Next Level Performance
July 29, 2026 • 10 min read
The B9 Audi RS5 hides a 444-horsepower secret behind one of the most muffled factory exhaust systems ever bolted to a performance Audi. Swap in a proper cat-back and the 2.9L twin-turbo V6 finally sounds like the supercar-slaying coupe it is. This guide compares the best Audi RS5 exhaust systems for the 2018-2020 (B9 and B9.5) Coupe and Sportback — five premium, in-stock kits from AWE Tuning and aFe, ranging from $2,665 to $3,385, with real notes on sound, drone, tips, and fitment so you buy the right one the first time.
Our Verdict
The AWE Tuning Non-Resonated Touring Edition is the best all-around exhaust for the 2020 RS5 Coupe.
It delivers the biggest jump in volume and tone over the muted stock system while keeping the RS-style Diamond Black tips and T304 stainless build quality AWE is known for. For 2018-2019 Coupe owners who want zero highway drone, step down to the resonated AWE Touring Edition; Sportback owners get their own body-specific kit; and shoppers chasing the carbon-tip look on an easier install should look at the aFe MACH Force-Xp axle-back.
Shop Our Top Pick →Why the B9 RS5 Needs an Exhaust Upgrade
The 2018-2020 Audi RS5 is quick and quiet by design. Its 2.9L twin-turbo V6 (Audi's EA839) makes 444 hp at 6,000 rpm and 443 lb-ft of torque from just 1,900 rpm, launching the Coupe to 60 mph in a tested 3.5-3.7 seconds through quattro all-wheel drive and an 8-speed automatic. The trade-off is sound: this engine replaced the beloved 4.2L naturally aspirated V8 of the B8 RS5, and turbocharging plus a restrictive factory muffler (and a gasoline particulate filter on many cars) leaves the B9 sounding far tamer than its performance suggests.
A cat-back or axle-back exhaust is the single most effective way to fix that. Because these systems bolt on behind the catalytic converters, they wake up the V6's snarl, add pops and burbles on lift-off, shave weight over the heavy stock muffler, and finish the rear with proper RS-style quad tips — all without touching emissions equipment or requiring an ECU tune. Below are the five best options we stock for the B9 platform, ranked and explained.
AWE Tuning's RS-style Diamond Black tips replace the stock ovals on the B9 RS5.
Audi RS5 (B9) Exhaust Systems Compared
Every kit below is a direct-fit, in-stock system for the 2018-2020 RS5. The four AWE Tuning options are full cat-back systems built from T304 stainless steel; the aFe is a 304 stainless axle-back with carbon fiber tips. Use the table to match sound level, system type, and tip style to your car, then read the full breakdown underneath.
| Kit | System | Sound | Tips | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWE Non-Resonated Touring (B9.5 Coupe)Top Pick | Cat-Back | Loud, non-resonated | Diamond Black quad | $3,385.00 |
| AWE Touring Edition (B9 Coupe) | Cat-Back | Refined, drone-free | Diamond Black quad | $3,075.00 |
| AWE Sportback Touring (B9 Sportback) | Cat-Back | Loud, non-resonated | Diamond Black quad | $3,075.00 |
| AWE Track Edition (B9 Coupe) | Cat-Back | Aggressive, max volume | Diamond Black quad | $2,665.00 |
| aFe MACH Force-Xp (B9 Coupe) | Axle-Back | Deep, bolt-on | Quad carbon fiber | $2,891.00 |
1. AWE Tuning Non-Resonated Touring Edition — Best Overall (2020 Coupe)
The AWE Non-Resonated Touring Edition is our top pick for the 2020 (B9.5) RS5 Coupe. It is the flagship of AWE's RS5 lineup at $3,385, deleting the resonators for a fuller, louder tone while retaining the refined, engineered character AWE cat-backs are known for. The result is a system that transforms the muted 2.9T into a proper twin-turbo growl at throttle, adds crackle on the overrun, yet stays civil enough to daily. It finishes with AWE's RS-style Diamond Black quad tips and is built entirely from T304 stainless steel and backed by AWE's lifetime exhaust warranty.
What We Like
- + Biggest volume and tone gain over the muted stock system
- + RS-style Diamond Black quad tips look factory-correct
- + T304 stainless build with AWE lifetime warranty
Things to Consider
- – Non-resonated means more volume than the drone-free Touring kit
- – Priced as the flagship of the RS5 range
2. AWE Tuning Touring Edition — Best Drone-Free Daily (2018-2019 Coupe)
If you commute in your RS5 and hate highway drone, the AWE Touring Edition cat-back is the one to buy. At $3,075, it uses AWE's patented 180 Technology — a resonance-cancelling design that targets the specific frequency responsible for interior drone — so you get a noticeably richer, deeper voice under throttle with a quiet, comfortable cabin at a steady 75 mph cruise. It is the most livable of the AWE options for the 2018-2019 Coupe, finished with the same RS-style Diamond Black quad tips and T304 stainless construction.
AWE's 180 Technology cancels the drone frequency for a quiet highway cruise.
3. AWE Tuning Sportback Touring Edition — Best for the 5-Door
Audi sells the RS5 as both a Coupe and a five-door Sportback, and the exhaust is body-specific — a Coupe kit will not fit the Sportback. This $3,075 AWE Sportback Touring Edition is the non-resonated cat-back engineered for the B9 RS5 Sportback, giving five-door owners the same loud, characterful tone and RS-style Diamond Black quad tips as the Coupe systems. If you drive the practical body style, this is your kit.
