Audi R8 Review 2024

At home on track or the supermarket run, the Audi R8 gentrifies the supercar experience by adding welcome helpings of everyday comfort and usability. The naturally aspirated V10 is the highlight of the show though, with its intoxicating vocals and high-revving nature providing a wonderful throwback to the heavyweight supercars of the 1990s. 

Motoring clichés are easy to come by, but every now and again a car comes along that’s so brilliant that it qualifies for every stock phrase you can find. The Audi R8’s one of those cars: it’s revolutionary, a game changer and it really does handle like it is on rails.

On the open road the R8 is scintillating, with outstanding acceleration and a wonderful soundtrack that builds with the revs. The V10 is theatrical, flamboyant and high-revving. It starts up with a chorus of crackles and pops plus it thunders along at sub-30mph with surprising grace

The steering is light and responsive while the large mirrors provide excellent all-round vision. The pedal action is also refined, which means you can apply small amounts of brake or throttle in traffic, without the usual supercar jarring. 

The seven-speed S tronic automatic gearbox works well with the V10, holding the gears in the corners and providing rapid changes as you push it on the straights. The R8 is fitted with a set of driving modes that let you tailor the handling and exhaust note, but there's plenty of fun to be had in even the most sedate settings.  

While the steering impresses, it still lacks the precision of the Porsche 911 or McLaren 570S, which feel sharper. However, the R8 rides extremely well and will easily cope with the roughest of surfaces.

It might not be at the forefront of the supercar pack, but the Audi R8 is a universal starting point for those looking to enter the world of high performance exotica. Noisy, good looking and powered by one of the best engines in the business, the R8 is one of our favourite high performance all-rounders. 

The Audi R8 is scintillating to drive. The V10 is smooth and predictable with its power delivery, while the four-wheel drive system is rear-biased and gives the R8 the feel of a monstrous American muscle car.. 

The pedals and steering are nicely weighted and this means you get a good feel for the road surface and grip. 

Some might find the power steering to be slightly overweighted, which means the McLaren 570S and Porsche 911 are better for drivers who regularly take their supercars to the edge of the handling envelope, but the R8 is still one of the most accomplished supercars and only the supercar veterans will be able to pick holes in its technical ability. 

The R8 shines as a daily driver. It’s easy to use and wonderfully composed at urban speeds. This means you can happily pootle around town, without any nasty jolts from the throttle or heavy bounces from the suspension. You also get a comprehensive array of parking sensors, which means the R8 is easy to park at your local supermarket. 

In our option it’s worth finding a model with the optional adaptive damper system fitted. In ‘comfort’ mode, we think R8 matches the smaller TT for comfort over rough roads and potholes.

As part of the mid-life 2019 update, the R8 received some subtle but important updates that make the handling sharper and more responsive. The key advancement is the introduction of dynamic steering, which lets you adjust the steering ratio (via a dial on the wheel) to make it firmer and more responsive. 

There isn’t a lot of choice when it comes to engines. The Audi R8 is limited to a naturally aspirated 5.2-litre petrol V10. This isn’t a problem, however, because this V10 is quite simply one of the greatest engines ever built. 

The V10 shares 50 per cent of its components with the legendary R8 LMS GT3 race car. This means you get a genuine hand-built legend. And it shows in the numbers, with top-spec models capable of reaching 205mph. 

At launch, the V10’’s output was split between 540PS and 610PS. The 0-62mph sprint takes 3.5 seconds (3.2 for the V10 Plus) and peak power is delivered at 8100rpm, which means the V10 has a high revving nature. 

In 2019, the V10 received a power upgrade as part of its mid-life update. The entry-model was uprated by 30PS ( to 570PS) while the V10 Plus model was rebranded ‘V10 Performance’ and received an extra 10PS, taking its total output to 620PS. 

Power is fed to the quattro all-wheel drive system via a seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox - there’s no manual gearbox option. The driver can manually select the gears via steering wheel mounted paddles. 

A rear-wheel drive version of the R8 was added as a special edition model in late-2018 and became a permanent part of the model line-up in mid-2019. The R8 RWD uses the same engine and gearbox as the coupe, but uses a limited slip differential on the rear axle to maximise rear-wheel drive traction. 

The R8’s bodyshell is constructed from a combination of aluminum and carbon fibre, which makes it lightweight and extremely strong. Audi has never submitted the R8 for Euro NCAP testing, but all models get driver, passenger and side impact airbags, along with a seatbelt pretensioner system that’s designed to mitigate whiplash type injuries.

Then R8 gets the usual mixture of high performance ABS and electronic stability control systems, which will tame the 5.2-litre V10 engine when roads are challenging in wet or wintery weather conditions.

However, while top spec cars gets a comprehensive array parking aids and cameras, there is no blind spot monitoring system. Autonomous emergency braking isn’t offered, either. 

All versions get a set of  ISOFIX anchor points for the passenger seat, which means you can fit a child seat. The front passenger airbag can also be deactivated, which lets you carry a child seat facing backwards. 

There is no spare wheel of any kind in the R8, but a tyre repair kit is available if you do suffer a puncture. A first aid kit can also be supplied with the car, as an options extra. 

Supercars seldom win awards for practicality and the Audi R8 is no exception. The 112-litre boot is large enough for a couple of cabin bags, but little else. 

There’s some storage space and a shelf behind the seats in the cabin, which means you can squeeze a soft overnight bag into the interior. But the R8 isn’t a car that’ll cater for those who require lots of luggage. 

There is space for a couple of cups in the centre storage box. There is also a pocket at the lower part of each door, tbut the space is small and only suitable for loose change or loose scraps of paper.

Audi has poured all of its everyday car knowhow into the R8. This means the dashboard is easy to read and you don’t require a degree in race car engineering to start the engine or enter a postcode into the navigation.  

