Compare the2018 Volkswagen BeetleVS 2017 Audi A5 Sport

The Beetle has standard post collision braking, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The A5 Sport 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 help make backing safer, the Beetle Coast/SE’s cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The A5 Sport doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Beetle SE has standard Car-Net, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The A5 Sport doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Beetle and the A5 Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, available blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The Beetle comes with a full 6-year/72000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car. The A5 Sport’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years and 22000 miles sooner.

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Beetle’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2017 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen 10th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 26th, below the industry average.

On the EPA test cycle the Beetle gets better fuel mileage than the A5 Sport:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Beetle uses regular unleaded gasoline. The A5 Sport requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Volkswagen Beetle as a “Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle” (PZEV). The Audi A5 Sport is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

The Volkswagen Beetle comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the A5 Sport.

The Beetle stops shorter than the A5 Sport:

For better maneuverability, the Beetle’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the A5 Sport’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Volkswagen Beetle may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 750 pounds less than the Audi A5 Sport.

The Beetle Dune is 1 foot, 1.4 inches shorter than the A5 Sport, making the Beetle easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Beetle Dune Coupe is quieter than the A5 Sport Coupe (71 vs. 73 dB).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the Beetle Coupe is rated a Compact car by the EPA, while the A5 Sport Coupe is rated a Subcompact.

The Beetle Coupe has 1.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A5 Sport Coupe (85.1 vs. 84). The Beetle Convertible has .4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A5 Sport Cabriolet (81.4 vs. 81).

The Beetle Coupe has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room and 1.1 inches more rear headroom than the A5 Sport Coupe.

The Beetle Convertible has 1 inch more front shoulder room and 1.3 inches more rear headroom than the A5 Sport Cabriolet.

The Beetle Coupe has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the A5 Sport Coupe (15.4 vs. 12.2 cubic feet).

Optional App-Connect for the Beetle allows the driver and passengers access to select programs on their smartphones, including reading text messages aloud and other connected activities without taking their eyes off the road or their hands from the wheel. The A5 Sport doesn’t offer factory integrated smartphone program access.

Insurance will cost less for the Beetle owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Beetle will cost $2025 to $4660 less than the A5 Sport over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Beetle is less expensive to operate than the A5 Sport because it costs $54 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Beetle than the A5 Sport, including $298 less for a water pump, $595 less for an alternator, $22 less for front brake pads, $228 less for a starter, $123 less for fuel injection, $46 less for a fuel pump, $156 less for front struts and $200 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Volkswagen Beetle will be $15229 to $20931 less than for the Audi A5 Sport.

The Volkswagen Beetle outsold the Audi A5/S5 by 88% during 2016.