Compare the2023 Porsche PanameraVS 2023 Audi RS 6

Both the Panamera and the RS 6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, night vision systems, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

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 Turbo S E-Hybrid’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 99 more horsepower (690 vs. 591) and 51 lbs.-ft. more torque (641 vs. 590) than the RS 6’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the RS 6 (49 city/51 hwy MPGe vs. 14 city/21 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Panamera Sport Turismo running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the RS 6:

The Panamera 4S E-Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 19 miles. The RS 6 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Panamera E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the RS 6 (21.1 vs. 19.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Panamera’s standard fuel tank has 4.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the RS 6 (23.7 vs. 19.3 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 6 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Panamera stops much shorter than the RS 6:

For better traction and acceleration, the Panamera has larger standard rear tires than the RS 6 (295/40R19 vs. 275/35R21). The Panamera Turbo S/Turbo S E-Hybrid’s rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the RS 6 (325/30R21 vs. 285/30R22).

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 6 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 6.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Panamera’s wheelbase is .8 inches longer than on the RS 6 (116.1 inches vs. 115.3 inches). The Panamera Executive’s wheelbase is 6.7 inches longer than on the RS 6 (122 inches vs. 115.3 inches).

The Panamera’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the RS 6’s (55% to 45%). This gives the Panamera more stable handling and braking.

The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo handles at .99 G’s, while the RS 6 Avant pulls only .94 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Panamera 4S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the RS 6 Avant (23.5 seconds @ .87 average G’s vs. 24.2 seconds @ .81 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Panamera w/Rear Axle Steering’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the RS 6’s (37.4 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Porsche Panamera may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 700 pounds less than the Audi RS 6.

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 6 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 6 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Panamera Sport Turismo has 7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RS 6 (108 vs. 101).

The Panamera has .6 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more front shoulder room than the RS 6.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Panamera’s available rear seats recline. The RS 6’s rear seats don’t recline.

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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Panamera offers an optional rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the RS 6 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Panamera has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RS 6 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 6 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

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 6 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

Both the Panamera and the RS 6 offer optional 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 6.

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 6 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Porsche Panamera comes in four door hatchback and station wagon bodystyles; the Audi RS 6 isn’t available as a four door.

The Panamera is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The RS 6 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its April 2021 issue and they ranked the Porsche Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo first. They ranked the Audi RS 6 Avant third.