Compare the2023 Porsche PanameraVS 2023 Audi RS 5 Sportback

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Panamera helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard and even aims one of the vehicle’s headlights in the direction of the person or object. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Panamera and the RS 5 Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Panamera has a standard 850-amp battery. The RS 5 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 Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 39 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Porsche 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 Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

The Panamera 4 E-Hybrid’s standard 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid produces 11 more horsepower (455 vs. 444) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 442) than the RS 5 Sportback’s 2.9 turbo V6. The Panamera GTS’ standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 29 more horsepower (473 vs. 444) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (457 vs. 442) than the RS 5 Sportback’s 2.9 turbo V6. The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 246 more horsepower (690 vs. 444) and 199 lbs.-ft. more torque (641 vs. 442) than the RS 5 Sportback’s 2.9 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Panamera GTS 4.0 turbo V8 is faster than the Audi RS 5 Sportback:

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera Sedan running on electricity gets better mileage than the RS 5 Sportback:

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera Sedan running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the RS 5 Sportback:

The Panamera can travel with zero emissions for 17 to 19 miles (dependent on model). The RS 5 Sportback can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Panamera Turbo/GTS’ fuel efficiency. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Panamera E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the RS 5 Sportback (21.1 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Panamera’s standard fuel tank has 8.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the RS 5 Sportback (23.7 vs. 15.3 gallons).

The Panamera offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Panamera’s optional launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Panamera Turbo S’ brake rotors are larger than those on the RS 5 Sportback:

The Panamera stops shorter than the RS 5 Sportback:

For better traction and acceleration, the Panamera has larger standard rear tires than the RS 5 Sportback (295/40R19 vs. 265/35R19). The Panamera Turbo S/Turbo S E-Hybrid’s rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the RS 5 Sportback (325/30R21 vs. 275/30R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Panamera offers optional 21-inch wheels. The RS 5 Sportback’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Panamera offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Panamera offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the RS 5 Sportback.

The Panamera has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Panamera’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the RS 5 Sportback (116.1 inches vs. 111.3 inches). The Panamera Executive’s wheelbase is 10.7 inches longer than on the RS 5 Sportback (122 inches vs. 111.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Panamera is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the RS 5 Sportback.

The Panamera GTS handles at 1.02 G’s, while the RS 5 Sportback pulls only .97 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Panamera w/Rear Axle Steering’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the RS 5 Sportback’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The front grille of the Panamera uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Panamera offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

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

The Panamera has 5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RS 5 Sportback (96 vs. 91).

The Panamera has .2 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom and .5 inches more rear legroom than the RS 5 Sportback.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Panamera’s available rear seats recline. The RS 5 Sportback’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Panamera has a larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the RS 5 Sportback with its rear seat folded (47.3 vs. 35 cubic feet).

The Panamera Sport Turismo has a larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the RS 5 Sportback with its rear seat folded (49 vs. 35 cubic feet).

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the Panamera’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 14% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the RS 5 Sportback, the Panamera offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Panamera’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Panamera’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The RS 5 Sportback does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Panamera’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. Audi does not offer a locking feature on the RS 5 Sportback’s standard power windows.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Panamera offers an optional rear wiper. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Panamera has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Panamera also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the Panamera (except Sport Turismo) and power rear side window sunshades are optional in the Panamera to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Panamera’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

Both the Panamera and the RS 5 Sportback offer available massaging front seats. The Panamera also offers optional massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the RS 5 Sportback.

The Panamera Sport Turismo offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Porsche Panamera comes in four door hatchback and station wagon bodystyles; the Audi RS 5 Sportback isn’t available as a station wagon.

The Panamera is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.