Compare the2022 BMW 8 Series Gran CoupeVS 2021 Audi S7

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The S7 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The S7 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 8 Series Gran Coupe and the S7 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 8 Series Gran Coupe for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the S7.

There are over 15 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 8 Series Gran Coupe first among large premium cars in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The S7 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 18th in initial quality. With 49 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 32nd.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 2 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The M850i Gran Coupe’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 79 more horsepower (523 vs. 444) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 443) than the S7’s 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid.

For better traction and acceleration, the 8 Series Gran Coupe has larger rear tires than the S7 (275/35R19 vs. 255/35R21).

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s optional 275/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S7’s 35 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the 8 Series Gran Coupe can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The S7 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe M850i has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The S7 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The M850i Gran Coupe offers an available active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the S7.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the S7 (119 inches vs. 115.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 8 Series Gran Coupe is 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the S7.

The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 350 pounds less than the Audi S7.

The front grille of the 8 Series Gran Coupe uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The S7 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has 2.1 inches more front headroom and .8 inches more front legroom than the S7.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the 8 Series Gran Coupe’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The S7 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 8 Series offers cargo security. The S7’s hatchback body style, non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks BMW 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 4% lower rating, Audi is ranked 12th.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The S7 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

A power rear sunshade is standard in the 8 Series Gran Coupe and manual rear side window sunshades are optional to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The S7 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe’s available Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The S7’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The BMW 8 Series comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Audi S7 isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

The 8 Series Gran Coupe is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S7 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.