Audi R8 coupe

• Performance

  5 out of 5 stars

  The R8 comes with two engines: a 4.2 V8 or a barnstorming 5.2 V10 engine. Even the V8 is blisteringly fast, powering from 0-62mph in less than five seconds. The V10 really is something else, though. It pulls like an express train no matter how many revs are on the dial. The optional S tronic semi-auto offers lightning quick shifts.

• Ride & Handling

  4 out of 5 stars

  Thanks to bags of traction and strong cornering grip, the R8 can be driven safely as well as quickly. The suspension is taut, resulting in minimal body roll, yet the ride is surprisingly comfortable unless you go for the hardcore V10 Plus. The steering offers plenty of feel, although it’s a little slow and the R8 is prone to following ruts and cambers in the road.

• • Behind The Wheel

    3 out of 5 stars

    The low-slung driving position is spot-on, plus visibility is surprisingly good considering how low you are to the ground and the fact there’s a mass of engine behind your head. Most in-car functions are operated by scrolling through onscreen menus, although the controls are a bit of a stretch to reach and the system is a little slower to respond than more modern rivals.

  • Space & Practicality

    3 out of 5 stars

    You'll need to watch your head as you slide behind the wheel, but once you're in, there's plenty of leg and shoulder room. While that steeply slopping bonnet provides a good view of the road ahead, we suggest ordering parking sensors to help you judge reverse parking. At a push, you can get a couple of sets of golf clubs behind the seats, but the luggage space under the bonnet is pretty small.

  • Equipment

    4 out of 5 stars

    The R8 comes with all the essentials you'd expect in a car costing this much money, including a leather interior, climate control, 19-inch alloy wheels and satellite-navigation. However, there are still plenty of optional extras to choose from, including ceramic brakes and Audi’s Magnetic Ride suspension system.

  Refinement

  3 out of 5 stars

  Both engines sound terrific, but the V10 is particularly musical when you treat it rough. Both quieten down at a steady cruise, too, although there’s still more engine boom at motorway speeds than in a Porsche 911. The optional S tronic gearbox isn’t as slick at town speeds as the PDK ’box in the Porsche, either, with the V8 particularly prone to shunt. The R8 keeps out road noise better than the 911, though.