Audi A6 vs. Audi S5 Sportback
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Audi A6 and Audi S5 Sportback contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Audi A6 and the Audi S5 Sportback.
When we compare the Audi A6's and the Audi S5 Sportback's specifications and ratings, the Audi A6 has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing, typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency and interior volume. The Audi S5 Sportback has the advantage in the areas of resale value and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Audi A6's and the Audi S5 Sportback's specifications and ratings, the Audi A6 is a better car than the Audi S5 Sportback.
Pricing: A used 2025 Audi A6 ranges from $47,998 to $71,140 while a used 2025 Audi S5 Sportback is priced between $57,398 to $69,067. For a new model, the Audi A6's price is between $59,135 and $78,929, with the Audi S5 Sportback priced between $59,665 and $73,230.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Audi A6 loses 60.9 percent of its value and the Audi S5 Sportback loses 52 percent of its value. This means the Audi S5 Sportback retains 9 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Audi A6.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Audi A6’s base engine makes 261 horsepower, and the Audi S5 Sportback base engine makes 349 horsepower. The A6 is rated to deliver an average of 26 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 598 miles. The S5 Sportback is rated to deliver an average of 23 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 444 miles. This gives the Audi A6 the fuel efficiency and maximum range advantage over the Audi S5 Sportback. Both models use premium unleaded.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Audi A6, a midsize car, has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, front leg room, rear head room, rear shoulder room and rear leg room. The Audi S5 Sportback, a compact car, has the advantage in the area of cargo space.
Safety Ratings: The Audi A6 has an average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
59135 - 78929
Starting MSRP:
58100
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
79467
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
42140 - 200195
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
59665 - 73230
Starting MSRP:
57900
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
49451
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
33000 - 79900
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
58757
Price Range:
47998 - 71140
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
80683
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
43661 - 144992
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
61982
Price Range:
57398 - 69067
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
51959
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
34107 - 95081
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
35532
Depreciation %:
0.61156182
Resale Value $:
22568
Residual Value %:
0.38843817999999997
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
0.49394848
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
0.39819597 - 0.61156182
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
30300
Depreciation %:
0.52331447
Resale Value $:
27600
Residual Value %:
0.47668553
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
0.51356376
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
0.34749831 - 0.55942423
Audi A6 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
7.5 / 10
Reliability:
7.5 / 10
Retained Value:
7.1 / 10
Safety:
8.0 / 10
Audi S5 Sportback Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
7.7 / 10
Safety:
Not available
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Audi A6
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
10.7
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
13.2
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
9.4 - 22.1
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.045
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Audi S5 Sportback
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
11.0
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
9.5 - 20.1
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
1.9696536471404869
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
3.0
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
1.5 - 35.8
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.084654294855197
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
2.2
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
1.5 - 10.4
Audi A6 Rankings
Ranking
2 out of / 20Ranking
4 out of / 20Ranking
4 out of / 20Ranking
4 out of / 16Ranking
6 out of / 20Ranking
6 out of / 20Ranking
6 out of / 20Ranking
9 out of / 20Ranking
9 out of / 16Ranking
10 out of / 20Ranking
14 out of / 20Ranking
20 out of / 20Audi S5 Sportback Rankings
Ranking
5 out of / 35Ranking
15 out of / 35Ranking
17 out of / 35Ranking
22 out of / 35Ranking
24 out of / 30Ranking
25 out of / 35Ranking
27 out of / 35Ranking
28 out of / 35Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Audi A6 Trim Levels
quattro Premium 45 TFSI, quattro Premium 55 TFSI, quattro Premium Plus 45 TFSI, quattro Premium Plus 55 TFSI, quattro Prestige 55 TFSI
Audi S5 Sportback Trim Levels
3.0T quattro Premium, 3.0T quattro Premium Plus, 3.0T quattro Prestige
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
261 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque:
273 foot-lbs @ 1600 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.064 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
349 hp @ 6300 rpm
Torque:
369 foot-lbs @ 3200 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.089 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
24 / 31 / 26
Range (city/hwy):
463 / 598 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
3 liters
Engine Configuration:
V
Number of Cylinders:
6
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
20 / 29 / 23
Range (city/hwy):
306 / 444 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Automatic Parking:
Available
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Massage Seats:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Internet Radio:
Available
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Available
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Automatic Parking:
Available
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Standard
Massage Seats:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
Available
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Available
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
Available
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Available
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.3 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
57.8 inches
Rear Head Room:
38.1 inches
Rear Leg Room:
37.4 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
56.5 inches
Cargo Space:
13.7 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
99.0 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
37.7 inches
Front Leg Room:
41 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.7 inches
Rear Head Room:
37 inches
Rear Leg Room:
35.1 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.5 inches
Cargo Space:
21.8 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
91.0 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
4101 lbs
Width:
83.1 inches
Height:
57.4 inches
Length:
194.4 inches
Wheelbase:
115.1 inches
Ground Clearance:
4.2 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3924 lbs
Width:
79.9 inches
Height:
55.1 inches
Length:
187.6 inches
Wheelbase:
111.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
19.0 x 8.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
245/45R19
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
19.0 x 8.5 inches
Wheel Type:
painted aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
255/35R19
Exterior Colors
Black
Brilliant Black / Mythos Black Metallic
Blue
Firmament Blue Metallic
Brown
Madeira Brown Metallic
Gray
Chronos Gray Metallic / Manhattan Gray Metallic
Silver
Florett Silver Metallic
White
Arkona White / Glacier White Metallic
Green
Not available
Red
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Mythos Black Metallic
Blue
Navarra Blue Metallic
Brown
Not available
Gray
Chronos Gray Metallic / Daytona Gray Pearl Effect
Silver
Not available
White
Arkona White / Glacier White Metallic
Green
District Green Metallic
Red
Progressive Red Metallic
Interior Colors
Beige
Pearl Beige w/ Agate Gray Stitching
Black
Black
Brown
Okapi Brown w/ Steel Gray Stitching
Gray
Not available
Interior Colors
Beige
Not available
Black
Black
Brown
Not available
Gray
Rotor Gray
