Compare the2023 Audi S5VS 2022 Infiniti Q60

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi S5 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Infiniti Q60 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Audi S5 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 Q60 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The S5’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Q60 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The S5 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 Q60 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 S5. But it costs extra on the Q60.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the S5’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Q60 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Compared to metal, the S5’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Infiniti Q60 has a metal gas tank.

Both the S5 and the Q60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, collision warning systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the S5 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 109 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Q60 has not been tested, yet.

The S5’s corrosion warranty is 5 years longer than the Q60’s (12 vs. 7 years).

There are over 50 percent more Audi dealers than there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the S5’s warranty.

The S5’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 49 more horsepower (349 vs. 300) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 295) than the Q60’s standard 3.0 turbo V6. The S5’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 350) than the Q60 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi S5 is faster than the Q60 Red Sport 400:

On the EPA test cycle the S5 Coupe gets better mileage than the Q60:

Regenerative brakes improve the S5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Q60 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the S5’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 Q60 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi S5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The Q60 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi S5 higher (5 out of 10) than the Infiniti Q60 (3). This means the S5 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q60 every 15,000 miles.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Audi S5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Q60.

For better stopping power the S5’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Q60:

The S5 stops much shorter than the Q60:

For better traction, the S5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q60 (265/30R20 vs. 255/35R20).

The S5’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 Q60’s standard 40 series tires. The S5’s optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the Q60 Red Sport 400’s 35 series front tires.

The S5 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 Q60; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the Q60 don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The S5 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Q60’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the S5 is 1.3 inches wider in the front than the average track on the Q60.

The S5 Prestige Coupe handles at .94 G’s, while the Q60 Red Sport 400 AWD pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The S5 Coupe has .7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more rear legroom than the Q60.

The S5 Coupe has a much larger trunk than the Q60 (10.9 vs. 8.7 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the S5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q60 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The S5’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Q60’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the S5’s available trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Q60 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Infiniti. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 3% lower rating, Infiniti is ranked 9th.

The S5 Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Q60 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The S5’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Q60’s parking brake has to be released manually.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the S5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Q60 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 S5 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Q60 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the S5 Premium Plus/Prestige keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q60 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The S5 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Q60 doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The S5 has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Q60.

Both the S5 and the Q60 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the S5 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Q60 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi S5 Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Q60 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The S5 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 Q60 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Audi S5 comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Infiniti Q60 isn’t available as a convertible or four door.

The S5 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the S5 will retain 47.95% to 48.34% of its original price after five years, while the Q60 only retains 43.6% to 44.67%.

The Audi A5/S5/RS 5 outsold the Infiniti Q60 by almost 8 to one during the 2022 model year.