Compare the2024 Audi RS 5 SportbackVS 2023 Dodge Charger SRT

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi RS 5 Sportback 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 Dodge Charger SRT doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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

Both the RS 5 Sportback and Charger SRT have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The RS 5 Sportback 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 Charger SRT’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.

The Audi RS 5 Sportback has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The RS 5 Sportback has standard Pre Sense Front, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Charger SRT doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

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

The RS 5 Sportback’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 Charger SRT doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The RS 5 Sportback offers an optional Top and Corner View Cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Charger SRT only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

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

Both the RS 5 Sportback and the Charger SRT have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi RS 5 Sportback is safer than the Dodge Charger SRT:

	RS 5 Sportback	Charger SRT
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	26%	26%
Leg Forces (l/r)	431/395 lbs.	582/440 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	25%	33%
Neck Stress	119 lbs.	155 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	324/341 lbs.	267/469 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi RS 5 Sportback is safer than the Dodge Charger SRT:

	RS 5 Sportback	Charger SRT
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Movement	1.1 inches	1.4 inches
Hip Force	308 lbs.	372 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	15 inches
Spine Acceleration	47 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	666 lbs.	692 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The RS 5 Sportback comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Charger SRT’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The RS 5 Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Charger SRT’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the RS 5 Sportback has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engines in the Charger SRT.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Dodge vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 2 places higher in reliability than Dodge.

Engine

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi RS 5 Sportback is faster than the Dodge Charger SRT (702 HP engine):

	RS 5 Sportback	Charger SRT
Zero to 60 MPH	3.5 sec	3.8 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the RS 5 Sportback gets better mileage than the Charger SRT:

		MPG
RS 5 Sportback
	2.9 turbo V6	18 city/25 hwy
Charger SRT
	6.2 supercharged V8	12 city/21 hwy
	Redeye 6.2 supercharged V8	12 city/21 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the RS 5 Sportback’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the RS 5 Sportback’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 Charger SRT doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The RS 5 Sportback has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Charger SRT. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Environmental Friendliness

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

Tires and Wheels

The RS 5 Sportback’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 Charger SRT’s 35 series tires.

The RS 5 Sportback 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 Charger SRT; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The RS 5 Sportback handles at .97 G’s, while the Charger SRT Redeye pulls only .93 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The Audi RS 5 Sportback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 pounds less than the Dodge Charger SRT.

The RS 5 Sportback is 1 foot shorter than the Charger SRT, making the RS 5 Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Audi RS 5 Sportback amounts to more than styling. The RS 5 Sportback has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Charger SRT (.3763) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the RS 5 Sportback get better fuel mileage.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the RS 5 Sportback’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Dodge. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 25% lower rating, Dodge is ranked 21st.

Ergonomics

The RS 5 Sportback offers an optional 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 Charger SRT doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The RS 5 Sportback’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Charger SRT’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The RS 5 Sportback’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Charger SRT’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the RS 5 Sportback 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 also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Charger SRT can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The RS 5 Sportback’s standard Audi Advanced Key allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Enter-N-Go standard on the Charger SRT doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The RS 5 Sportback’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 Charger SRT’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Laser headlights, standard on the RS 5 Sportback, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Charger SRT’s 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 Sportback has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer headlight washers.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the RS 5 Sportback detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the RS 5 Sportback has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the RS 5 Sportback has a standard Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Charger SRT doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

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

The RS 5 Sportback’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 Charger SRT doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the RS 5 Sportback owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the RS 5 Sportback will cost $10605 less than the Charger SRT over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi RS 5 Sportback will be $15730 to $23529 less than for the Dodge Charger SRT.

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