There are many cars available on the market. However, the choices become significantly fewer if we talk about luxury cars. And no one does “Luxury” cars better than the German manufacturers, for example, Audi or BMW, and the Mercedes.
Mercedes and BMW are influential and iconic models, leaving direct competition between them. If you are looking for an affordable set of wheels with high quality and outstanding performance, you should go for Audi or BMW. How would a person know which brand is better?
This article will compare the German manufacturer on a scale and finally answer if the Audi is a better fit or the BMW takes the W. so, let’s get going! Worry not, for we are here! After all, both brands make great cars and bring a lot to the table to offer their customers.
The Direct Comparison
As the comparison begins, both sides come up with something powerful to offer. For example, BMW takes pride in making vehicles that enhance the driving experience and give their customers a driving experience they will never forget.
Their objective reflects in their car designs, engine performance, and cars offering a solid road grip. Whereas the competitor rocks with the slogan “Advancement Through Technology”. And you can see the brand living up to it, seeing how they offer the latest infotainment upgrades with a fabulous interior design.
As you can see, even the logos of the companies feel competitive. Don’t expect anything less than a challenging fit to determine the king of the hill. Stick with us as we discuss the comparison in more depth!
Exterior Design:
When we talk about exteriors, both manufacturers use high-quality materials in creation. The brands are equally working hard to give their cars a look like luxury cars. However, even though both brands carry the same objective, some vast differences can help them set apart.
BMW’s cars have a bolder design. All the BMWs inherit a distinctive kidney grille. The vehicle looks heavier in its appearance than the Audi cars. BMW makes sense if you look for a vehicle that makes the people around notice its design.
However, if you prefer having a car with a relatively better interior, you should consider getting an Audi. Audi mainly focuses on improving the interior of their vehicles rather than their car’s exterior. Usually, you would note that the Audi is a company that prefers not to make a lot of changes to the bodies of their vehicles. The Audi cars usually come with the traditional elegant shape and subdued curves. So, if you are a car owner that cares about the car being more comfortable than its looks, Audi would suit you better.
In conclusion, there is no clear winner here. Both the companies do a great job at creating good exteriors, but when it comes down to choosing the winner, it’s a matter of personal preference. Whatever aesthetics you want from a car will be your choice, so is selecting the winner here.
Interior Features, Tech, and Seating Options:
As you may know, Audi is fond of its interior styling when making cars. Sure, there are specific features that will differ from model to model. However, to truly cherish the goodness of Audi’s interior design, you must see the sleek design of the dashboard, which is overridden with a variety of features. According to US News, an Audi R8 “provides an interior befitting a luxury sports car.” So, if you want a Sports car with a luxury interior, the R8 is a perfect example.
BMW focuses on the driving experience. You should expect an extensive collection of metal trims, wood trims, and soft-touch plastics. Audi also offers a leather seat upgrade when you pick up the car from the lot.
Despite using high-quality materials for its interior, a BMW will not measure up to an Audi when talking of interior and the car’s comfort, giving Audi a clear win.
When we talk about tech and infotainment, both brands do a great job. However, since tech and infotainment are present more evidently within Audi cars, you should expect an Audi to offer more in the following category. For example, one of the most updated features the Audi car comes with is the “Virtual Cockpit.”. It’s a 12.3-inch screen placed behind the steering wheel that displays all the information ranging from caller ID to the driving stats of your car. The Newer Audi cars also come with an in-house MMI infotainment system, making it hard for its competitor to match up.
However, BMW does come with a counter for the virtual cockpit. The manufacturer comes with an iDrive System paired with a Digital Display Key and a touchscreen on your crucial fob, allowing you to control the car remotely.
In conclusion, both cars offer excellent interior and tech specifications. However, Audi is a clear winner as it offers more vivid options.
Efficient Engine and Better fuel economy:
An efficient engine and fuel economy within a car play an essential role in making a car a good fit for a person. After all, regardless of whatever car may be better in offering features, you will have to worry about filling up your gas tank. So, a better engine and better fuel economy will help you save more money in the long run and provide a more valuable gas mileage.
The BMWs are tweaked to offer a powerful drive and an overall driving experience. They also use high-performance designs, including a rare inline-six-cylinder engine from the BMW X.5 series. They would stick to using four-cylinder engines as an alternative. BMW ensures that all models come turbocharged, allowing the engine to offer more power without affecting fuel efficiency.
When we talk about Audi, their engines are not something that gains the same hype as their interior or the other features. However, Audi still manages to offer some options to its users. The Audis come with either Quattro all-wheel-drive system, which is traditional on most Audi models. This mode gives their cars better road grip when we talk about rough weather conditions. Similarly, Audi also uses turbocharged engines for their vehicles without any exclusivity.
However, if we talk about supercars, the Audi R8 has done a significantly good job in offering better performance and fuel mileage than its competitors’ cars. So, if you are in the market for a new car, it might be a great idea to look for an Audi R8 for sale!
Talking about fuel economy, both brands are similar in a way. Fuel economy will vary based on the performance stats, the size, and the weight class of the car. With both brands moving toward electric and hybrid vehicles, expect both brands to offer good fuel economy.
Reliability, Safety, and Handling:
The safety of the driver and people within the car should always serve as the first thought whenever you might directly be comparing or buying a vehicle, regardless of any other luxury or features offered by the vehicle.
A car’s safety ensures significantly fewer chances for potential crashes, increasing your safety and lowering the money you would have to spend on insurance costs. Having a vehicle that offers better handling on the road is a great way to ensure your safety and those on the road around you.
Both of these car brands do a significantly good job when talking about safety to ensure the safety of their clientele. The Audi vehicles come with Pre Sense Suite, whereas the BMW counterparts come with the BMW Active Guard. You will find cruise control, parking assist, and hill-start assist. Similarly, both brands offer blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning.
The sense of security within these brands has also resulted in them winning various awards, as Audi walked away with scoring the Top Safety Pick by the Insurance safety for the Audi A6 in 2021. Similarly, its competitor won the same award in 2020 for the BMW X3 Series.
You will find that BMW will get the better of Audi when we talk about handling since their cars are mainly focused on enhancing a person’s driving skills. No wonder a BMW would make an excellent choice for any person, ranging from a university student to a professional racer!
Expect an Audi vehicle to be slightly less agile than a BMW since the Audis have an overall stiffer suspension. These suspensions help in maximizing a smooth and comfortable ride. However, the BMW is a better car in terms of reliability.
Final Words
If we talk about the BMWs, the one thing that BMW does better than Audi is the road handling. However, Audis one-up their competitor with a more lavish interior. And with all that information, this comparison is nearing its close.
Both competitors have better features over the other somewhere, which adds more value to the brand. However, the true winner would be the one that resides well with your requirements and your driving style.
But, in short, if you want a car that offers more luxury and comfort, you should look for an Audi. On the other hand, no other brand cannot top the BMW if you want an exhilarating driving experience.
