PHEVs like the 2026 Audi RS5 are probably a car enthusiast’s best choice — maybe even the dream scenario.
Petrolheads’ lord and savior, Jeremy Clarkson once said he wasn’t interested in electric cars, and that was partly why they moved on from The Grand Tour. For a lot of enthusiasts, that sentiment still hits. Performance, character, drama — and at least for me Exhuast NOISE. That’s the whole point for many car lovers. (This is the main reason I bought a GAC Empow)
Now, aside from the fact that the newly announced Grand Tour team feels a bit “meh” and underwhelming, cars like Audi’s 2026 RS5 might actually be the answer to the compromise no one wanted to admit we needed.
Naturally, the RS5 comes loaded with new toys — updated digital cockpit, larger infotainment screens, sharper driver-assist systems, adaptive suspension, torque vectoring, and that unmistakable wide RS stance. But beyond the gadgets and styling tweaks, there’s one thing that really matters:
It’s a plug-in hybrid.
This isn’t the first time plug-in hybrid tech has existed, but in 2026, it’s safe to say the technology is mature. We’re talking about an electric-only range of around 83 km (52 miles). That’s not just for compliance — that’s proper daily usability.
Why not both?
Under the hood, you still get a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 paired with an electric motor, sending power to all four wheels through quattro. Yes, Proper RS performance.
You can cruise in full EV mode, quietly leaving home at 2AM without waking the neighborhood. Then, with one press of a button, the V6 wakes up and you’re back to proper ICE noise.
Complex DAW
Yes, PHEVs are more complicated. But modern performance cars have been complex for years. Dual-clutch gearboxes, adaptive dampers, electronically controlled differentials — simplicity left a long time ago. Owners aren’t rebuilding engines in their garages. As long as it’s under warranty and the dealer sorts it out, most enthusiasts will live with it.
Enthusiasts have always accepted that performance cars are finely tuned, sometimes temperamental machines. A few days at the dealership? Annoying, sure. But if it gives you another 10,000 kms of enjoyment after, who really cares?
And honestly, I wouldn’t mind saving a few pesos on gas and maybe being a “good citizen” for most of the day. But please — don’t take away the noise. Losing the F1 V10 scream was already painful enough.
Recently, I drove a BYD Seal 5 Premium. Great interior. Plenty of tech. Features you’d expect in cars twice the price. But it didn’t even remotely have an exhaust note — something every driving enthusiast looks for.
I’ve also driven the MG4 X-Power, BYD Seal, and MG Cyberster. Quick, yes. Impressive, yes. But they all lacked the soundtrack.
Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?
I have an idea — why don’t we just keep the combustion drama?
Keep the exhaust note. Keep the RS aggression. But add electric flexibility and usable range on top of it. Why does it always have to be one or the other? Thank God for Audi for thinking so…
With something like the RS5, you don’t have to pick a side. You’re not being told to give up noise, and you’re not ignoring where the industry is heading either. You just get both — depending on what kind of day you’re having.
It’s a happy compromise dont you think?
Oh yeah, it can go from 0–100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, with 825 Nm and 639 HP.
Any complications and all — I’m good with that.
**Credits : All Photos from AUDI***
