Compare the2024 Audi S5VS 2023 Lexus RC

The S5 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The RC doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the S5. But it costs extra on the RC.

The S5 Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard Top View Cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The RC only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the S5 and RC have 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 RC’s Rear Cross-Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the S5 and the RC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.

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 RC has not been fully tested, yet.

The S5’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the RC’s (12 vs. 6 years).

There are over 25 percent more Audi dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the S5’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the S5’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the RC’s camshafts. If the RC’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The S5’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 108 more horsepower (349 vs. 241) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the RC 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The S5’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 89 more horsepower (349 vs. 260) and 133 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 236) than the RC 300 AWD’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The S5’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 38 more horsepower (349 vs. 311) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 280) than the RC 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi S5 is faster than the RC 350 3.5 DOHC V6:

On the EPA test cycle the S5 Coupe gets better mileage than the RC:

Regenerative brakes improve the S5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The RC doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the S5’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The RC doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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

For better stopping power the S5’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the RC:

The S5 stops much shorter than the RC:

For better traction, the S5 has larger standard tires than the RC (255/35R19 vs. 235/40R19). The S5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RC (265/30R20 vs. 235/40R19).

The S5’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RC’s standard 45 series tires. The S5’s optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the RC’s optional 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the S5 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the RC. The S5’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the RC.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the S5’s wheelbase is 1.3 inches longer than on the RC (108.8 inches vs. 107.5 inches).

The S5 Prestige Coupe handles at .94 G’s, while the RC 350 AWD pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The S5 Coupe has .6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom and 5.4 inches more rear legroom than the RC.

The S5 Coupe has a larger trunk than the RC (10.9 vs. 10.4 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the S5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The RC doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the S5’s available trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The RC doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The S5 Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The RC doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The S5’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The RC’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 RC doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Laser headlights, standard on the S5 Prestige, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the RC’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 S5 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RC doesn’t offer cornering lights. The S5 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The S5 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 RC.

The S5 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The RC doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

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 RC.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi S5 Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The RC doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The S5 Prestige’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The RC doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Audi S5 comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Lexus RC isn’t available as a convertible or four door.

The Audi A5/S5/RS 5 outsold the Lexus RC by almost seven to one during 2022.