Cars like the BMW M5 Touring and the Audi RS6 Avant can do just about anything. Well, except for off-roading. Unless you plan on going off the beaten path, these family haulers should tick just about every other box. Both are fast, powerful, spacious, comfortable, luxurious and full of technology.
Edmunds I wanted to find out which of the two big cars was faster on the straight. Instead of organizing a traditional drag race, the M5 and RS6 faced a slightly different challenge. The first task was to complete a quarter-mile run, then turn 180 degrees and return to the starting point. It is a more involved test because it takes into account a vehicle’s handling and braking capabilities rather than focusing solely on straight-line acceleration.
Predictably, the M car was slower from the start as the extra weight reared its ugly head. The immediate response of the electric motor could not compensate for the almost 272 kilograms that separated the two cars. But little by little the BMW caught up and took the lead in both races.
Although the M5 and RS6 each needed 11.5 seconds to run the quarter mile, the BMW was significantly faster on the routes. The Touring reached a speed of 127.2 mph, while the Audi only reached 123 mph. The electrified Munich machine extended its lead in the second half of the test and crossed the finish line in 32.8 seconds, 0.8 seconds ahead of its opponent from Ingolstadt.
As the two cars crossed the finish line, the M5 Touring was once again significantly faster, reaching 140.4 mph compared to 134.4 mph for the RS6. Although the “G99” came out on top, it was still a tenth of a second slower than another BMW, the M3 CS sedan. The United States missed out on both the M3 CS Touring and the regular “G81.” Audi also decided not to sell the previous generation RS4 Avant in the USA
It’s safe to say that people aren’t buying M5 and RS6 cars just to roll them off the assembly line. Other factors come into play, including price. The two cars tested by Edmunds cost more than $20,000. The BMW carried a sticker with options worth $145,775, while the Audi was significantly more expensive at $167,140.
However, for the 2026 model year, the two cars are priced almost identically as base models. Before you tick any option boxes, the M5 Touring starts at $129,350, while the RS6 Avant costs $131,995. Audi is already preparing a next-generation model, while BMW is preparing a facelift, but it won’t arrive until 2028.
Video: Edmunds / YouTube
