BMW 4 Series Squares Up To The New Audi A5 In A Coupe Battle

The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe has a fresh fight on its hands. Audi has swept away the old A4 saloon and A5 range and replaced them with a single sleek liftback, the new A5. On paper, the two look like twins. Both are four-door coupes with a practical hatch at the back. Yet they go about their business in very different ways.

The A5 plays the smoother hand for the eye. Its softer roofline frees up rear headroom, and the gentle kink in the tail blends saloon manners with a modern cut. Inside, Audi fits a 14.5-inch central touchscreen and an 11.9-inch driver’s display as standard, with the option of a screen for the passenger too. The BMW answers with a 14.9-inch infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch cluster. The cabin may be a familiar design, but the fit and finish still impress.

Boot space splits the pair. The Audi holds more with the rear seats upright, making it the easier companion for a weekly shop. Fold the seats flat, though, and the BMW opens up the larger, more useful load bay. Passenger room is much of a muchness. Families will find little to separate them on space alone.

Under the bonnet, both run a 2.0-litre turbo four with 48-volt mild-hybrid help. The Audi carries a touch more power and edges ahead to 60mph, but the gap is tiny. Audi sends drive to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch, while BMW sticks with its trusty eight-speed auto and offers rear or all-wheel drive. The 4 Series sips less fuel whichever way you configure it. It is the keener car through a set of bends, where the A5 stays calm but keeps the road at arm’s length.

So the badge on the bonnet may still decide it. The A5 is the polished cruiser with room to spare and a whisker of extra pace. The 4 Series rewards the driver, drinks less at the pumps and brings a proven reliability record. Both are talented machines. Buyers will likely follow their hearts, and that is no bad way to pick a car like this.