Compare the2024 Audi RS 5VS 2024 Porsche 718 Cayman

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission and Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The RS 5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The RS 5’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The RS 5 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 718 Cayman 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.

The RS 5 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The RS 5’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The RS 5 offers an optional Top and Corner View Cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 718 Cayman 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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RS 5’s optional Rear Cross-Traffic Assist uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and Automatic Brake Activation automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the RS 5 and the 718 Cayman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.

The Audi RS 5 weighs 756 to 950 pounds more than the Porsche 718 Cayman. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

There are over 54 percent more Audi dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the RS 5’s warranty.

Reliability

The 718 Cayman’s redline is at 7500 to 9000 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The RS 5 has a 6500 RPM redline.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the RS 5 has a standard 150-amp alternator. The 718 Cayman’s 120-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the RS 5 has a standard 420-amp battery. The 718 Cayman’s 340-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The RS 5’s 2.9 turbo V6 produces 144 more horsepower (444 vs. 300) and 162 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 280) than the 718 Cayman’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The RS 5’s 2.9 turbo V6 produces 94 more horsepower (444 vs. 350) and 133 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 309) than the 718 Cayman S’ standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The RS 5’s 2.9 turbo V6 produces 50 more horsepower (444 vs. 394) and 133 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 309) than the 718 Cayman GTS 4.0’s standard 4.0 GT3 6-cylinder. The RS 5’s 2.9 turbo V6 produces 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 331) than the 718 Cayman GT4 RS’ standard 4.0 DOHC 6-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi RS 5 is faster than the Porsche 718 Cayman (automatics tested):

	RS 5	718 Cayman 2.0	718 Cayman S
Zero to 60 MPH	3.5 sec	4.1 sec	3.6 sec
Quarter Mile	12 sec	12.5 sec	12 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	114.3 MPH	111.2 MPH	114.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the RS 5 gets better mileage than the 718 Cayman:

			MPG
RS 5
	Auto	2.9 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
718 Cayman
	Manual	GTS 4.0 DOHC flat-6	17 city/24 hwy
	Auto	GT4 RS 4.0 DOHC flat-6	15 city/19 hwy

The RS 5 has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the 718 Cayman’s standard fuel tank (15.3 vs. 14.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi RS 5 higher (5 out of 10) than the Porsche 718 Cayman (1 to 5). This means the RS 5 produces up to 39 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 718 Cayman every 15,000 miles.

Transmission and Drivetrain

The Audi RS 5 comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the 718 Cayman.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Audi RS 5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the 718 Cayman.

All wheel drive, available in the RS 5, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The Porsche 718 Cayman is not available with all wheel drive.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the RS 5’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the 718 Cayman:

	RS 5	718 Cayman
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	11.8 inches

The RS 5 stops shorter than the 718 Cayman:

	RS 5	718 Cayman
60 to 0 MPH	101 feet	106 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the RS 5 has larger standard tires than the 718 Cayman (265/35R19 vs. 235/45R18). The RS 5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 718 Cayman (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 718 Cayman’s standard 45 series tires. The RS 5’s optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the 718 Cayman GT4 RS’ 35 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RS 5 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the 718 Cayman.

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 718 Cayman; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RS 5’s wheelbase is 11.5 inches longer than on the 718 Cayman (108.9 inches vs. 97.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RS 5 is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 718 Cayman.

The RS 5 handles at 1.05 G’s, while the 718 Cayman S pulls only 1.01 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Passenger Space

The RS 5 has standard seating for 4 passengers; the 718 Cayman can only carry 2.

The RS 5 has 36 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 718 Cayman (84 vs. 48).

Cargo Capacity

With its coupe body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the RS 5 offers cargo security. The 718 Cayman’s hatchback body style and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the RS 5 has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a power trunk.

Ergonomics

The RS 5 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 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The RS 5 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the RS 5 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the 718 Cayman can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The RS 5 has a standard Audi Advanced Key that allows you to unlock the doors from either outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Porsche Entry and Drive costs extra on the 718 Cayman.

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 718 Cayman 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 less power than the 718 Cayman’s standard xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights and can project light s up to six times as far. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; Laser headlights light instantly. Laser lights also last about 10 to 25 times as long. 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 718 Cayman’s optional LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

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 718 Cayman doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The RS 5 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 718 Cayman.

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 718 Cayman.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi RS 5 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The RS 5’s optional Park Steering Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The Audi A5/S5/RS 5 outsold the Porsche 718 by over five to one during 2023.