Compare the2023 Audi RS 5 SportbackVS 2023 Volkswagen Golf R

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 Golf R doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the RS 5 Sportback and Golf R 4dr have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The RS 5 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 Golf R’s 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 Audi RS 5 Sportback has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Golf R doesn’t offer knee airbags.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the RS 5 Sportback’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Golf R doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The RS 5 Sportback offers an optional Top and Corner View Cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Golf R only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the RS 5 Sportback and the Golf R have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

The Audi RS 5 Sportback weighs 598 to 675 pounds more than the Volkswagen Golf R. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The RS 5 Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 5 years and unlimited miles longer than the Golf R’s (12/unlimited vs. 7/100,000).

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 10 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The RS 5 Sportback’s 2.9 turbo V6 produces 129 more horsepower (444 vs. 315) and 162 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 280) than the Golf R Manual’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The RS 5 Sportback’s 2.9 turbo V6 produces 129 more horsepower (444 vs. 315) and 147 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 295) than the Golf R DSG’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi RS 5 Sportback is faster than the Golf R DSG (automatics tested):

Regenerative brakes improve the RS 5 Sportback’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Golf R doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Audi RS 5 Sportback comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Golf R.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Audi RS 5 Sportback, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Golf R.

To facilitate fast shifting and allow the driver to focus on the road, the RS 5 Sportback has a standard up-shift light to indicate when the engine is approaching redline. The Golf R doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

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

The RS 5 Sportback offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Golf R doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

For better traction, the RS 5 Sportback has larger standard tires than the Golf R (265/35R19 vs. 235/35R19). The RS 5 Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Golf R (275/30R20 vs. 235/35R19).

The RS 5 Sportback’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Golf R’s 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RS 5 Sportback offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Golf R’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The RS 5 Sportback has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Golf R’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RS 5 Sportback’s wheelbase is 7.8 inches longer than on the Golf R (111.3 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RS 5 Sportback is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Golf R.

For better maneuverability, the RS 5 Sportback’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Golf R’s (38.4 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the RS 5 Sportback a Mid-size car, while the Golf R is rated a Compact.

The RS 5 Sportback has .1 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Golf R.

The RS 5 Sportback has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Golf R with its rear seat up (21.8 vs. 19.9 cubic feet). The RS 5 Sportback has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the Golf R with its rear seat folded (35 vs. 34.5 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the RS 5 Sportback. The Golf R doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the RS 5 Sportback’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Golf R doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The engine in the RS 5 Sportback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Golf R. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 32% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

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 Golf R can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Golf R doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The RS 5 Sportback has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Golf R.

The Audi A5/S5/RS 5 outsold the Volkswagen Golf/GTI by almost two to one during the 2022 model year.