Compare the2025 Audi RS 6VS 2024 Porsche Panamera

The RS 6’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.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the RS 6 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Panamera doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The RS 6 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The RS 6 has a standard Maneuver Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Panamera doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the RS 6. But it costs extra on the Panamera.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The RS 6 has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Panamera doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

The RS 6’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Panamera doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the RS 6 and the Panamera have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available night vision systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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 6’s warranty.

The RS 6’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 273 more horsepower (621 vs. 348) and 258 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 369) than the Panamera’s standard 2.9 turbo V6. The RS 6’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 158 more horsepower (621 vs. 463) and 148 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 479) than the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid’s standard 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid. The RS 6’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 85 more horsepower (621 vs. 536) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 553) than the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid’s standard 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid.

For better stopping power the RS 6’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Panamera:

For better traction, the RS 6 has larger standard tires than the Panamera (275/35R21 vs. 265/45R19). The RS 6’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Panamera (285/30R22 vs. 275/35R21).

The RS 6’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 6’s optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the Panamera’s optional 35 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RS 6 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Panamera. The RS 6’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the Panamera.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the RS 6’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Panamera doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The RS 6 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 6 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 Panamera can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The RS 6’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Panamera’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the RS 6 has a standard rear wiper. The Panamera doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Laser headlights, standard on the RS 6, 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 6 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 6 has standard extendable sun visors. The Panamera doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Audi A6/S6/RS 6 outsold the Porsche Panamera by almost two to one during 2023.