Compare the2024 Audi RS 5 SportbackVS 2023 Porsche Panamera

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 Panamera doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 Panamera 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 RS 5 Sportback. But it costs extra on the Panamera.

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

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RS 5 Sportback’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 Panamera doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the RS 5 Sportback and the Panamera have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

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 Sportback’s warranty.

The RS 5 Sportback’s 2.9 turbo V6 produces 119 more horsepower (444 vs. 325) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 331) than the Panamera’s standard 2.9 turbo V6. The RS 5 Sportback’s 2.9 turbo V6 produces 1 more horsepower (444 vs. 443) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 405) than the Panamera 4S’ standard 2.9 turbo V6.

On the EPA test cycle the RS 5 Sportback gets better mileage than the Panamera Sedan running its gasoline engine:

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 Porsche Panamera (3 to 5). This means the RS 5 Sportback produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Panamera every 15,000 miles.

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

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The RS 5 Sportback has a standard brake assist system to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Panamera doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

The RS 5 Sportback’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 Panamera’s standard 45 series front and 40 series rear tires. The RS 5 Sportback’s optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the Panamera’s optional 35 series front 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 Panamera; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The RS 5 Sportback handles at .97 G’s, while the Panamera 4 pulls only .94 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The RS 5 Sportback is 10.5 inches shorter than the Panamera, making the RS 5 Sportback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The RS 5 Sportback has a much larger trunk than the Panamera with its rear seat up (21.8 vs. 17.6 cubic feet).

The RS 5 Sportback 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 Panamera doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Panamera can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

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 Panamera’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 Panamera 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 Sportback has standard extendable sun visors. The Panamera doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The RS 5 Sportback 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 Panamera.

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 Panamera doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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 $1460 to $9180 less than the Panamera over a five-year period.

The RS 5 Sportback will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the RS 5 Sportback will retain 55.03% of its original price after five years, while the Panamera only retains 48.53% to 52.02%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi RS 5 Sportback will be $14115 to $106456 less than for the Porsche Panamera.

The Audi A5/S5/RS 5 outsold the Porsche Panamera by almost six to one during 2023.