Compare the2025 Audi RS 5 SportbackVS 2024 Porsche Panamera

The RS 5 Sportback’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Panamera doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The RS 5 Sportback has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Panamera doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the RS 5 Sportback. But it costs extra on the Panamera.

Both the RS 5 Sportback and the Panamera have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

There are over 54 percent more Audi dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the RS 5 Sportback’s warranty.

The RS 5 Sportback’s 2.9 turbo V6 produces 96 more horsepower (444 vs. 348) and 73 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 369) than the Panamera’s standard 2.9 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi RS 5 Sportback is faster than the Porsche Panamera turbo V6:

For better stopping power the RS 5 Sportback’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Panamera:

The RS 5 Sportback’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Panamera’s standard 45 series front and 40 series rear tires. The RS 5 Sportback’s optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the Panamera’s optional 35 series front tires.

The RS 5 Sportback has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Panamera; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Audi RS 5 Sportback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 1200 pounds less than the Porsche Panamera.

The RS 5 Sportback is 10.8 inches shorter than the Panamera, making the RS 5 Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The RS 5 Sportback has a much larger trunk than the Panamera with its rear seat up (21.8 vs. 17.4 cubic feet).

The RS 5 Sportback has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Panamera doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

If the windows are left open on the RS 5 Sportback the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Panamera can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Laser headlights, standard on the RS 5 Sportback, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Panamera’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RS 5 Sportback has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Panamera doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the RS 5 Sportback has standard extendable sun visors. The Panamera doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Audi A5/S5/RS 5 outsold the Porsche Panamera by almost six to one during 2023.