BMW 5 Series vs Audi A6

The BMW 5 Series starts from $114,900 before on-road costs, while the Audi A6 opens at $123,600. That makes the BMW 5 Series the more affordable entry point by $8,700.

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 $126,390 and $135,960 respectively.

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

Both the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the BMW 5 Series and 92% for the Audi A6.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Audi A6 packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the BMW 5 Series.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the BMW 5 Series and 7 in the Audi A6. The Audi A6 adds a 360-degree camera that the BMW 5 Series misses.

The BMW 5 Series features a 14.9-inch touchscreen, while the Audi A6 gets a 10.1-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW 5 Series stands out with Harman Kardon audio that you will not find on the Audi A6. The Audi A6 counters with ventilated seats, Bang & Olufsen audio and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BMW 5 Series uses a Petrol producing 150kW and 300Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.6 seconds.

The Audi A6 responds with a Diesel MHEV making 210kW and 620Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds.

The Audi A6 has the clear power advantage at 210kW vs 150kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BMW 5 Series measures 5,060mm long on a 2,995mm wheelbase, 121mm longer than the Audi A6 at 4,939mm (2,924mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BMW 5 Series generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 520L in the BMW 5 Series and 530L in the Audi A6, giving the Audi A6 a 10L advantage.

For towing, the Audi A6 leads with a 2,500kg braked capacity vs 2,000kg. That 500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,710/year for the BMW 5 Series and $1,967/year for the Audi A6. That is a $257 annual difference in favour of the BMW 5 Series.

Estimated annual total: $1,710 (BMW 5 Series) vs $1,967 (Audi A6). The BMW 5 Series 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 5 Series) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Audi A6). Both match on warranty length.