Without question, two of the most recognizable brands in the luxury segment are Audi and BMW. Both manufacturers have been going toe-to-toe for decades, challenging each other for the top spot by producing some of the most powerful, prestigious, and exclusive vehicles in the world. Having trouble deciding which brand is right for you? Our team at Audi Ann Arbor is here to help! We've assembled this in-depth brand comparison to help you learn all about the key benefits and advantages of choosing Audi over BMW.
Vincentric Best Luxury Car Brand - Audi
For over 15 years, the experts at Vincentric have recognized the most outstanding makes and models of vehicles across the automotive industry. This year, Audi has received several different awards for various models throughout the lineup. The Vincentric "Best Value in America Awards" determine value by measuring cost-of-ownership using eight different cost factors: depreciation, fees & taxes, financing, fuel, insurance, maintenance, opportunity cost, and repairs. Over 3,000 vehicle configurations were evaluated in all 50 states plus D.C. using a variety of annual mileage intervals and insurance profiles. If you're thinking BMW earned the victory in this evaluation, you'd be sadly mistaken.
For 2021, the Audi A7 took home the award for Best Luxury Large Sedan, while the Audi brand as a whole took home the award for the best value in Certified Pre-Owned vehicles. furthermore, the Audi TT and the Audi S5 both received top honors as high-quality pre-owned vehicles.
- Audi - Best CPO Value Luxury Car Brand
- 2021 Audi A7 - Best Luxury Large Sedan
- Audi TT - Best Pre-Owned Luxury Sports Car
- Audi S5 - Best Pre-Owned Luxury Convertible
Safety
Safety is another signature characteristic of the Audi brand. Engineers spend countless hours pioneering and perfecting some of the most groundbreaking safety innovations in the industry. Each year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests vehicles for their crashworthiness and overall safety. This year, a total of 8 Audi models earned the coveted Top Safety Pick award. BMW on the other hand earned just one award from the IIHS.
- 2020-2021 Audi A4 - Top Safety Pick
- 2020-2021 Audi A5 - Top Safety Pick
- 2020-2021 Audi A6 - Top Safety Pick+
- 2020-2021 Audi A6 Allroad - Top Safety Pick+
- 2020 Audi A7 - Top Safety Pick
- 2020 Audi A7 - Top Safety Pick+
- 2020-2021 Audi e-tron Sportback - Top Safety Pick+
- 2020-2021 Audi Q8 - Top Safety Pick
Electrified Efficiency
Audi continues to lead the luxury segment when it comes to electric performance. The introduction of the Audi e-tron, e-tron Sportback, and e-tron GT have caused a stir among luxury shoppers for their remarkable efficiency and power. BMW has just one dedicated EV that's remained essentially the same since its introduction over 7 years ago. As proof, the quick comparison listed below helps illustrate how Audi offers greater value, versatility, and performance than BMW.
Audi e-tron vs BMW i3 - Quick Comparison
| Audi e-tron | VS | BMW i3 |
| 222 Miles (EPA-estimated) ✓ | EV Range | 153 Miles (EPA-estimated) |
| About 10 hours | Charging 0-100% using AC 9.6 kW (hours) | About 7 hours ✓ |
| About 30 minutes ✓ | Charging on 0-80% on DC 150 kW (minutes) | About 45 minutes |
| 4,000 pounds ✓ | Towing Capacity | Not Recommended |
| 5.5 seconds (with boost engaged) ✓ | 0-60 MPH Acceleration | 7.2 seconds |
| 402 horsepower / 414 lb-ft of torque | Power | 170 horsepower / 184 lb-ft of torque |
| 155 MPH | Top Track Speed | 93 MPH |
Audi vs BMW Head-to-Head
Curious how your favorite Audi models match up against their rivals from BMW? Audi Ann Arbor invites you to browse our selection of in-depth Audi vs BMW model comparison pages to discover all the key advantages and benefits that come from driving an Audi.
