Audi S5 vs BMW 5 Series

The Audi S5 starts from $99,900 before on-road costs, while the BMW 5 Series opens at $114,900. That makes the Audi S5 the more affordable entry point by $15,000.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $109,890 and $126,390 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

Both the Audi S5 and BMW 5 Series hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 87% for the Audi S5 and 89% for the BMW 5 Series.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 8 of 10 key ADAS systems on the Audi S5, against 6 on the BMW 5 Series.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Audi S5 and 6 in the BMW 5 Series.

The Audi S5 features a 14.5-inch touchscreen paired with a 11.9-inch digital dash, while the BMW 5 Series gets a 14.9-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Audi S5 stands out with ventilated seats, Bang & Olufsen audio and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the BMW 5 Series. The BMW 5 Series counters with wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats and Harman Kardon audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Audi S5 gets leather upholstery while the BMW 5 Series offers sensatec synthetic leather. Climate control is 3-zone in the Audi S5 and 2-zone in the BMW 5 Series.

The Audi S5 uses a Petrol MHEV producing 270kW and 550Nm of torque, sent through a s tronic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds.

The BMW 5 Series responds with a Petrol making 140kW and 310Nm, paired to a auto driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds.

The Audi S5 has the clear power advantage at 270kW vs 140kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Audi S5 is 1.1s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Audi S5 measures 4,829mm long on a 2,892mm wheelbase, 231mm shorter than the BMW 5 Series at 5,060mm (2,995mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW 5 Series generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 445L in the Audi S5 and 520L in the BMW 5 Series, giving the BMW 5 Series a 75L advantage.

For towing, the BMW 5 Series leads with a 2,000kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 200kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,024/year for the Audi S5 and $1,938/year for the BMW 5 Series. That is a $86 annual difference in favour of the BMW 5 Series.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Audi S5) vs 5 years / 999,999km (BMW 5 Series). Both match on warranty length.