4. AWE Tuning Track Edition — Loudest AWE and Best Value
Want maximum volume for the least money? The AWE Track Edition is the most aggressive cat-back in AWE's RS5 catalog and, at $2,665, the most affordable of the four AWE systems. It removes the resonators entirely for the loudest, most race-inspired tone AWE offers on the B9 — expect a hard, mechanical wail near redline and plenty of pops on decel. It is the pick for owners who prioritize sound over cabin quiet, still finished with the signature Diamond Black quad tips and T304 stainless construction.
5. aFe MACH Force-Xp Axle-Back — Best Carbon-Tip Look and Easiest Install
The aFe MACH Force-Xp is the odd one out here, and that is exactly why it earns a spot. Instead of a full cat-back, it is a 304 stainless axle-back system — it replaces the mufflers and tips from the rear axle back, so it bolts on faster with fewer connections than a cat-back. At $2,891 it steps down from 3-inch to 2.5-inch piping and finishes with a set of quad carbon fiber tips that give the RS5 a distinct, motorsport look the black-tip AWE kits do not. Choose it if you want carbon tips, a deeper-but-not-shouty tone, and the simplest bolt-on of the group.
aFe's quad carbon fiber tips give the RS5 a motorsport-inspired rear.
Cat-Back vs Axle-Back: How Much Power and Sound to Expect
A cat-back replaces everything from the catalytic converters rearward, including the center piping and mufflers, so it flows more and sounds bigger — the four AWE systems here are cat-backs. An axle-back, like the aFe, swaps only the rear mufflers and tips; it is a simpler, faster install with a milder change. On a stock-turbo 2.9T RS5, either style is primarily a sound-and-weight upgrade: expect roughly 5 to 15 wheel horsepower from a cat-back thanks to reduced backpressure, with the real power gains coming later from downpipes and an ECU tune. What every buyer feels immediately is the transformation in character — the muted factory drone gives way to a genuine twin-turbo V6 snarl.
2018-2020 Audi RS5 (B9) Key Specs
Installation, Fitment, and Legality
All five systems are direct-fit, no-cut bolt-on installs that reuse the factory hangers. A cat-back like the AWE kits typically takes an experienced installer 1.5 to 2.5 hours on a lift; the aFe axle-back is quicker at around an hour since it has fewer connections. Because every kit here mounts behind the catalytic converters (and leaves the factory gasoline particulate filter in place where equipped), these are emissions-friendly, street-legal upgrades in all 50 states — you are not removing any factory emissions hardware. Double-check your exact body style before ordering: Coupe and Sportback systems are not interchangeable, and the 2020 B9.5 facelift uses its own fitment. Our team in Tampa, FL can confirm the right part number for your VIN.
Planning to go further? A cat-back pairs perfectly with a Stage 1 ECU tune, and owners chasing real power add high-flow downpipes and upgraded intakes. If you want to firm up the chassis to match the new sound, the KW Coilover Kit V3 for the B9 RS5 is a popular next step. Browse the full exhaust collection at NLP Performance for downpipes, tips, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an aftermarket exhaust add horsepower to the Audi RS5?
A cat-back or axle-back exhaust adds only modest power to the B9 RS5 — typically about 5 to 15 wheel horsepower from reduced backpressure — because the restriction on the 2.9L twin-turbo V6 is mostly upstream. The main benefits are sound, a lighter rear section, and RS-style tips. Real horsepower gains come from adding high-flow downpipes and a Stage 1 or Stage 2 ECU tune.
Will an RS5 exhaust cause interior drone on the highway?
It depends on the kit. The AWE Touring Edition uses AWE's patented 180 Technology to cancel the resonant frequency responsible for drone, so it stays quiet at a 75 mph cruise. Non-resonated and Track Edition systems trade some of that cabin calm for extra volume, and the aFe axle-back sits in between. If a drone-free daily is your priority, choose the resonated Touring Edition.
What is the difference between a cat-back and an axle-back for the RS5?
A cat-back replaces the exhaust from the catalytic converters rearward, including center pipes and mufflers, for more flow and a bigger sound — the AWE systems are cat-backs. An axle-back, like the aFe MACH Force-Xp, replaces only the rear mufflers and tips, making it a faster bolt-on install with a milder change in tone. Cat-backs sound louder; axle-backs install easier.
Do RS5 Coupe and Sportback exhausts use the same part?
No. The B9 RS5 exhaust is body-specific: a Coupe cat-back will not fit the five-door Sportback, and vice versa. AWE sells a dedicated Sportback Touring Edition for the five-door. Always order the kit that matches your exact body style and model year, including the 2020 B9.5 facelift.
Are these RS5 exhaust systems street legal?
Yes. Every system in this guide mounts behind the factory catalytic converters and leaves the gasoline particulate filter (where fitted) in place, so no emissions hardware is removed. Cat-back and axle-back exhausts are 50-state street legal. Only components that replace the cats or GPF, such as downpipes, raise emissions-compliance questions.
Do I need a tune to install an RS5 cat-back exhaust?
No tune is required. A cat-back or axle-back exhaust is a mechanical bolt-on that does not change fueling or boost, so it works on a completely stock RS5. It does pair well with a Stage 1 ECU tune if you later want more power, and downpipes are the upgrade that genuinely requires a supporting tune.
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