Compare the2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLIVS 2024 Audi A5 Sportback

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Jetta GLI has standard Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The A5 Sportback doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Jetta GLI has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 A5 Sportback’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Jetta GLI has standard Rear Traffic Alert and automatically engage the brakes. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the A5 Sportback.

Both the Jetta GLI and the A5 Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 and rearview cameras.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen Jetta GLI is safer than the Audi A5 Sportback:

	Jetta GLI	A5 Sportback
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	46/106 lbs.	431/395 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.7 inches	1 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	308/63 lbs.	324/341 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen Jetta GLI is safer than the Audi A5 Sportback:

	Jetta GLI	A5 Sportback
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	101	172
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	188 lbs.	219 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	56 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	554 lbs.	777 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	239	333
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	627 lbs.	666 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Jetta GLI for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the A5 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 Jetta GLI’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Jetta GLI has a standard 540-amp battery. The A5 Sportback’s 420-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 1 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 8 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

Engine

The Jetta GLI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 27 more horsepower (228 vs. 201) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 236) than the A5 Sportback 40 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Jetta GLI gets better mileage than the A5 Sportback:

			MPG
Jetta GLI
FWD	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/35 hwy
A5 Sportback
AWD	Auto	45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/32 hwy

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Jetta GLI higher (7 out of 10) than the Audi A5 Sportback (5). This means the Jetta GLI produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A5 Sportback every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Jetta GLI’s brake rotors are larger than those on the A5 Sportback:

	Jetta GLI	A5 Sportback 40 TFSI	A5 Sportback 45 TFSI
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12.3 inches	13.3 inches

The Jetta GLI stops shorter than the A5 Sportback:

	Jetta GLI	A5 Sportback
70 to 0 MPH	160 feet	164 feet	Car and Driver

Suspension and Handling

The Jetta GLI handles at .95 G’s, while the A5 Sportback Prestige pulls only .93 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Jetta GLI’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the A5 Sportback’s (35.8 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

Chassis

The Volkswagen Jetta GLI may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 500 pounds less than the Audi A5 Sportback.

Passenger Space

The Jetta GLI has 3.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A5 Sportback (94.7 vs. 91).

The Jetta GLI has .8 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom and 2.3 inches more rear legroom than the A5 Sportback.

Ergonomics

The Jetta GLI’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Engine Start/Stop standard on the A5 Sportback only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Jetta GLI has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The A5 Sportback doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the A5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Jetta GLI owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Jetta GLI will cost $1185 to $5810 less than the A5 Sportback over a five-year period.

The Jetta GLI will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Jetta GLI will retain 51.86% to 52.14% of its original price after five years, while the A5 Sportback only retains 47.83% to 49.06%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Volkswagen Jetta GLI will be $16096 to $28355 less than for the Audi A5 Sportback.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Jetta outsold the Audi A5/S5 by almost two to one during 2023.

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