Audi A5 vs BMW 4 Series
Figures updated
The Audi A5 and BMW 4 Series are two of the UK's most popular executive cars. We compare the B10 (2024–) A5 and the G22 (2020–) 4 Series on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 228,114 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Audi A5 for the lower price, or the BMW 4 Series for more performance.
- The Audi A5 is the cheapest to buy new: from £42,760, £3,420 less than the BMW 4 Series.
- Their boots are much the same size: Audi A5 445 litres, BMW 4 Series 440 litres.
- Their MOT records are close: once age and mileage are taken into account, they fail about as often as each other.
- Running costs are close: the petrol versions cost within £43 a year of each other to fuel at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the tyres on a BMW 4 Series: it fails on them 1.3 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Audi A5B10 (2024–), 5-door hatchback | BMW 4 SeriesG22 (2020–), 2-door coupé |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | from £42,760October 2026 price list (best) | £46,180 to £63,385July 2026 price list |
| Body | 5-door hatchback | 2-door coupé |
| Seats | 5 (best) | 4 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 445 litres / 1,299 | 440 litres |
| Length | 4,829mm | 4,768mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,860mm | 1,852mm |
| Height | 1,444mm | 1,383mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | up to 299 PS | 184–374 PS (best) |
| 0–62mph | from 5.9 sec | 4.5–7.5 sec (best) |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2024) | ★★★★★ (2019) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Petrol |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 38.7–57.6 mpg | 32.8–42.8 mpg |
| CO2 | 46–166 g/km | 144–186 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.8p a litre, today's UK average | £1,411 (41.5 mpg) | £1,454 (40.3 mpg) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,221 (55.4 mpg) | – |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,221 (diesel) | £1,454 (petrol) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 135Well above average | 138Well above average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 22.0% | 16.4% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 12.7% | 13.1% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 15.0% | 14.0% (best) |
| Failed at 10 years old | 23.8% | 21.6% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Tread depth (3.4% of tests) | Condition (2.4% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Nothing stands out | Tyres (1.3×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 124,169 | 103,945 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Executive car | Executive car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 9,300 | 9,200 |
| On sale | 2024 on | 2020 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Audi A5 or the BMW 4 Series more reliable?
There's little in it. Once age and mileage are taken into account, both fail their MOT about as often as each other (reliability scores 135 and 138, where 100 is average).
›Which is bigger, the Audi A5 or the BMW 4 Series?
The Audi A5 is 61mm longer (4,829mm against 4,768mm). Their boots are much the same: 445 and 440 litres.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Audi A5 or the BMW 4 Series?
The Audi A5: new prices start at £42,760, £3,420 less than the BMW 4 Series (from £46,180). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Audi A5 or the BMW 4 Series?
Comparing petrol versions, fuel costs are within £43 a year of each other at 7,500 miles, using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Audi A5 or the BMW 4 Series?
Euro NCAP gave the Audi A5 5 stars (2024) and the BMW 4 Series 5 stars (2019). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Audi A5 or the BMW 4 Series?
Pick the Audi A5 for the lower price, or the BMW 4 Series for more performance. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.