Compare the2024 BMW M8VS 2023 Audi RS 5 Sportback

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M8 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The M8’s 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 RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the M8 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, 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, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M8 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the RS 5 Sportback.

There are over 15 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the M8’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 29 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW 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 BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 6th.

The M8’s 4.4 turbo V8 produces 173 more horsepower (617 vs. 444) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 442) than the RS 5 Sportback’s 2.9 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the BMW M8 is faster than the Audi RS 5 Sportback:

The M8 has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the RS 5 Sportback (20.1 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The M8’s 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 M8’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RS 5 Sportback:

The M8 stops shorter than the RS 5 Sportback:

For better traction, the M8 has larger tires than the RS 5 Sportback (F:275/35R20 & R:285/35R20 vs. 265/35R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M8 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the RS 5 Sportback.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the M8 is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the RS 5 Sportback.

The M8 Gran Coupe 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.

The M8 Gran Coupe has 9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RS 5 Sportback (100 vs. 91).

The M8 Gran Coupe has 2.8 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 1.5 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the RS 5 Sportback.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the M8’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its coupe, convertible or sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release in the glovebox, the M8 offers cargo security. The RS 5 Sportback’s hatchback body style defeats cargo security.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 1% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The M8 has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The M8’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The M8’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.

The M8’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The RS 5 Sportback’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Laser headlights, standard on the M8, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the RS 5 Sportback’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the M8 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer cornering lights. The M8 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are standard in the M8 Gran Coupe to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The M8 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the RS 5 Sportback.

The M8’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The RS 5 Sportback’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The BMW M8 comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Audi RS 5 Sportback isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.