BMW 3 Series vs Audi A5

The BMW 3 Series starts from $94,700 before on-road costs, while the Audi A5 opens at $79,900. 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 $104,170 and $87,890 respectively.

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

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

The BMW 3 Series features a 14.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Audi A5 gets a 14.5-inch display and 11.9-inch instruments. 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.

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

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 5.8 seconds.

The Audi A5 responds with a 4-cylinder petrol with direct fuel injection, turbocharging making 150kW and 340Nm, paired to a 7-speed s tronic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.8 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 BMW 3 Series measures 4,713mm long on a 2,851mm wheelbase, 116mm shorter than the Audi A5 at 4,829mm (2,892mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Audi A5 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 480L in the BMW 3 Series and 445L in the Audi A5, 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 $1,853/year for the BMW 3 Series and $1,967/year for the Audi A5. That is a $114 annual difference in favour of the BMW 3 Series.

Estimated annual total: $1,853 (BMW 3 Series) vs $1,967 (Audi A5). 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 (BMW 3 Series) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Audi A5). Both match on warranty length.