Compare the2023 Volkswagen Golf RVS 2023 Audi RS 5 Sportback

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Golf R has standard Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Golf R has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the RS 5 Sportback’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Golf R has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the RS 5 Sportback.

The Golf R’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 RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Golf R and the RS 5 Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 and rearview cameras.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Golf R its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 101 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RS 5 Sportback has not been tested, yet.

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Golf R for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the RS 5 Sportback.

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Golf R’s warranty.

The Volkswagen Golf R’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the RS 5 Sportback’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 15 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

On the EPA test cycle the Golf R gets better mileage than the RS 5 Sportback:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Golf R uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The RS 5 Sportback requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Golf R offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Golf R offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer an SMG.

The Golf R Automatic’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer launch control.

The Golf R stops shorter than the RS 5 Sportback:

The Golf R handles at .99 G’s, while the RS 5 Sportback pulls only .97 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Volkswagen Golf R may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 700 pounds less than the Audi RS 5 Sportback.

The Golf R is 1 foot, 7.4 inches shorter than the RS 5 Sportback, making the Golf R easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Golf R has .7 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room and 1.1 inches more rear headroom than the RS 5 Sportback.

The Golf R’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Golf R’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 RS 5 Sportback does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Golf R’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. Audi does not offer a locking feature on the RS 5 Sportback’s standard power windows.

The Golf R’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 RS 5 Sportback’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 Golf R has a standard rear wiper. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Golf R has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Golf R 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 RS 5 Sportback.

The Golf R was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 15 of the last 16 years. The RS 5 Sportback has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

Motor Trend selected the Golf R as their 2015 Car of the Year. The RS 5 Sportback has never been chosen.

The Golf R was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” for 5 of the last 15 years. The RS 5 Sportback has never been an “All Star.”