Compare the2024 Audi S5VS 2024 BMW M8

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi S5 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW M8 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the S5’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The M8 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the S5 and M8 offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the S5 Premium Plus/Prestige has Automatic Brake Activation (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The M8’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the S5 and the M8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 around view monitors.

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 vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the S5 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The M8 has not been tested, yet.

On the EPA test cycle the S5 Coupe gets better fuel mileage than the M8 Competition (21 city/29 hwy vs. 15 city/22 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the S5 Cabriolet gets better fuel mileage than the M8 Competition (20 city/27 hwy vs. 15 city/22 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi S5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The M8 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi S5 higher (5 out of 10) than the BMW M8 (3). This means the S5 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the M8 every 15,000 miles.

The S5’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 M8’s 35 series tires.

The S5 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the M8; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better maneuverability, the S5’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the M8 Competition Coupe’s (37.7 feet vs. 39 feet). The S5’s turning circle is 4.7 feet tighter than the M8 Gran Coupe’s (37.7 feet vs. 42.4 feet).

The Audi S5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 450 pounds less than the BMW M8.

The S5 is 6.9 inches shorter than the M8 Coupe/Convertible, making the S5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The S5 is 1 foot, 4 inches shorter than the M8 Gran Coupe.

The S5 Coupe has 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the M8 Coupe (84 vs. 81).

The S5 Coupe has 2.5 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear legroom and 3.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the M8 Coupe.

The S5 Convertible has 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 3.6 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the M8 Convertible.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the S5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The M8 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The S5 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The M8 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the S5 has standard extendable sun visors. The M8 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The S5 has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the M8.

Insurance will cost less for the S5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the S5 will cost $5130 to $6605 less than the M8 over a five-year period.

The S5 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the S5 will retain 52.03% to 53.7% of its original price after five years, while the M8 only retains 42.81% to 46.57%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi S5 will be $66431 to $78573 less than for the BMW M8.

The Audi A5/S5/RS 5 outsold the BMW 8 Series by almost three to one during 2022.