Audi A5 vs Audi A6
Figures updated
The Audi A5 and Audi A6 are two of the UK's most popular executive cars. We compare the B10 (2024–) A5 and the C9 (2025–) A6 on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 246,794 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Audi A5 for the lower price, or the Audi A6 for the bigger boot and the better MOT record.
- The Audi A5 is the cheapest to buy new: from £42,760, £11,300 less than the Audi A6.
- The Audi A6 has the biggest boot: 492 litres, 47 more than the Audi A5.
- The Audi A6 has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Audi A5 fails its MOT about 15% more often.
- Running costs are close: the petrol versions cost within £38 a year of each other to fuel at 7,500 miles a year.
| Figure | Audi A5B10 (2024–), 5-door hatchback | Audi A6C9 (2025–), 4-door saloon |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | from £42,760October 2026 price list (best) | from £54,060October 2026 price list |
| Body | 5-door hatchback | 4-door saloon |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 445 litres / 1,299 | 492 litres (best) |
| Length | 4,829mm | 4,999mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,860mm | 1,875mm |
| Height | 1,444mm | 1,452mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | up to 299 PS | 204–299 PS |
| 0–62mph | from 5.9 sec | 6.0–8.2 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2024) | ★★★★★ (2024) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Electric, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 38.7–57.6 mpg | 36.2–55.4 mpg |
| CO2 | 46–166 g/km | 32–178 g/km |
| Electric range | – | 329–462 miles |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.5p a litre, today's UK average | £1,409 (41.5 mpg) | £1,447 (40.4 mpg) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,221 (55.4 mpg) | – |
| Electric, charged at home26.3p per kWh standard tariff | – | £548 (4 mi/kWh) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,221 (diesel) | £548 (electric) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 135Well above average | 155Well above average (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 22.0% | 20.9% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 12.7% | 9.5% (best) |
| Failed at 5 years old | 15.0% | 11.2% (best) |
| Failed at 10 years old | 23.8% | 20.5% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Tread depth (3.4% of tests) | Tread depth (2.9% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Nothing stands out | Nothing stands out |
| MOT tests analysed | 124,169 | 122,625 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Executive car | Executive car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 9,300 | 11,000 |
| On sale | 2024 on | 2025 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Audi A5 or the Audi A6 more reliable?
The Audi A6. Like for like on age and mileage, the Audi A5 fails its MOT about 15% more often (reliability scores 155 and 135, where 100 is average). 20.9% of Audi A6s and 22.0% of Audi A5s failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Audi A5 or the Audi A6?
The Audi A6 is 170mm longer (4,999mm against 4,829mm). The Audi A6 has the bigger boot: 492 litres against 445.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Audi A5 or the Audi A6?
The Audi A5: new prices start at £42,760, £11,300 less than the Audi A6 (from £54,060). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Audi A5 or the Audi A6?
Comparing petrol versions, fuel costs are within £38 a year of each other at 7,500 miles, using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Audi A5 or the Audi A6?
Euro NCAP gave the Audi A5 5 stars (2024) and the Audi A6 5 stars (2024). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Audi A5 or the Audi A6?
Pick the Audi A5 for the lower price, or the Audi A6 for the bigger boot and the better MOT record. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.