BMW 5 Series vs Audi A5
Figures updated
The BMW 5 Series and Audi A5 are two of the UK's most popular executive cars. We compare the G60 (2023–) 5 Series and the B10 (2024–) A5 on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 322,759 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the BMW 5 Series for the bigger boot, the better MOT record, lower fuel costs and more performance, or the Audi A5 for the lower price.
- The Audi A5 is the cheapest to buy new: from £42,760, £10,350 less than the BMW 5 Series.
- The BMW 5 Series has the biggest boot: 520 litres, 75 more than the Audi A5.
- The BMW 5 Series has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Audi A5 fails its MOT about 16% more often.
- The BMW 5 Series is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £124 a year less than the Audi A5 at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the wheels on a BMW 5 Series: it fails on them 2.2 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | BMW 5 SeriesG60 (2023–), 4-door saloon | Audi A5B10 (2024–), 5-door hatchback |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £53,110 to £79,830July 2026 price list | from £42,760October 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 4-door saloon | 5-door hatchback |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 520 litres (best) | 445 litres / 1,299 |
| Length | 5,060mm | 4,829mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,900mm | 1,860mm |
| Height | 1,515mm | 1,444mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 208–489 PS (best) | up to 299 PS |
| 0–62mph | 4.3–7.5 sec (best) | from 5.9 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2023) | ★★★★★ (2024) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 42.8–45.5 mpg | 38.7–57.6 mpg |
| CO2 | 14–139 g/km | 46–166 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.7p a litre, today's UK average | £1,287 (45.5 mpg) (best) | £1,411 (41.5 mpg) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | – | £1,221 (55.4 mpg) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,287 (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 | 157Well above average (best) | 135Well above average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 20.3% (best) | 22.0% |
| Failed at 3 years old | 11.9% (best) | 12.7% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 12.5% (best) | 15.0% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 19.9% (best) | 23.8% |
| Most common MOT fault | Tread depth (2.4% of tests) | Tread depth (3.4% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Wheels (2.2×) | Nothing stands out |
| MOT tests analysed | 198,590 | 124,169 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Executive car | Executive car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 10,900 | 9,300 |
| On sale | 2023 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 5 Series or the Audi A5 more reliable?
The BMW 5 Series. Like for like on age and mileage, the Audi A5 fails its MOT about 16% more often (reliability scores 157 and 135, where 100 is average). 20.3% of BMW 5 Serieses and 22.0% of Audi A5s failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the BMW 5 Series or the Audi A5?
The BMW 5 Series is 231mm longer (5,060mm against 4,829mm). The BMW 5 Series has the bigger boot: 520 litres against 445.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the BMW 5 Series or the Audi A5?
The Audi A5: new prices start at £42,760, £10,350 less than the BMW 5 Series (from £53,110). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the BMW 5 Series or the Audi A5?
Comparing petrol versions, the BMW 5 Series costs about £124 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,287 against £1,411), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the BMW 5 Series or the Audi A5?
Euro NCAP gave the BMW 5 Series 5 stars (2023) 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 5 Series or the Audi A5?
Pick the BMW 5 Series for the bigger boot, the better MOT record, lower fuel costs and more performance, or the Audi A5 for the lower price. 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.