Compare the2023 Subaru OutbackVS 2023 Audi A5 Sportback

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Outback are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The A5 Sportback doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Outback (except Base/Premium) offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The A5 Sportback doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Outback’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A5 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Outback and the A5 Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors 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 Subaru Outback is safer than the Audi A5 Sportback:

	Outback	A5 Sportback
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	158	164
Neck Injury Risk	26%	26%
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/249 lbs.	431/395 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	1 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	161/137 lbs.	324/341 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 Subaru Outback is safer than the Audi A5 Sportback:

	Outback	A5 Sportback
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	28	172
Chest Movement	.5 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	101 lbs.	219 lbs.
Hip Force	247 lbs.	308 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	116	277
Spine Acceleration	51 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	635 lbs.	777 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	146	333
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	47 G’s

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A5 Sportback was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2019 but no longer qualifies.

Warranty

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Outback 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A5 Sportback. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the A5 Sportback ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Outback’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Outback has a standard 620-amp battery. The A5 Sportback’s 420-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 48 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Subaru higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 6 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Audi.

Engine

The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 59 more horsepower (260 vs. 201) and 41 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 236) than the A5 Sportback 40 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The A5 Sportback doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Outback gets better mileage than the A5 Sportback:

			MPG
Outback
	AWD	2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/32 hwy
A5 Sportback
	AWD	40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/33 hwy
		45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/32 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Outback uses regular unleaded gasoline. The A5 Sportback requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Outback has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the A5 Sportback (18.5 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Outback higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Audi A5 Sportback (5). This means the Outback produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A5 Sportback every 15,000 miles.

The EPA certifies the Subaru Outback as a “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Audi A5 Sportback is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

Transmission

The Outback has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The A5 Sportback doesn’t offer a CVT.

Tires and Wheels

The Outback Wilderness/Onyx XT has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the A5 Sportback; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Outback is 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A5 Sportback.

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the A5 Sportback’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

Chassis

The front grille of the Outback 2.5i uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The A5 Sportback doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Outback has 18 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A5 Sportback (109 vs. 91).

The Outback has 2.4 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more front legroom, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 4.4 inches more rear legroom and 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the A5 Sportback.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Outback’s rear seats recline. The A5 Sportback’s rear seats don’t recline.

Towing

The Outback has a 2700 lbs. towing capacity. The A5 Sportback has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Outback Base). The A5 Sportback doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Outback has a standard rear wiper. The A5 Sportback doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Outback has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The A5 Sportback doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Outback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The A5 Sportback doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Outback owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Outback will cost $2775 to $6790 less than the A5 Sportback over a five-year period.

The Outback will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Outback will retain 52.14% to 55.07% of its original price after five years, while the A5 Sportback only retains 44.35% to 44.55%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Outback will be $21054 to $23043 less than for the Audi A5 Sportback.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Outback, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Outback outsold the Audi A5/S5 by over 8 to one during 2022.