Compare the2023 Audi A5 SportbackVS 2023 Lexus ES

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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The A5 Sportback’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The ES doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the A5 Sportback and ES have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The A5 Sportback has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The ES’ child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The A5 Sportback has a standard Audi Backguard System, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Audi Backguard System moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The ES doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the A5 Sportback. But it costs extra on the ES.

Both the A5 Sportback and the ES have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi A5 Sportback is safer than the Lexus ES:

	A5 Sportback	ES
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	236	319
Neck Injury Risk	25%	33%
Neck Stress	119 lbs.	159 lbs.
Neck Compression	47 lbs.	62 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	324/341 lbs.	473/518 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi A5 Sportback is safer than the Lexus ES:

	A5 Sportback	ES
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	277	300
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The A5 Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the ES’ (12 vs. 6 years).

There are over 25 percent more Audi dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the A5 Sportback’s warranty.

Reliability

The Audi A5 Sportback’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the ES’ engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The battery on the A5 Sportback is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the A5 Sportback’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The ES’ battery is in the hot engine compartment.

Engine

The A5 Sportback has more powerful engines than the ES:

	Torque
A5 Sportback 40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	236 lbs.-ft.
A5 Sportback 45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	273 lbs.-ft.
ES 250 AWD 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	184 lbs.-ft.
ES 300h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid
ES 350 3.5 DOHC V6	267 lbs.-ft.

Fuel Economy and Range

Regardless of its engine, the A5 Sportback’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the ES Hybrid, and doesn’t offer a disable button.

The A5 Sportback has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the ES Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (15.3 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The A5 Sportback offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The ES doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The A5 Sportback’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The ES doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the A5 Sportback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the ES:

	A5 Sportback 40 TFSI	A5 Sportback 45 TFSI	ES
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	13.3 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	13 inches	11.1 inches

The A5 Sportback’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the ES are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the A5 Sportback has larger standard tires than the ES (245/40R18 vs. 215/55R17). The A5 Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the ES (255/35R19 vs. 235/45R18).

The A5 Sportback’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the ES’ standard 55 series tires. The A5 Sportback’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the ES F Sport’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the A5 Sportback has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the ES.

Suspension and Handling

The A5 Sportback has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The ES’ suspension doesn’t offer rear gas-charged shocks.

The A5 Sportback’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54.8% to 45.2%) than the ES’ (57.4% to 42.6%). This gives the A5 Sportback more stable handling and braking.

Chassis

The A5 Sportback is 8.7 inches shorter than the ES, making the A5 Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The A5 Sportback has .2 inches more front headroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the ES.

Cargo Capacity

The A5 Sportback’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The ES doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the A5 Sportback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the ES. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The A5 Sportback’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The ES’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the A5 Sportback to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The ES doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The A5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The ES doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The A5 Sportback has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the ES. The A5 Sportback Prestige also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the ES.

The A5 Sportback Prestige’s Park Steering Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The ES doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Audi A5 comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Lexus ES isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.