Compare the2024 Ford MustangVS 2024 Audi S5

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Mustang are reminded to check the back seat. The S5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Mustang 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. Only the S5 Premium Plus/Prestige offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Mustang has standard Cross Traffic Alert and Cross Traffic Braking automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the S5 Premium Plus/Prestige offers Rear Cross-Traffic Assist.

The Mustang’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 S5 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Mustang and the S5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Mustang 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the S5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the S5 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 10 times as many Ford dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Mustang’s warranty.

The Mustang has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The S5 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the car’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 20 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Ford 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 Ford vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

The Mustang GT’s standard 5.0 DOHC V8 produces 131 more horsepower (480 vs. 349) and 46 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 369) than the S5’s 3.0 turbo V6. The Mustang GT’s optional 5.0 DOHC V8 produces 137 more horsepower (486 vs. 349) and 49 lbs.-ft. more torque (418 vs. 369) than the S5’s 3.0 turbo V6. The Mustang Dark Horse’s standard 5.0 DOHC V8 produces 151 more horsepower (500 vs. 349) and 49 lbs.-ft. more torque (418 vs. 369) than the S5’s 3.0 turbo V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Mustang Base EcoBoost gets better fuel mileage than the S5 Coupe (22 city/33 hwy vs. 21 city/29 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Mustang Convertible gets better mileage than the S5 Cabriolet:

The Mustang has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The S5 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Mustang offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The S5 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Mustang, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the S5.

The Mustang Manual’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 S5 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Mustang Dark Horse’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the S5:

The Mustang stops shorter than the S5:

For better traction, the Mustang Dark Horse’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S5 (F:305/30R19 & R:315/30R19 vs. 265/30R20).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Mustang is 2.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the S5.

The Mustang’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55% to 45%) than the S5’s (56.7% to 43.3%). This gives the Mustang more stable handling and braking.

The Mustang Dark Horse handles at 1.07 G’s, while the S5 Prestige Coupe pulls only .94 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Mustang’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the S5’s (36.5 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

The Ford Mustang may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 250 pounds less than the Audi S5.

The Mustang Convertible uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The S5 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Mustang Fastback has .2 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the S5 Coupe.

The Mustang Convertible has 3.2 inches more front legroom and 1 inch more front shoulder room than the S5 Cabriolet.

The Mustang Fastback has a much larger trunk than the S5 Coupe (13.5 vs. 10.9 cubic feet).

The Mustang Convertible has a much larger trunk with its top down than the S5 Cabriolet with its top down (11.4 vs. 7.3 cubic feet). The Mustang Convertible has a much larger trunk than the S5 Cabriolet with its top up (11.4 vs. 9.3 cubic feet).

The Mustang has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The S5 has no towing capacity.

The Mustang’s optional Easy Entry and Exit 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 S5 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Mustang’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 S5 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Mustang’s standard Intelligent Access allow you to unlock the doors from either outside 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 S5 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

The Mustang’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 S5’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Ford Mustang outsold the Audi A5/S5/RS 5 by over two to one during 2023.