Compare the2023 Audi R8VS 2022 Ford GT

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Drivetrain
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The R8 has standard front seat side-impact airbags and head airbags, which act as a forgiving barrier between the passengers and the door. Combined with high-strength steel door beams this system increases protection from broadside collisions. The GT doesn't offer side-impact airbags or side airbag protection for the head.

The R8 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 GT 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.

The R8 Quattro/GT offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The GT doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the R8 and the GT have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding and daytime running lights.

Warranty

The R8 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The GT’s 3-year basic warranty expires 1 year sooner.

The R8’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GT’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 12 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the R8 gets better mileage than the GT:

			MPG
R8
	RWD	RWD Performance 5.2 DOHC V10	14 city/23 hwy
		GT 5.2 DOHC V10	14 city/21 hwy
	AWD	5.2 DOHC V10	13 city/18 hwy
GT
	RWD	3.5 turbo V6	12 city/18 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the R8’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The GT doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The R8 Coupe’s standard fuel tank has 4.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the GT (19.3 vs. 15.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The R8 Spyder’s standard fuel tank has 5.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the GT (21.1 vs. 15.2 gallons).

Drivetrain

All wheel drive, available in the R8, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The Ford GT is not available with all wheel drive.

Tires and Wheels

The R8’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GT’s standard 35 series front tires.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the R8 uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the GT, which uses torsion bars in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The R8 has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The GT doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For better maneuverability, the R8’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the GT’s (36.7 feet vs. 40 feet).

Chassis

The R8 is 1 foot, 1.1 inches shorter than the GT, making the R8 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The R8 has 7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GT (50 vs. 43).

The R8 has 2.8 inches more front headroom and 6.4 inches more front shoulder room than the GT.

Cargo Capacity

The R8 Coupe has a much larger trunk than the GT (4 vs. .4 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the R8. The GT doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The R8 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The GT uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The R8 has a standard under hood light to help in making nighttime maintenance checks, adding fluids, etc. The GT doesn’t offer an under hood light.

A Service Indicator is standard on the R8 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Ford doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the GT.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 27% lower rating, Ford is ranked 22nd.

Ergonomics

When different drivers share the R8, the memory system makes it convenient. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, suspension setting, power steering assist and climate settings. The GT doesn’t offer a memory system.

If the windows are left open on the R8 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the GT can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The R8’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 GT’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Laser headlights, standard on the R8 Quattro, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the GT’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the R8 detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The GT doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the R8 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The GT doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The R8’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The GT doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

When the R8 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The GT’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The R8’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The GT doesn’t offer the luxury of automatic dimming mirrors.

The R8 has standard heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the GT.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi R8 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The GT doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

The Audi R8 comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the Ford GT isn’t available as a convertible.

Recommendations

The Audi R8 outsold the Ford GT by over three to one during 2022.