Safety
Winner: BMW
BMW beats Audi when it comes to safety across its lineup. BMW’s overall average brand safety score is 9.76 out of 10, compared to Audi’s 9.68. All crash-tested 2018 BMW and Audi models earn a U.S. News safety score of 9.3 or better.
Both brands offers three vehicles that earn a perfect 10 U.S. News safety score for the 2018 model year. These include BMW’s 2 Series, 5 Series, and X3 (pictured above), as well as Audi’s A6, Allroad, and Q3.
Keep in mind that not all cars from these automakers undergo safety testing. Additionally, the brand-new BMW X2 has yet to be tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Performance
Winner: Audi
Both German luxury brands are superb choices for those who prioritize performance. BMW’s roster averages 8.68 out of 10 for its U.S. News performance scores. Audi narrowly edges past BMW with an average performance score of 8.78, despite its low-scoring Q3 (7.4). The Audi R8’s 9.4 and A5’s 9.3 (pictured above) push the automaker ahead while boasting the top two performance scores among these rival brands.
Reliability
Winner: BMW
As far as reliability is concerned, BMW is the better German luxury automaker. According to J.D. Power predicted reliability ratings, the brand averages 3.73 out of five. Moreover, every individual BMW vehicle earns at least an above-average rating. BMW’s highest scorers include the 5 Series (4.5), as well as the 2 Series, 4 Series, X1, and X4, all with scores of four out of five.
Audi’s predicted reliability rating across its lineup is average, at 3.04. Of 12 total vehicles, only three Audis received an above-average rating: the A5, A7, and A8. In addition, one-third of the brand’s offerings receive a below-average rating for predicted reliability.
Interiors
Winner: Audi
There’s no doubt that Audi and BMW are both known for their top-notch cabins. However, BMW lacks consistency, since a handful of models don’t live up to the rest of the pack. Conversely, nearly every 2018 Audi vehicle earns an impressive interior score. In fact, Audi claimed the second-place position – narrowly exceeded by Genesis – in our most recent top 10 list of brands with the best interiors. BMW didn’t make the cut.
The Audi A4 (pictured above) and A5 both receive a nine out of 10 U.S. News interior score. The automaker’s Q5 and Q7 SUVs each earn an 8.8. Aside from the low-scoring Q3 (7.4), the remaining Audis all earn an 8.4 or higher.
BMW’s top-scoring model is the 7 Series, at 8.8, followed by the 5 Series and X1, at 8.6 and 8.4, respectively. Many of the brand’s other models hover around eight, though the X4 scores 7.5 and the X2 get a very low 6.9.
Price
Winner: Audi
This category is tricky to compare, since Audi offers two luxury sports cars that have no direct competition from BMW. The Audi R8 supercar starts at $164,900, which is more expensive than any model manufactured by BMW, including the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car. However, if we look at starting prices for the two German automaker’s competing lineups, many of Audi’s vehicles are priced considerably lower and offer less-expensive upper trims than BMW.
The Audi A3 (pictured above) starts at $31,950, compared to the BMW 2 Series’ $34,950 starting price. Similarly, in our luxury midsize car rankings, the BMW 5 Series will set you back almost $4,000 more than the Audi A6. Moving up into luxury large cars, super luxury cars, and smaller luxury SUVs, the two brands’ pricing is more closely matched. However, the BMWs will still cost you more. The largest starting price discrepancy is in our luxury midsize SUV rankings. The Audi Q7 starts at $49,900, while the cheapest BMW X5 carries an MSRP of $57,200.
Luxury Small Car Rankings
Winner: Audi
German automakers tend to offer several smaller cars, and BMW and Audi are no exception. This makes sense for the European market, where buyers tend to prefer compact vehicles over larger SUVs. Audi offers the A3, A4 (pictured above), and A5, while BMW’s luxury small car stable consists of the 2 Series, 3 Series, and 4 Series. The electric BMW i3 also finds a home in the luxury small car class, but we’ll discuss that vehicle more on the next slide.
Averaging the scores from these two brands reveals that Audi is ahead in our competitive luxury small car rankings. The Audi A5 ranks the highest, with a score of 9.1 out of 10, followed by the Audi A4 with 8.9. The BMW 2 Series (8.8), 3 Series (8.7), 4 Series (8.6), and i3 (8.2) are next in line, while the Audi A3 scores an 8.1.
Luxury Hybrid and Electric Car Rankings
Winner: BMW
BMW is ahead of many other car manufacturers when it comes to plug-in hybrid and electric car offerings and sales. The BMW i3 is the automaker’s only all-electric vehicle, and you can get it with a gas-powered range extender. It scores an 8.2 out of 10 overall and places in the middle of our luxury small car rankings. Due to a handful of strong rivals, it lands near the bottom of our list of luxury hybrid and electric cars. BMW also offers plug-in hybrid versions of its X5, 3 Series, 5 Series, and 7 Series, as well as the plug-in hybrid i8.
Volkswagen Group has major plans for future electric vehicles from multiple brands under its umbrella, such as the upcoming E-tron SUV. However, at this point, Audi only offers the A3 Sportback E-tron plug-in hybrid hatchback.
Luxury Midsize Car Rankings
Winner: BMW
BMW’s luxury midsize 5 Series tops our rankings and outscores the Audi A6 by a respectable margin: 9.1 to 8.7. However, the A6 wins our Best Luxury Midsize Car for Families award for the 2018 model year. We’ll give the win to the 5 Series because of its higher overall score.
Luxury Large Car Rankings
Winner: Audi
Audi has a significant lead on BMW in our luxury large car rankings. The A7 scores a nine out of 10, landing just behind the top-ranked Tesla Model S and tying the Genesis G90. The BMW 6 Series comes in sixth place out of nine vehicles in the class, with an overall score of 8.3.
