Compare the2025 Audi S5 SportbackVS 2025 Volvo S60

The Audi S5 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 S60 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the S5 Sportback. But it costs extra on the S60.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the S5 Sportback’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The S60 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the S5 Sportback and the S60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 6 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The S5 Sportback’s 3.0 turbo V6 produces 102 more horsepower (349 vs. 247) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the S60 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi S5 Sportback is faster than the S60 B5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

Both the S5 Sportback and the S60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All S5 Sportback’s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The S60 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi S5 Sportback uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The S60 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

For better stopping power the S5 Sportback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the S60:

The S5 Sportback stops shorter than the S60:

For better traction, the S5 Sportback has larger standard tires than the S60 (255/35R19 vs. 235/45R18). The S5 Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S60 (265/30R20 vs. 235/45R18).

The S5 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 S60’s standard 45 series tires. The S5 Sportback’s optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the S60’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the S5 Sportback has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the S60. The S5 Sportback’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the S60.

The front and rear suspension of the S5 Sportback uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the S60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The S5 Sportback offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The S60’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The S5 Sportback Prestige handles at .95 G’s, while the S60 Core pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The S5 Sportback Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the S60 Plus AWD (25 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 25.8 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the S5 Sportback Prestige is quieter than the S60 Core (40 vs. 42 dB).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the S5 Sportback a Mid-size car, while the S60 is rated a Compact.

The engine in the S5 Sportback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the S60. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the S5 Sportback to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the S60.

Laser headlights, standard on the S5 Sportback Prestige, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the S60’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the S5 Sportback has standard extendable sun visors. The S60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The S5 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 S60.

The S5 Sportback has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the S60.

The Audi S5 Sportback has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Volvo charges extra for Homelink® on the S60.

The Audi S5 comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Volvo S60 isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

The S5 Sportback will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the S5 Sportback will retain 54.47% to 55.05% of its original price after five years, while the S60 only retains 40.81% to 45.27%.

The Audi A5/S5/RS 5 outsold the Volvo 60 Series by almost two to one during 2023.