it annoying to get in and out of!

The comfort of the front seats cannot be understated. They feature a two-position memory function, lumbar- and side-bolster adjustments and under-thigh extenders. Plus, with the heat and ventilation functions, you’ll look forward to a long journey.

Because of the sloping roofline, it’s a bit awkward to get in and out of the back seat but once you’re in there is a stack of room (behind my driving position) and the outboard seats hug you into position, so you don’t move around in corners.

Seats are comfy for long journeys and outboarders enjoy heat functionality, too. The pillar-mounted directional air vents are super practical and the hardened kickplates are a godsend for parents with wildlings like my son, who seem to want to put their feet on everything.

The transmission tunnel is massive, though, so keep the middle seat reserved for kids only.

Up front, individual storage isn’t as great as you might hope for with the glove box being the largest cubby on offer. The middle console is literally a tray and it doesn't fit my iPhone 15 Pro Max (I have a thin case, as well!).

There's no centre console storage aside from the two cupholders, and this variant misses out on a wireless charging pad, so my phone and 'bits' have been shoved into the cupholders or on the passenger seat, which is a tad annoying. The storage bins in each door feature a small drink bottle holder but are, again, shallow.

Individual storage is a bit better in the rear with two net map pockets, two large cupholders in the fold-down arm rest, as well as a drink bottle holder in each storage bin. 

Technology is well-rounded and the multimedia system (powered by Android Automotive) is easy to use, but curiously you don’t get Android Auto in this model!

You do get a bunch of built-in apps like Google Maps and Spotify. There's wired Apple CarPlay and satellite navigation, too.

You get a head-up display and the digital instrument cluster looks high-end with its graphics and shows your sat nav directions, which is always handy.  

Charging options throughout are good with two USB-C ports in each row, while the front also gets a 12-volt socket.

The boot is slightly smaller compared to its rivals at 427L thanks to the electric components but it is still well-sized for my grocery run and it’s not too difficult to grab things that slide to the back.

You get a 'tyre mobility kit' (rather than a physical spare) underneath the floor and I like the way you can hang the home charging cable bag out of the way. 

The Black Edition has a hands-free tailgate which is operated by a kick-function. But you don’t have an electric button on the lid and the kick-function didn’t always work to close it! That said, the lid isn’t heavy, so it’s nothing to split hairs over.

There are two variants for the S60, the mild-hybrid Ultimate or the plug-in-hybrid Recharge Black Edition, the latter being our test model.

The Recharge Black Edition is priced from $88,990, before on road costs, which positions it towards the lower end of the market, with the Audi A4 Avant 45 TFSI Quattro S Line MHEV being the most affordable at $85,700 MSRP.

Next up is the Mercedes-Benz C200 MHEV at $89,900 MSRP and then the BMW 330e M Sport PHEV at $98,700 MSRP.

The interesting thing, though, is you don’t pay extra for any packs on this model, which is rare for a luxury brand. It’s pretty well-specified already.

Luxury features include powered front seats that have adjustable side-bolsters, lumbar support and two-position memory function, as well as heat and ventilation functions.

Other items include heated rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof and beautiful Nappa leather upholstery throughout.

Practical features include dual-zone climate control, handsfree boot opening and double locking, which is when you lock the car from the outside and if there is forced entry via a smashed window, for example, the doors still can't be opened, even from the inside.

Technology is robust with a 9.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system including in-built Google Apps (Google Play and Maps, YouTube, and Spotify).

Other items include wired Apple CarPlay, the 'Volvo Car Services App' with a four-year subscription and over-the-air updates, 12-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth connectivity, digital radio and a 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins 'High Fidelity' audio system.

Unfortunately on this variant, you miss out on Android Auto capability and a wireless charging pad.

Audi’s 2.9-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 has seen plenty of use across performance products from Audi and Porsche, including the Macan S and Audi S6. 

In the RS4 and RS5 Competition Plus, it develops the same 331kW (at 5700-6700rpm) and 600Nm (at 1900-5000rpm) as the regular car. This makes it an extremely flexible engine that delivers predictable punch anywhere in the power band.

That said, it lacks the explosive character of BMW’s twin-turbo inline six — the figures are only 15kW and 50Nm higher on paper yet the M3’s response is that much more ferocious. 

Audi’s RS division has tried to capture a bit more emotion, retuning the eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission for crisper shifts. This also benefits the RS4’s 0-100km/h sprint time, which falls two tenths to 3.9 seconds in Competition Plus guise. 

The V6 breathes a little easier, too, with a different exhaust. Audi says the extra sound is down to 8.0kg less sound deadening in the car.

There’s more resonance at idle that does feel tiring sitting in traffic idling but the trade-off is a brawny mid-range baritone that develops into a shrill bark approaching the redline.

The S60 Recharge Black Edition’s plug-in hybrid powertrain features a 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol, four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that combine to produce 340kW of power and 709Nm of torque.

It has serious kick and can do a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 4.5-seconds. The eight-speed auto transmission is smooth as silk and creates a refined on-road driving experience.

The Audi RS4 wagon is rated to use 9.5L/100km in ADR combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) consumption testing while the slipperier RS5 returns 9.4L/100km in the same test. 

We weren’t able to run accurate or particularly relevant fuel figures on the event but the trip computers showed around 12L/100km in both RS4 and RS5. 

While these numbers are high compared to your average passenger car, the Audi is more efficient than BMW's rivals, and gets remarkably close to the hybrid C63 in the real world.

The fuel tank is quite small for this kind of vehicle at 58 litres. That limits the RS4’s theoretical driving range to 611km. 

Unsurprisingly, the Audi RS4 and RS5 require 98 RON premium unleaded petrol. 

