Compare the2024 Audi S5VS 2024 Dodge Charger

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi S5 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 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The S5’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Charger doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Audi S5 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 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The S5 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 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.

Both the S5 and Charger have rear cross-traffic warning, but the S5 Premium Plus/Prestige has Automatic Brake Activation (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Charger’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the S5 and the Charger have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

The S5 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Charger’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The S5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Charger’s (12 vs. 5 years).

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.

For better traction, the S5 has larger standard tires than the Charger (255/35R19 vs. 245/55R18).

The S5’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 Charger’s standard 55 series tires. The S5’s optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the Charger Daytona Scat Pack Coupe’s 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the S5 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Charger.

For better maneuverability, the S5’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Charger Coupe’s (37.7 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Audi S5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1650 to 2000 pounds less than the Dodge Charger.

The S5 is 1 foot, 9.6 inches shorter than the Charger Daytona Scat Pack Coupe, making the S5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The S5 is 7.1 inches narrower than the Charger, making the S5 easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

With its coupe body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the S5 offers cargo security. The Charger’s hatchback body style and non-lockable folding seat defeat cargo security.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the S5’s available trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Charger doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

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.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the S5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Charger doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Laser headlights, standard on the S5 Prestige, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the Charger’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 S5 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Charger doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the S5 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Charger doesn’t offer cornering lights. The S5 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The S5 has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Charger.

The S5 Prestige’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Charger doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Audi S5 comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Dodge Charger isn’t available as a convertible or four door.