Audi RS4 25 Years review: a respectable (but far too expensive) send-off

Is this just a fancy-looking RS4?

Not at all. It’s a Big Yellow Dog that celebrates 25 years since the launch of the original Big Yellow Dog – the follow-up to the car that practically invented the fast estate segment.

But beyond simply being a commemorative special (just 250 will be made), the 25 Years signals the end of the RS4 as we know it, with the RS5 soon usurping it. It’s almost like Audi’s seeking more clarity from its own model line-up…

Anyway, you can interpret this as one last swing at the M3 Touring before the RS4 bows out for good. And to arm it for battle, Audi has shelled out a bunch of mechanical changes (plus some cosmetic ones) that make it even more of a hoot to drive.

Go on then, let’s have some numbers.

The 2.9-litre biturbo V6 receives a 20bhp boost to 464bhp, which, despite the unchanged 442lb ft of torque, trims the 0-62mph sprint by four-tenths to 3.7 seconds. Audi’s also ditched the limiter, so the top speed now points further north at 186mph. Yeah, this Big Yellow Dog has some serious legs on it.

Elsewhere, the 25 Years gets sportier RS-grade suspension that adds a bit of negative camber to the mix (cool) and drops the car by a further 20mm (more cool). You also get carbon ceramic stoppers and a choice of two Pirelli tyres: P Zero Corsas for the road and Trofeo RS semi-slicks for the track. The latter comes with tiny sensors (called the ‘Track Adrenaline’ system) to alert you of any sudden tyre pressure and temperature changes.

Okay, but has any of this actually made a difference to the way it drives?

Abso-bloomin'-lutely. It’s almost a given that anything Quattro-bred will be a fine all-round package, and the RS4 is no exception. It eats up corners like Popeye does spinach, and the extra turn of pace is pulverizing upon exit... without being intimidating. There’s next to no turbo lag, so when you get on the throttle you get an instantaneous kick up the backside.

The eight-speed transmission has been recalibrated to shift faster and harder too. Pop it into ‘Sport’ mode and engage the manual paddle shifts, and it becomes even more tactile, synergizing well with that re-tuned exhaust. Lots of crackles, pops and burbles on the overrun and a confident bark when you start to coax those revs out.

It manages its near 1.8-tonne weight extremely well and is void of any meaningful body roll, so it feels fleet of foot. You can dart head-first into a sequence of corners at big speeds, such is the confidence you get from the carbon ceramics, and you feel the stiffer suspension adjusting itself around you. You learn to trust it very quickly, and that’s why it nails its brief as a proper sporting Audi.

Speaking of suspension, has comfort taken a hit?

Not in the slightest. Whether you’re pegged back into the part-carbon RS bucket seats on a spirited drive or muddling through compressed A406 rush hour traffic, the 25 Years is still a comfy old thang that rides brilliantly.

There's very little change regardless of which end of the spectrum you're at, such are the millisecond response times from its new suspension. It absorbs potholes without giving you a god-awful jolt and glides like a Big Yellow Dog on laminate flooring when you open it up. You feel the car adapt to the road condition and surfaces while you remain completely fixed (and cushy) in your position. Superb duality.

And it's an even nicer place to while away the miles now, thanks to the new stitching, increased use of Alcantara and a bespoke build number plaque. OK, so the last bit won't exactly add comfort, but it does warm the heart slightly knowing you're in a bespoke hot estate.

You can even whiten the background of the tachometer and speedometer using the car’s MMI; a direct tribute to the original RS2. These decorative touches add to the range of standard-fit bits, including a 12.3in Virtual Cockpit that shows everything from boost pressures to a g-meter, a 10.1in infotainment touchscreen and a 3D Bang & Olufsen audio system.

There’s still a huge 495 litres of boot space on offer with the rear seats in place. Practicality matters, even on a run-out special.

Any changes to the exterior?

Yep, but not as excessive as the inside. Audi’s done away with the roof rails and thrown on 20in forged alloys to increase your heart rate near curbs. You’ll spot darker accents all across too, with gloss black trim in places like the side windows and rear light inlays, and a matt carbon finish along the body kit.

There’s a choice of three body colours: ‘Nardo Grey’ is standard, ‘Mythos Black’ is £700 or ‘Imola Yellow’ is... £3,300.

Ouch! And what does it cost overall?

There’s no other way to say this: a decked-out 25 Years in Big Yellow Dog spec will cost you £119,180… at least. That’s as near as makes no difference fifty grand more than an entry-level RS4.

That drops it into RS6 territory. Which brings the question of whether all the sentimentality is worth it into sharper focus. Just 50 of the 250 build slots are allocated for British customers, so perhaps the exclusivity will win some people over.

Reckon it’s better than an M3 Touring now?

The short answer is no. The 25 Years is a marked step up from the standard RS4 and better equipped for a straight shoot-out against BMW. But the reality is that it’s £30,000 more than an M3 Competition xDrive with a few extras ticked.

Strip it all back and the 25 Years is just a revamped version of a car that is already significantly older than an M3 Touring that’s just been given a mid-cycle refresh. The Bimmer has more power, torque and pace over the 25 Years: if you’re into fast estates, that sort of anorak-grade attention to detail matters.

The M3 has the RS4 on the ropes in other key areas too. Take handling: the RS4 and its Quattro drivetrain provide acres of grip, traction and control... but so do the M3 and its xDrive. Where the Bavarian superwagon differs is that you have the option of going rear-drive only, making it far rowdier when the mood calls for it.

The RS4 does claw some points back for its superior transmission, with the M3's eight-speed auto occasionally dimwitted. But it's just not enough to overcome the more dynamic and driver-focused M3.

What’s the verdict?

The RS4 25 Years in isolation is a fantastic car: it’s handsome, capable on the edge and now even nicer inside. It’s a worthy commemoration of the original RS4 and features plenty of little touches to hark back to the lineage spawner. If you’re happy to spend the money – and want something super exclusive – it’ll be a wonderful thing to own.

But if you just want a fast, do-it-all estate akin to the M3 Touring... get an M3 Touring. And a family of actual Big Yellow Dogs with the change.