Compare the2026 Volkswagen Jetta GLI VS 2026 Audi A5

Both the Jetta GLI and the A5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 44 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

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

			MPG
Jetta GLI
	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/35 hwy
A5
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	22 city/32 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The A5 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Jetta GLI higher (6 out of 10) than the Audi A5 (4). This means the Jetta GLI produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A5 every 15,000 miles.

The Jetta GLI has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the A5; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Jetta GLI has a standard 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 A5’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better maneuverability, the Jetta GLI’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the A5’s (35.8 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The Volkswagen Jetta GLI may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 850 pounds less than the Audi A5.

The Jetta GLI is 3.2 inches shorter than the A5, making the Jetta GLI easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The A5’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Jetta GLI’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The Volkswagen Jetta outsold the Audi A5/S5/RS 5 by over three to one during 2025.