Jeremy Clarkson test-drives the new Audi RS 5 V6… but he still prefers the Alfa Romeo Giulia V6

Jeremy Clarkson and the’Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, it’s a love story that’s been going on for ten years now. And clearly, even the latest German models can’t make him forget the Italian sedan. In a new review published on October 17, 2026, in The Sunday Times, the famous British journalist got behind the wheel of the all-new Audi RS 5 plug-in hybrid. He found the car to be fast, comfortable, technologically impressive, and even very beautiful. However, when it came time to make a choice, He still prefers the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.

An impressive Audi RS 5… on paper

It must be said that this new Audi RS 5 has plenty going for it. Under the hood is a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 paired with an electric motor, delivering a combined output of 630 chevaux. That’s enough to go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds, despite its particularly heavy weight: 2.37 metric tons for the «Avant station wagon» version!

That figure obviously makes Jeremy Clarkson’s blood boil, as he compares the German car’s weight to that of Luciano Pavarotti. Starting at 91,300 pounds sterling (about 110,000 euros), this new RS 5 is also far from affordable. But against all odds, Clarkson acknowledges that Audi’s engineers have done a remarkable job. Despite its weight, the car proves agile on the narrow roads of the Cotswolds. The sophisticated all-wheel-drive system offers impressive traction, while the car’s comfort, performance, and even fuel economy earn his praise.

So why doesn't Jeremy Clarkson like it?

That’s precisely where his review gets interesting. Because after listing nearly every imaginable quality of this Audi, the journalist reaches an unexpected conclusion: he simply doesn’t like it. He admits himself that he’s unable to explain why. The RS 5 is fast, fun to drive, comfortable, well-built, elegant, and particularly smart. His fellow journalists, for that matter, seem to love it. But something is missing. That little extra bit of soul that can’t be measured in horsepower, seconds, or technological sophistication. And when he imagines which sports sedan he would buy today, his answer is immediate: an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.

Ten years later, the Giulia Quadrifoglio still sets hearts racing

This choice is all the more interesting because’in February 2026, Jeremy Clarkson had been particularly critical of the Giulia Quadrifoglio in a previous test drive. At the time, he criticized the driving aids, which he found intrusive, and especially the suspension, which he thought was far too stiff—so much so that he recommended buying a pre-2022 model rather than a new car.

However, a few months later, when comparing it indirectly to a latest-generation Audi RS 5, The Giulia remains its benchmark. That’s quite a compliment for a sedan launched in 2016, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. With its 510-chevaux twin-turbo V6, rear-wheel drive, and feisty personality, this Italian car continues to win over drivers where some competitors—despite being more powerful and more modern—fall short.

Jeremy Clarkson finally points out that the Giulia Quadrifoglio was originally slated to be phased out in 2026, before Alfa Romeo decided to extend its production run. That decision takes on a special significance when reading this review. Ten years after its launch, the Giulia Quadrifoglio may no longer have the most impressive spec sheet in its class, but it clearly retains something that German engineers struggle to replicate. And for Jeremy Clarkson, that’s still enough to make all the difference.