The driving position is excellent, with everything within easy reach. The steering wheel is fully adjustable and the centre console has an armrest, which makes it easy to get comfortable and reach the gear lever. 

The high-spec models get the best seats for comfort, with electronic height adjustment and lots of padding for the lower back and upper leg areas. The basic seats are not bad, but some areas are quite firm and tall passengers might find them uncomfortable over a long journey. 

Despite its low slung appearance, there is plenty of head and shoulder space for large adults to get comfortable. The shelf behind the seats has 226 litres and this should be sufficient to store a squishable overnight bag and a couple of jackets.  

The doors are long and require a wide area to sweep open. This means it can be very difficult to get in and out of the R8 with any form of grace. There are a pair of cupholders, but the door pockets are tiny and will struggle to hold anything of use.

The quality of the cabin is one of the best in the supercar segment. The fit and finish is excellent and on par with anything else in Audi’s line-up. 

The low roof line and wrap-around dashboard cocoons the driver and passenger, but never feels claustrophobic. The dashboard is covered with a sea of soft-touch leathers and plastics, while the door pillars are covered in a high quality suede cloth. 

The steering wheel is a particular highlight on post-2019 models, with a large starter button on the lower part of the flat bottomed wheel. The outer edge of the steering wheel and gear lever is covered in a grippy microfiber suede material that adds to the race car feel.

The Audi R8 has one of the best infotainment systems of any supercar. All versions get a sophisticated navigation system as standard, along with DAB audio and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. 

Audi’s ‘virtual cockpit’ replaces the traditional instrument binnacle with a 12.3-inch display with pin sharp graphics. This let’s you toggle between different display modes and also adjust the digital instrument cluster to suit your driving mood.

At launch, the virtual cockpit system was only fitted as standard to V10 Plus models. However, as part of the mid-life update in 2019, it was added to all models as standard. We wouldn’t buy an R8 without it. 

Most of the infotainment controls are operated via buttons and wheels on the steering wheel. There is also a rotary dial with a finger pad in the centre console. However, unlike the 911 and 570S, there isn’t a central infotainment screen on the dashboard. 

Supercars by their nature have a tendency to be super expensive, and the Audi R8 is no exception. A new rear-wheel drive R8 starts at £113,000, while the range-topping V10 Performance quattro will easily set you back £140,000.

Buying used, most adverts for a 12-month old V10 quattro are between £110,000 and £125,000, while two-year old examples start at £84,000.

The oldest examples of the second-generation R8 date from 2015. These start in the region of £57,000 and peak at £80,000, depending on mileage and condition.

The 5.2-litre V10 has a frightening thirst for fuel, which means you’ll be on first name terms with the staff at your local petrol station.

Entry-level models are advertised with 25mpg, while the track-focused V10 Plus and Performance models will officially return up to 22mpg. 

These figures are generally true on the motorway, with cruise control activated, but in reality the R8 will struggle to surpass 20mpg on the open road. Spirited drivers will easily get the mpg down to single figures. 

The naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 in the R8 isn’t what you’d describe as an ‘eco friendly’ engine. In fact, with CO2 emissions exceeding 300g/km, the R8 is among the most polluting cars on the road. 

The highest road tax costs are for models registered between 2015 and 2017 - these fall into the old CO2 based VED system,of which the R8 sits in the highest band (M) which means you’ll be looking at £600 for 12 month’s VED. 

Things are slightly better for cars registered after 1 April 2017. These models are taxed against the newer VED system which employs a flat rate for all petrol and diesel cars. This means you’ll be looking at £475 per year.

When the car reaches six years of age the £40,000 premium rate is dropped and this lowers annual VED for the Audi R8 V10 to just £150 per year. So it pays to find a car that qualifies for the newer 2017 VED system. 

All versions sit in Group 50 for car insurance.It pays to use a specialist supercar broker to find the most comprehensive cover, as sometimes the cheapest deals will also have the highest excess costs. Owing to its colossal tailpipe emissions, the R8’s BIK rate is 37% across the range. 

Given its supercar status, it won’t surprise you to hear that all versions of the Audi R8 are well-equipped as standard. 

Luxury features, like LED headlights, 19-inch aluminium wheels, metallic paint and leather seats are fitted as standard. The cabin features leather heated sports seats with electric adjustment (as standard) along with automatic air conditioning and a fully instrument display. 

However, if you want height adjustable seats, you'll need to buy the V10 Plus model, which also adds bucket sport seats and stainless steel pedals. Cruise control is also added, but strangely there is no adaptive cruise control option.

Range-topping models get some notable exterior upgrades, with a carbon fiber front spoiler and a large fixed rear spoiler replacing the hydraulic adjustable system used on the ‘standard’ R8. V10 Plus models also get ceramic brakes, in place of the steel discs used in the entry-level mode. 

The R8 was given a comprehensive update in 2019, with Audi’s virtual cockpit system fitted as standard. The V10 Plus was also rebranded as V10 Performance and given 20-inch wheels and a new multifunction steering wheel with a built-in starter button.

Over the years Audi has launched a number of special editions for the R8, with most getting 20-inch wheels and a multitude of aerodynamic tweaks to sharpen the styling and race track performance. 

The most exclusive edition of the R8 is the 10 Plus Selection 24h, which was commissioned to celebrate the R8 LMS GT3 car’s 300th victory. Just 24 examples were built, with each features an exclusive tricolour paint finish and track-focussed interior. 

Rear-wheel drive models were added to the R8 range in 2019. These can be identified by the larger front grille and rear diffuser. The side blades (the bits of coloured bodywork that sit behind the door and window) are also finished in a glossy mythos black, while the bottom blade is painted in the colour of the vehicle.