The official combined cycle fuel consumption figure is an extremely low 1.4L/100km and I did two economy tests this week covering a healthy mix of open-road and urban driving.

Charging it every day for four days, gave me a real-world usage of 3.8L/100km and charging it once in three days gave me a trip readout of 5.6L/100km.

The PHEV powertrain has proven itself economical whether you dedicate yourself to the charging or not, so that’s pretty good.

The Black Edition features a Type 2 port for AC charging, but it can’t be hooked up to a DC fast charger.

This doesn't worry me because even on a standard domestic house socket you can charge the 19kWh battery from 0-100 per cent in just five hours, which is pretty fast for a PHEV.

You also get up to 90km of WLTP-rated pure electric driving range in this, which is good for a plug-in.

The time allocated to driving the RS4 Avant Competition Plus was fairly limited and we were sadly unable to sample how the highly adjustable coil over suspension performed where it makes most sense — on the racetrack. 

Still, winding country roads between Sydney and the Southern Highlands served up some challenges, demonstrating how the Competition Plus pack changes the character of the RS4 and RS5. 

The only real negative is comfort, specifically over those horrible plastic speed bumps that litter shopping centre car parks. With adaptive dampers, carmakers can set programs for these kinds of obstacles to soften and stiffen the clever shocks at just the right time. Not so the Competition Plus pack cars, which ride these bumps harshly.

That about does it, though, and everything thing else is a net benefit. The steering system addresses some criticism of the earlier RS4s. Further than a retune, the Competition Plus gets a new rack, that is non-progressive with a fixed ratio of 15:1 (instead of 13.3:1) and 2.4 turns lock-to-lock. The reactions to each input feel a hint more faithful. 

When above 40km/h the coil overs come into their own. Even though the RS4 rides firmly it doesn’t constantly jiggle over small bumps. Over sharp-edged hits, the suspension rounds the hits off so, while you feel them, there’s a sense of control and sophistication. 

Having speed limits to contend with means it is essentially impossible to find the limits of grip of the 275/30R20 Continental SportContact 6 tyres on the road and there isn’t much body roll, either.

The RS4 is still rewarding, though, getting up on its toes just enough through a series of bends to feel engaging. It gives an impression of being quite light and at 1820kg it is now considered featherweight next to rivals.

The RS4's Quattro all-wheel drive system favours the rear wheels when driving normally (60 per cent rear) and can send up to 85 per cent of the drive to the back axle. 

The tweaked electronically-controlled rear limited-slip differential amplifies the throttle steer-ability of the RS4, giving you the confidence to squeeze the gas on exit. 

It helps that the Competition Plus bucket seats are a little thinner and set closer to the floor giving you more feedback. This is the key differentiator between the RS4 and RS5 we drove — the buckets make the car feel alive. 

Strong brakes are made up of 375mm front rotors clamped by six-piston calipers. Optional carbon ceramic brakes with larger 400mm front rotors help save 6.5kg and, if you plan to use the RS4 on track, are a smart buy along with a set of Pirelli P Zero Corsa semi slick tyres ($850). 

Really, though, neither the RS4 nor RS5 are the perfect car for the track. They are plenty capable and fast on the road with just enough fun, reward and character thrown in to keep you coming back for more.

A lot of people think driving a Volvo means it’s stately or boring. Get in the Black Edition and it will change your mind.

The power it has is awesome and the pick-up will blow your hair back. Power delivery feels effortless.

The firm suspension and steering provide great road feedback and dynamic handling. While the suspension is firm, the comfort in the cabin is high and you don’t wince going over a pothole. The cabin is very quiet which makes it feel refined, too, even at higher speeds.

You do feel a bit low when you’re sitting next to a big SUV at lights but visibility is pretty good with the wide windows and pillars that don’t get in the way.

I've been precious about going over speed bumps or exiting a ramp, because it's easy to scrape underneath the nose as the S60 sits quite low. But on a whole it's pretty easy to park.

The 360-degree view camera system is clear and has a birds-eye and reversing view but I'd like to see both feeds pop up at the same time. It's easy enough to flit between the views when needed.

The S60 Recharge Black Edition has just been launched, so it’s not covered by its siblings’ maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from 2018 but it features all of the goodies you’d expect from a Volvo.

Standard features include blind-spot monitoring, rear collision warning, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure alert, lane keeping aid, traffic sign recognition, an intelligent seatbelt warning, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, 'Pilot Assist', a tyre mobility kit and a 360-degree view camera system, as well as front, side and rear parking sensors.

The S60 Black Edition also features Volvo designed safety items like the 'Side Impact Protection System' (SIPS) that reinforces the car's steel framework at the sides and disperses energy in a side collision. 

It also features a 'Whiplash Injury Protection System' (WHIPS), which if hit from behind, the headrests move with the occupants to limit injuries.

One of the highlights is the programmable spare key where you can limit audible levels and speed limits. Which is perfect if you have a teenager who borrows your car. And the spare key is bright orange, so there's no sneaky 'whoops, I grabbed the wrong key' moments!

The rear row features two ISOFIX child seat mounts and three top-tethers. You'd be doing very well to fit three child seats in, so two will fit best.

Audi covers the RS4 and RS5 with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty which is now the expected norm across the premium part of the market. 

A five-year service plan can be pre-purchased, costing $3630 for both models with maintenance due annually or every 15,000km. 

After the five-year warranty period, owners can choose to extend the service packaging and warranty for two extra years at a cost of $4260. This can be done twice, extending the warranty up to nine years.

The S60 comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, which is a normal term for the class.

You can pre-purchase either a three- or five-year servicing plan and the three-year plan costs $1750, while the five-year plan costs a flat $3000 or an average of $600 per service, which is reasonable.

Servicing intervals sit at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.