Audi RS7 vs Porsche 718 Spyder
Compare the Audi RS7 vs Porsche 718 Spyder. The Porsche 718 Spyder is £33,000 cheaper. The Audi RS7 is 0.5s quicker to 60mph. The Porsche 718 Spyder is more fuel efficient. Full performance, cost & ownership breakdown.
The Audi RS7 is priced from £105,000, powered by a 4.0L Twin-Turbo V8, producing 591 hp, with 800 Nm of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 3.5s, a top speed of 190 mph, sent to the road via all-wheel drive. The Porsche 718 Spyder is priced from £80,000, powered by a 4.0L Flat-6, producing 414 hp, with 420 Nm of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 4s, a top speed of 187 mph, sent to the road via rear-wheel drive.
The Audi RS7 offers a 535-litre boot, folding rear seats, runs on petrol, returns around 24 mpg, is covered by a 3yr / unlimited mi warranty. The Porsche 718 Spyder offers a 150-litre boot, a usable front boot, runs on petrol, returns around 25 mpg, is covered by a 4yr / 50k mi warranty.
On cost of ownership, the Porsche 718 Spyder is £33,000 cheaper than its rival, both require around £1,200 per year in maintenance, the Porsche 718 Spyder is the more fuel-efficient choice, a full tank costs around £90 for the Audi RS7 and £70 for the Porsche 718 Spyder.
Driving Character: Audi RS7 vs Porsche 718 Spyder
The RS7 occupies a unique space, marrying the brutal acceleration of a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 with the visual drama of a low-slung, sweeping Sportback. With 591 hp and the advanced Quattro system, it delivers devastating straight-line performance that feels relentless and almost telepathic. All-wheel steering is standard, giving this imposing car an agility that defies its substantial weight in the corners. It is a machine designed for covering vast distances at high speed with effortless ease, providing a level of poise that turns even the most demanding road into a manageable ribbon of asphalt.
The Porsche 718 Spyder offers a purist’s approach to roadster dynamics, retaining the naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six and a manual gearbox for maximum engagement. The mid-engine layout provides exceptional balance, allowing the driver to feel every nuance through the steering wheel. Its handling is defined by a lightness of touch that differentiates it from the heavier convertible segments, making it exceptionally agile on winding backroads. While it shares much with the GT4, the open-top configuration adds an extra layer of sensory connection, making it an incredibly visceral and rewarding machine for the true enthusiast.
Head-to-head, the division is clear: the Porsche 718 Spyder takes our 0-100 driving character grading, 75 against 88. Characteristic of the Audi RS7: Effortless, quattro-assured pace in a genuinely luxurious package. For the Porsche 718 Spyder: Naturally-aspirated flat-six purity in an open-top mid-engined chassis. In outright terms it is 591 hp against 414 — a 177 hp gap — and the Audi RS7 reaches 60 mph 0.5s sooner.
Interior & Cabin: Audi RS7 vs Porsche 718 Spyder
The interior is a high-luxury environment, mirroring the technical sophistication of the RS6 but packaged within a more dramatic, coupe-like frame. The Virtual Cockpit Plus provides clear, customisable readouts, while the cabin's materials—ranging from carbon fibre to Valcona leather—exude a premium, tactile quality. Because of the raked roofline, the rear cabin feels more intimate than in the Avant version, sacrificing headroom for a more sporting aesthetic. It is undeniably a driver’s cabin, where every control feels weighted, precise, and purposefully placed to enhance the feeling of being in something truly exclusive.
The cabin remains strictly driver-focused, with Alcantara accents on the contact points and a simplified dashboard layout that emphasises function over technology. Lightweight door pulls and minimal luxuries maintain the stripped-back, enthusiast spirit of the Spyder. Because of the manual roof mechanism, interior storage is at a premium, and the cabin environment can be quite noisy when the top is up. The seats are excellent for long-distance support, but the overall feeling is one of purposeful simplicity, catering to those who prefer the tactile interaction of a pure sports car over digital sophistication.
Head-to-head, the division is clear: the Audi RS7 takes our 0-100 interior & cabin grading, 88 against 62. Characteristic of the Audi RS7: Spacious, premium cabin with excellent tech and comfort. For the Porsche 718 Spyder: Motorsport-flavoured cabin with genuine everyday livability.
Daily Usability: Audi RS7 vs Porsche 718 Spyder
While the RS7 is undoubtedly a performance vehicle, its Sportback design offers a practical twist. The 535L boot is more than sufficient for typical weekend trips, and the lift-back opening makes loading gear straightforward. Urban use requires awareness; its significant width and low stance mean care is needed in narrow parking structures, though the array of sensors and cameras makes it doable. In Comfort mode, the air suspension does a commendable job of masking road surface harshness, ensuring that urban traffic or motorway cruising is conducted with a sense of refined, whisper-quiet calm.
As the lightest member of the 718 family, the Spyder is remarkably nimble in urban settings, though the manual roof operation requires significant effort and patience compared to power-operated rivals. The dual trunks—front and rear—provide decent storage for a weekend getaway, which remains its primary use case. The ride is firm, though manageable, and it lacks the daily convenience of power-folding roof mechanisms, reinforcing its role as a machine to be driven intentionally. It is not an ideal city car, but for the enthusiast driver, it offers the perfect balance of roadster freedom and mid-engine practicality.
Head-to-head, the division is clear: the Audi RS7 takes our 0-100 daily usability grading, 82 against 65. Characteristic of the Audi RS7: A genuine luxury daily driver with supercar-embarrassing pace. For the Porsche 718 Spyder: Surprisingly civil for an open-top track-focused Porsche. that means 535 litres of boot space against 150, plus a usable front boot in the Porsche 718 Spyder, and everyday running costs that favour the Porsche 718 Spyder at the pumps.
Ownership: Audi RS7 vs Porsche 718 Spyder
As a flagship performance model, the RS7 commands a premium in terms of running costs. Fuel consumption is consistent with a high-output V8, and the long-term maintenance requires a dedicated budget for tyres, brakes, and scheduled service checks. Audi’s dealer network ensures that this level of care is easily accessible, and the car's desirable styling keeps residual values firm amongst performance-oriented buyers. It is a car that demands a commitment to its upkeep, but in exchange, it offers an ownership experience defined by style, speed, and the confidence that comes with a top-tier automotive engineering product.
As the final naturally aspirated flat-six Boxster variant, the 718 Spyder holds a special place in the Porsche hierarchy, which has helped sustain strong residual values. Ownership is backed by the comprehensive Porsche dealer network, ensuring that maintenance is straightforward and well-documented. Parts and support for the 718 platform remain easy to obtain, though the limited production run means that Spyder-specific aesthetic components may become increasingly difficult to replace over time. It is a reliable, high-value ownership proposition that rewards careful maintenance and consistent usage throughout the warmer months of the year.
Head-to-head, the division is clear: the Porsche 718 Spyder takes our 0-100 ownership grading, 75 against 78. Characteristic of the Audi RS7: Strong owner-reported reliability (4.7/5 per KBB after 50k miles). For the Porsche 718 Spyder: Mechanically simple, Porsche-grade reliability. On the wallet the two diverge at £105,000 versus £80,000 — a £25,000 difference, and warranty cover of 3yr / unlimited mi versus 4yr / 50k mi.