Compare the2023 Audi S5 SportbackVS 2023 Volkswagen Golf R

The S5 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 S5 Sportback and Golf R 4dr have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S5 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 S5 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 S5 Sportback’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Golf R doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The S5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard 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 S5 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 S5 Sportback weighs 443 to 520 pounds more than the Volkswagen Golf R. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the S5 Sportback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Golf R is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

The S5 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 S5 Sportback’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 34 more horsepower (349 vs. 315) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 280) than the Golf R Manual’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The S5 Sportback’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 34 more horsepower (349 vs. 315) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 295) than the Golf R DSG’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Regenerative brakes improve the S5 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 S5 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 S5 Sportback, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Golf R.

The S5 Sportback stops shorter than the Golf R:

For better traction, the S5 Sportback has larger standard tires than the Golf R (255/35R19 vs. 235/35R19). The S5 Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Golf R (265/30R20 vs. 235/35R19).

The S5 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 S5 Sportback offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Golf R’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The S5 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 S5 Sportback’s wheelbase is 7.7 inches longer than on the Golf R (111.2 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the S5 Sportback is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than on the Golf R.

For better maneuverability, the S5 Sportback’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Golf R’s (38.4 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

The design of the Audi S5 Sportback amounts to more than styling. The S5 Sportback has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .3 Cd. That is lower than the Golf R (.33) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the S5 Sportback get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the S5 Sportback Prestige is quieter than the Golf R:

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the S5 Sportback a Mid-size car, while the Golf R is rated a Compact.

The S5 Sportback has .1 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Golf R.

The S5 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 S5 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 S5 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 S5 Sportback’s power liftgate 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 S5 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 S5 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 lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Golf R can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The S5 Sportback’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Golf R’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The S5 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 S5 comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Volkswagen Golf R isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

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