Used Audi R8 2015-present review

Cool young things with their AirPods in might like to belittle the Audi R8 as just an inflated Audi TT, but they’ve probably never sat in one, let alone driven such a car. They’ve most likely only seen it in movies, where its fantastic V10 soundtrack won’t fail to steal the scene.

But the great thing is that you don’t need a Hollywood budget to buy one these days.

Engines: Unlike the original Audi R8 that offered both V8 and V10 power, this model uses only a 5.2-litre V10, but with two different power outputs: 532bhp or 602bhp in the Plus model. Facelifted cars from 2019 onwards had the wick turned up to 562bhp or 611bhp for the renamed Performance version. You can even choose between quattro four-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive only, with the RWD model packing 533bhp.

Ride & handling: It’s no surprise, then, to find that the R8 is a very fast car. We tested a Plus model in the dry and found that it could sprint from 0-62mph in 2.3sec, while a standard R8 in the wet hit the same target in 3.2sec. Even more impressive, if you happen to be on a race track, is the fact that it can accelerate from 0-100mph in 6.6sec. That’s crazy quick. The only slight disappointment is that the automatic gearbox can be a little jerky during low-speed manoeuvres. Later facelifted cars aren’t any better, although the Performance has the smoothest of the two setups.

Once you’ve quickly despatched the straights, you’ll be glad to know that the R8 corners brilliantly, with graceful fluidity and virtually flat body control. You might fear that this will make it very uncomfortable, but it doesn’t. With standard passive suspension, the R8 is compliant on rough roads, while adaptive dampers allow for a very forgiving ride for any car, let alone a sports car. You won’t even need the arms of a championship boxer to steer the R8, since its helm is really quite light. It gives plenty of feedback at moderate speeds, too.

Interior & practicality: Practicality isn’t even a major issue, because there’s a decent amount of space up front for a couple of weekend bags plus a shelf behind the rear seats if you need a bit of extra storage. You’ll also find a number of thoughtful hiding spots dotted around the interior, and there’s space for two coffee cups – if for some reason the sound of the baritone V10 isn't enough to keep you awake.

Trims & equipment: All R8s get electrically adjustable, heated leather seats, sat-nav, a DAB radio, climate control and LED headlights. However, even though this car cost as much as a terraced house in the north of England when new, cruise control and a rear-view camera were both optional extras.

If you're interested in finding a used Audi R8, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Prices for early R8s start at around £63,000 to £65,000 for a 2016 or 2017 car, which is a massive come-down from the £120,000 they cost when they were new back in late 2015. Prices creep up to around £70,000 for a 2017 or 2018 car and between £70,000 and £80,000 or more for a 2021 or 2022 example. R8s from 2023 and 2024 are more than £100,000.

You’ll probably need a property portfolio or generous trust fund to have the wherewithal to run an Audi R8. Even if the combined fuel consumption of 21.6mpg according to the WLTP tests and 272g/km of CO2 emissions for the standard car or 21.4mpg and 287g/km for the Plus doesn't frighten you, the huge cost of insurance and maintenance probably will.

Any R8 registered before 1 April 2017 will have to pay road tax under the older system that’s based on CO2 emissions, while later cars will have to pay the flat rate fee along with the additional surcharge for cars that cost more than £40,000 when new. That currently stands at £190 a year for the standard VED and an extra £410 a year for the luxury car tax, which is payable from years two to six.

Find out more about the current road tax costs here.

Which version of the R8 you should buy really depends on what you plan to do with your car. If you’re wanting to take it on a track day, perhaps the Plus might be the way to go, since it comes with carbon ceramic brakes as standard that will stand up to frequent heavy braking better than the standard items. Plus, the extra power might come in handy on the straights.

However, the regular R8 is no slouch and still has 99% of the ability for less money. Look out for any example with the Driver Assistance package, because that gets you a rear-view camera and cruise control. A sports exhaust is also a worthy extra, since it makes that glorious V10 sound even better.

Our favourite Audi R8: 5.2 V10

Just because you want to drive a fast car doesn’t mean you have to compromise your green credentials. The Honda NSX has a 3.5-litre petrol V6 and three electric motors to produce a combined figure of 574bhp and cracks 0-60mph in just 2.8sec. It doesn’t have the same aural drama or as nice an interior, though.

The Porsche 911 may be a predictable choice, but that's because it makes perfect sense if you’re after a practical sports car and more playful handling than offered by the four-wheel-drive R8.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here

If you're interested in finding a used Audi R8, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.