Wagons
Winner: BMW
The Audi Allroad gets its own review in our wagons rankings, even though it’s essentially a variant of the A4. While the BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon doesn’t have its own review on our site, it’s a worthy rival to the Audi. These cars share comparable specs, U.S. News scores, and pricing, though the Allroad is a larger vehicle.
Because the 3 Series gets the higher score on our site, it takes the win.
Super Luxury Cars Rankings
Winner: BMW
The BMW 7 Series and Audi A8 are neck-and-neck in U.S. News’ super luxury car rankings, holding the third and fourth positions. The BMW wins this one by a decimal, scoring 8.7 to the Audi’s 8.6. The A8 earns a better performance score, but the critics give the 7 Series a higher recommendation.
Luxury Sports Car Rankings
Winner: Audi
Audi offers two luxury sports cars: the TT and R8 (pictured above). While the R8 is successful in our highly competitive rankings, the TT places near the bottom.
BMW doesn’t offer any vehicles that qualify for our luxury sports car rankings. We don’t rank the i8, and the new Z sports car hasn’t been released yet. However, the 2 Series and 4 Series are both solid options for those looking for an alternative to the Audi TT. In its base configuration, the 2 Series offers more power and costs less than the TT. Like the Audi, it’s also available in a convertible configuration. The 4 Series is marginally less expensive than the TT and has more cargo space and horsepower.
Luxury Subcompact SUV Rankings
Winner: BMW
The BMW X1 holds the second-place position in our luxury subcompact SUV rankings, only exceeded by the all-new 2019 Volvo XC40. Audi’s competition – the Q3 – is the lowest-scoring vehicle in the automaker’s lineup and lands at the bottom of our rankings. It’s tied with the X2, which is BMW’s other subcompact SUV.
Luxury Compact SUV Rankings
Winner: Audi
Audi’s Q5 is U.S. News’ 2018 Best Luxury Compact SUV for Families, scoring an 8.9 out of 10 and placing second in our luxury compact SUV rankings. The 2018 BMW X3 earns a respectable 8.6, but is no longer ranked due to the arrival of the 2019 model. The 2019 X3 sits in sixth place, although it doesn’t yet have ratings for safety or predicted reliability.
BMW also offers the X4, which comes in at No. 10.
Luxury Midsize SUV Rankings
Winner: BMW
The Audi Q7 places in the fourth spot in our luxury midsize SUV rankings with an overall score of 8.7. BMW’s X5 is our 2018 Best Luxury 3-Row SUV for Families, scoring an 8.8 overall and landing in second place. BMW also offers the X6, which can’t compete with either of the above vehicles. It earns an eight and sits in the No. 17 position.
The Winner Is …
Audi
It was a very close race, but Audi came out ahead. Overall, the brand’s vehicles are less expensive, boast higher scores for performance and interiors, and are preferred by critics. However, BMW exceeds Audi in brand safety, albeit marginally. If safety is at the top of your list, either German luxury manufacturer should suffice. Taking everything into account, BMW is only a better choice if you prioritize reliability.
When analyzing how Audi and BMW compare in each vehicle class, it’s evident that Audi excels in luxury small cars, luxury large cars, luxury sports cars, and luxury compact SUVs.
BMW shines in our rankings for luxury midsize cars, super luxury cars, subcompact SUVs, wagons, hybrid cars, and midsize SUVs. The automaker also offers an electric car, which you can’t yet get with the Audi moniker.
In the end, the final decision between Audi and BMW comes down to your priorities. Using the information in this slideshow should make your decision easier.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
You can learn more about Audi and BMW by visiting their brand pages. To get a great deal on a German luxury car, visit our Audi and BMW deals pages. You can also find deals on vehicles from all automakers by heading over to our best financing deals and lease deals pages.
When you’re ready to buy, use the U.S. News Best Price Program to find dealers in your area with the best prices. Shoppers who use the program save an average of $3,106 off their new car purchase.
BMW vs. Audi: Battle of the Brands
- Safety - Winner: BMW
- Performance - Winner: Audi
- Reliability - Winner: BMW
- Interior - Winner: Audi
- Price - Winner: Audi
- Luxury Small Car Rankings - Winner: Audi
- Luxury Hybrid and Electric Car Rankings - Winner: BMW
- Luxury Midsize Car Rankings - Winner: BMW
- Luxury Large Car Rankings - Winner: Audi
- Wagons - Winner: BMW
- Super Luxury Car Rankings - Winner: BMW
- Luxury Sports Car Rankings - Winner: Audi
- Luxury Subcompact SUV Rankings - Winner: BMW
- Luxury Compact SUV Rankings - Winner: Audi
- Luxury Midsize SUV Rankings - Winner: BMW
- Critics’ Rating - Winner: Audi
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Which German Luxury Brand Is The Best for 2018?
Audi and BMW are two fantastic luxury brands that both offer plenty of highly ranked cars and SUVs. These vehicles require a premium investment, so it’s important to know which is the better choice overall and in individual categories, including performance, interiors, safety, and reliability.
In order to determine which automaker offers a better lineup, we compare U.S. News scores in each of the above categories across both brands as a whole. Additionally, we analyze how Audi and BMW compare in all individual car and SUV rankings on our site.
Remember that the scores in this article may not match up with the scores in other areas of U.S. News Best Cars. This is because we continually update our rankings as new expert reviews and data become available.
Continue reading to learn how Audi and BMW fare in the categories that matter most to luxury car shoppers. Let’s find out which German automaker wins this comparison.