BMW 5 Series vs Audi A6
Figures updated
The BMW 5 Series and Audi A6 are two of the UK's most popular executive cars. We compare the G60 (2023–) 5 Series and the C9 (2025–) A6 on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 321,215 real MOT tests.
The short answer
The BMW 5 Series comes out ahead, with the lower price, the bigger boot, lower fuel costs and more performance; the Audi A6 is close on everything else.
- The BMW 5 Series is the cheapest to buy new: from £53,110, £950 less than the Audi A6.
- The BMW 5 Series has the biggest boot: 520 litres, 28 more than the Audi A6.
- Their MOT records are close: once age and mileage are taken into account, they fail about as often as each other.
- The BMW 5 Series is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £162 a year less than the Audi A6 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 A6C9 (2025–), 4-door saloon |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £53,110 to £79,830July 2026 price list | from £54,060October 2026 price list |
| Body | 4-door saloon | 4-door saloon |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 520 litres (best) | 492 litres |
| Length | 5,060mm | 4,999mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,900mm | 1,875mm |
| Height | 1,515mm | 1,452mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 208–489 PS (best) | 204–299 PS |
| 0–62mph | 4.3–7.5 sec (best) | 6.0–8.2 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2023) | ★★★★★ (2024) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Electric, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 42.8–45.5 mpg | 36.2–55.4 mpg |
| CO2 | 14–139 g/km | 32–178 g/km |
| Electric range | – | 329–462 miles |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.7p a litre, today's UK average | £1,287 (45.5 mpg) (best) | £1,449 (40.4 mpg) |
| Electric, charged at home26.3p per kWh standard tariff | – | £548 (4 mi/kWh) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,287 (petrol) | £548 (electric) |
| 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 | 155Well above average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 20.3% | 20.9% |
| Failed at 3 years old | 11.9% | 9.5% (best) |
| Failed at 5 years old | 12.5% | 11.2% (best) |
| Failed at 10 years old | 19.9% | 20.5% |
| Most common MOT fault | Tread depth (2.4% of tests) | Tread depth (2.9% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Wheels (2.2×) | Nothing stands out |
| MOT tests analysed | 198,590 | 122,625 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Executive car | Executive car |
| Owners' average miles a year | 10,900 | 11,000 |
| On sale | 2023 on | 2025 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 A6 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 157 and 155, where 100 is average).
›Which is bigger, the BMW 5 Series or the Audi A6?
The BMW 5 Series is 61mm longer (5,060mm against 4,999mm). The BMW 5 Series has the bigger boot: 520 litres against 492.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the BMW 5 Series or the Audi A6?
The BMW 5 Series: new prices start at £53,110, £950 less than the Audi A6 (from £54,060). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the BMW 5 Series or the Audi A6?
Comparing petrol versions, the BMW 5 Series costs about £162 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,287 against £1,449), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the BMW 5 Series or the Audi A6?
Euro NCAP gave the BMW 5 Series 5 stars (2023) and the Audi A6 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 A6?
The BMW 5 Series comes out ahead, with the lower price, the bigger boot, lower fuel costs and more performance; the Audi A6 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.