BMW 3 Series vs Audi A5
Figures updated
The BMW 3 Series and Audi A5 are two of the UK's most popular executive cars. We compare the 3 Series G20 (2019–) and the B10 (2024–) A5 on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 577,561 real MOT tests.
The short answer
The BMW 3 Series comes out ahead, with the lower price, the bigger boot and more performance; the Audi A5 is close on everything else.
- The BMW 3 Series is the cheapest to buy new: from £41,945, £815 less than the Audi A5.
- The BMW 3 Series has the biggest boot: 480 litres, 35 more than the Audi A5.
- 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 £42 a year of each other to fuel at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the wheels on a BMW 3 Series: it fails on them 2.3 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | BMW 3 Series3 Series G20 (2019–), 4-door saloon | Audi A5B10 (2024–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £41,945 to £66,475July 2026 price list | from £42,760October 2026 price list |
| Body | 4-door saloon | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 480 litres (best) | 445 litres / 1,299 |
| Length | 4,709mm | 4,829mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,827mm | 1,860mm |
| Height | 1,435mm | 1,444mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 150–374 PS (best) | up to 299 PS |
| 0–62mph | 4.4–8.4 sec (best) | from 5.9 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2019) | ★★★★★ (2024) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 32.8–42.1 mpg | 38.7–57.6 mpg |
| CO2 | 19–182 g/km | 46–166 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.7p a litre, today's UK average | £1,453 (40.3 mpg) | £1,411 (41.5 mpg) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | – | £1,221 (55.4 mpg) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,453 (petrol) | £1,221 (diesel) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 134Well above average | 135Well above average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 24.5% | 22.0% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 14.0% | 12.7% (best) |
| Failed at 5 years old | 13.4% (best) | 15.0% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 24.8% | 23.8% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Tread depth (2.8% of tests) | Tread depth (3.4% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Wheels (2.3×) | Nothing stands out |
| MOT tests analysed | 453,392 | 124,169 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Executive car | Executive car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 9,700 | 9,300 |
| On sale | 2019 on | 2024 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 BMW 3 Series or the Audi A5 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 134 and 135, where 100 is average).
›Which is bigger, the BMW 3 Series or the Audi A5?
The Audi A5 is 120mm longer (4,829mm against 4,709mm). The BMW 3 Series has the bigger boot: 480 litres against 445.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the BMW 3 Series or the Audi A5?
The BMW 3 Series: new prices start at £41,945, £815 less than the Audi A5 (from £42,760). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the BMW 3 Series or the Audi A5?
Comparing petrol versions, fuel costs are within £42 a year of each other at 7,500 miles, using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the BMW 3 Series or the Audi A5?
Euro NCAP gave the BMW 3 Series 5 stars (2019) and the Audi A5 5 stars (2024). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the BMW 3 Series or the Audi A5?
The BMW 3 Series comes out ahead, with the lower price, the bigger boot and more performance; the Audi A5 is close on everything else. 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.