Audi A5 vs BMW 3 Series

The Audi A5 starts from $79,900 before on-road costs, while the BMW 3 Series opens at $94,700. That makes the Audi A5 the more affordable entry point by $14,800.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $87,890 and $104,170 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

Both the Audi A5 and BMW 3 Series hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 87% for the Audi A5 and 97% for the BMW 3 Series.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Audi A5 packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the BMW 3 Series.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Audi A5 and 6 in the BMW 3 Series. The Audi A5 adds a 360-degree camera that the BMW 3 Series misses.

The Audi A5 features a 14.5-inch touchscreen paired with a 11.9-inch digital dash, while the BMW 3 Series gets a 14.9-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Audi A5 stands out with head-up display, heated front seats, ventilated seats, power tailgate, Bang & Olufsen audio and ambient lighting that you will not find on the BMW 3 Series. The BMW 3 Series counters with Harman Kardon audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Audi A5 gets leather upholstery while the BMW 3 Series offers sensatec synthetic leather. Climate control is 3-zone in the Audi A5 and 2-zone in the BMW 3 Series.

The Audi A5 uses a 4-cylinder petrol with direct fuel injection, turbocharging producing 150kW and 340Nm of torque, sent through a 7-speed s tronic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.8 seconds.

The BMW 3 Series responds with a Petrol making 190kW and 400Nm, paired to a auto driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds.

The BMW 3 Series has the clear power advantage at 190kW vs 150kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW 3 Series is 2.0s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Audi A5 measures 4,829mm long on a 2,892mm wheelbase, 116mm longer than the BMW 3 Series at 4,713mm (2,851mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Audi A5 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 445L in the Audi A5 and 480L in the BMW 3 Series, giving the BMW 3 Series a 35L advantage.

For towing, the Audi A5 leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,600kg. That 200kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,967/year for the Audi A5 and $1,853/year for the BMW 3 Series. That is a $114 annual difference in favour of the BMW 3 Series.

Estimated annual total: $1,967 (Audi A5) vs $1,853 (BMW 3 Series). The BMW 3 Series saves you roughly $114 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Audi A5) vs 5 years / 999,999km (BMW 3 Series). Both match on warranty length.