Compare the2024 Audi S7VS 2023 BMW M5

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi S7 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 M5 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi S7 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW M5 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the S7 and M5 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S7 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The M5’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the S7 Prestige 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. The M5 doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the S7 and the M5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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.

On the EPA test cycle the S7 gets better mileage than the M5:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi S7 higher (5 out of 10) than the BMW M5 (3). This means the S7 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the M5 every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the S7’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the M5:

The S7’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the M5’s standard 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the S7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the M5. The M5’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The S7 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 M5; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the S7 is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than on the M5.

For better maneuverability, the S7’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the M5’s (40 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the S7’s rear seats recline. The M5’s rear seats don’t recline.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the S7 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The M5 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 S7 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The M5 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 S7 has standard extendable sun visors. The M5 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The S7 Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Park Assist Plus Remote will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The M5’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Insurance will cost less for the S7 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the S7 will cost $1150 to $2500 less than the M5 over a five-year period.

The S7 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the S7 will retain 50.46% to 51.17% of its original price after five years, while the M5 only retains 47.18%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi S7 will be $20390 to $28001 less than for the BMW M5.