Compare the2024 Audi S6VS 2023 BMW M5

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi S6 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 S6 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 S6 and M5 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S6 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.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The S6 has Car-to-X Services, a system that seemlesly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The M5 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the S6 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 S6 and M5 offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the S6 with Rear Cross-Traffic Assist also has Automatic Brake Activation (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The M5’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the S6 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 and around view monitors.

On the EPA test cycle the S6 gets better mileage than the M5:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi S6 higher (5 out of 10) than the BMW M5 (3). This means the S6 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the M5 every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the S6’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the M5:

The S6’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 S6 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the M5. The M5’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The S6 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 maneuverability, the S6’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the M5’s (39.7 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

The design of the Audi S6 amounts to more than styling. The S6 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .3 Cd. That is lower than the M5 (.31 to .32) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the S6 get better fuel mileage.

The S6 has .9 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the M5.

The S6’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The M5 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The S6’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. Comfort Access standard on the M5 doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the S6 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 S6 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 S6 has standard extendable sun visors. The M5 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The S6 Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus 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 S6 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the S6 will cost $3285 to $3960 less than the M5 over a five-year period.

The S6 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the S6 will retain 49.03% to 49.7% 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 S6 will be $26809 to $34376 less than for the BMW M5.