Compare the2024 Audi RS 5VS 2024 BMW 8 Series

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi RS 5 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 8 Series doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the RS 5. But it costs extra on the 8 Series.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the RS 5’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The 8 Series doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the RS 5 and 8 Series offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the RS 5 with Rear Cross-Traffic Assist also has Automatic Brake Activation (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The 8 Series’ Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the RS 5 and the 8 Series 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, 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.

The RS 5’s 2.9 turbo V6 produces 109 more horsepower (444 vs. 335) and 73 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 369) than the 840i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi RS 5 is faster than the M850i 4.4 turbo V8:

On the EPA test cycle the RS 5 gets better fuel mileage than the M850i Coupe (18 city/25 hwy vs. 17 city/24 hwy).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi RS 5 higher (5 out of 10) than the BMW 8 Series (3). This means the RS 5 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 8 Series every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the RS 5’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the 8 Series:

The RS 5 stops much shorter than the 8 Series:

For better traction, the RS 5 has larger standard tires than the 8 Series (265/35R19 vs. 245/35R20). The RS 5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 8 Series (275/30R20 vs. 245/35R20).

The RS 5’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 8 Series’ standard 40 series front tires. The RS 5’s optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the 8 Series’ optional 35 series front tires.

The RS 5 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 8 Series; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the 8 Series don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The RS 5 handles at 1.05 G’s, while the M850i xDrive Coupe pulls only .98 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The RS 5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the M850i xDrive Coupe (23.8 seconds @ .82 average G’s vs. 24.2 seconds @ .85 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the RS 5’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the 8 Series’ (38.1 feet vs. 38.2 feet). The RS 5’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the 8 Series xDrive’s (38.1 feet vs. 39 feet).

The RS 5 is 5.2 inches shorter than the 8 Series, making the RS 5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The RS 5 has 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 8 Series (84 vs. 81).

The RS 5 has 2.5 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear legroom and 3.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the 8 Series Coupe.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the RS 5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The 8 Series doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Laser headlights, standard on the RS 5, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the 8 Series’ LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RS 5 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The 8 Series 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 RS 5 has standard extendable sun visors. The 8 Series doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The RS 5 has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the 8 Series.

The RS 5 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the RS 5 will retain 54.74% of its original price after five years, while the 8 Series only retains 42.63% to 42.96%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi RS 5 will be $11571 to $38284 less than for the BMW 8 Series.

The Audi A5/S5/RS 5 outsold the BMW 8 Series by over four to one during 2023.