BMW 3 Series vs Audi A5

The BMW 3 Series starts from $89,900 before on-road costs, while the Audi A5 opens at $79,900. That makes the Audi A5 the more affordable entry point by $10,000.

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 $98,890 and $87,890 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Audi A5 by roughly $1,285 in fuel alone.

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

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 6 in the BMW 3 Series and 7 in the Audi A5. The Audi A5 adds a 360-degree camera that the BMW 3 Series misses.

The BMW 3 Series features a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the Audi A5 gets a 10.1-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

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

The BMW 3 Series uses a Petrol producing 190kW and 400Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6 seconds.

The Audi A5 responds with a Petrol MHEV making 150kW and 340Nm, paired to a s tronic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.4 seconds.

The BMW 3 Series has the clear power advantage at 190kW vs 150kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW 3 Series is 2.4s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BMW 3 Series measures 4,709mm long on a 2,851mm wheelbase, 53mm shorter than the Audi A5 at 4,762mm (2,821mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW 3 Series generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 480L in the BMW 3 Series and 400L in the Audi A5, giving the BMW 3 Series a 80L advantage.

For towing, the Audi A5 leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 0kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,024/year for the BMW 3 Series and $1,767/year for the Audi A5. That is a $257 annual difference in favour of the Audi A5.

Estimated annual total: $2,024 (BMW 3 Series) vs $1,767 (Audi A5). The Audi A5 saves you roughly $257 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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