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Germany’s big three luxury makers have long peered over each other’s fences to clock exactly what the rivals are up to, which goes a long way to explaining why their cars so often mirror one another. BMW rolls out a coupe-shaped SUV, and before long, Audi and Mercedes have their own takes on the idea. Audi launched the Sportback A5 back in 2009, and soon enough, BMW answered with the 4 Series Gran Coupe. That cycle of mutual borrowing rolls on, though in 2025 Audi shook things up by retiring both the A4 and A5 in favour of a single do-it-all A5 with four doors and a hatchback-style boot. It is a Sportback in all but name, yet with a straight face, Audi badged it a saloon. BMW, for its part, still offers the 4 Series as a two-door coupe, a four-door Gran Coupe and a convertible, so this comparison pits the new base A5 against the entry-level 4 Series Gran Coupe.
On performance, the raw numbers sit so close together that you might suspect a quiet word between boardrooms, were such collusion not firmly against the law. Chalk it up instead to luck and sharp marketing. Both entry cars draw on 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engines backed by a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup, and torque is identical. The A5 holds a 13-hp advantage that gives it the edge off the line, while the BMW hits back with stronger overall fuel economy. Behind the wheel, the Audi feels sure-footed and reassuring through bends, with a hushed, comfortable motorway gait. The BMW matches that polish but serves up a keener steering feel, and its rear-biased all-wheel-drive system makes for a more engaging drive on the right road.
Both cruise around town with ease, and while the A5’s dual-clutch gearbox snaps off slightly quicker shifts than the BMW’s eight-speed torque-converter unit, it is a shade less smooth at crawling speeds. It lands about as close to a dead heat as you could imagine, and the only sure way to pick a favourite is to drive the pair back to back. Move to pricing, and the story tilts. Despite its freshness, the A5 undercuts the 4 Series Gran Coupe by almost 3,000 dollars in base trim, and since Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive comes as standard, its closest match is really the 430i xDrive.
Styling is a matter of taste, though the newer A5 is less likely of the two to ruffle feathers. Inside, both follow the prevailing fashion of few buttons and plenty of screens. The Audi fields an 11.9-inch instrument panel, a 14.5-inch infotainment display and an optional 10.9-inch passenger screen, while the BMW counters with a 12.3-inch driver display and a 14.9-inch infotainment unit, minus any passenger interface. Cabin materials are first rate in both, and each seats four adults and their bags comfortably, though the A5 stretches a touch longer, wider and taller. Factoring in the fresher design and keener entry price, this round falls to the Audi.
Reliability proves trickier to call, drawing on real owner feedback from Consumer Reports. The A5 has only been built since 2025, so its predicted figure rests purely on early ownership, and a score of 46 out of 100 is far from disastrous given its youth. A clearer picture will take a few more years on the road. The previous A5 managed 61 out of 100 across a seven-year run, and the A4 saloon scored 64; since the new car carries over several key components, it should settle in around that mark. The 4 Series scored 63 for 2026, with a 69 average across its run so far, a slight lead over the Audi but not enough to settle matters on its own. Tally it all up, and it would be easy to call a draw and keep both camps happy. Yet thanks to its newer design, marginally stronger straight-line pace and lower starting price, the A5 edges ahead by the narrowest of margins, leaving only BMW loyalists grumbling today.
