Compare the2023 Audi e-tron GTVS 2022 BMW 7 Series

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi e-tron GT are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 7 Series doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the e-tron GT and 7 Series have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The e-tron GT has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The 7 Series’ child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the e-tron GT. But it costs extra on the 7 Series.

Both the e-tron GT and the 7 Series 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The e-tron GT has more powerful engines than the 7 Series:

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi e-tron GT (base engine) is faster than the 745e 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid:

As tested in Car and Driver the RS e-tron GT is faster than the 750i 4.4 turbo V8:

On the EPA test cycle the e-tron GT gets better mileage than the 7 Series running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the e-tron GT gets better mileage than the 7 Series running its gasoline engine:

The e-tron GT can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 232 to 238 miles. The 745e has to start its internal combustion engine after only 17 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi e-tron GT higher (10 out of 10) than the BMW 7 Series (3). This means the e-tron GT produces up to 36.3 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 7 Series every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the e-tron GT’s brake rotors are larger than those on the 7 Series:

The e-tron GT RS offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The 7 Series doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The e-tron GT stops much shorter than the 7 Series:

For better traction, the e-tron GT Prestige/RS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 7 Series (F:265/35R21 & R:305/30R21 vs. F:255/40R20 & R:295/35R20).

The e-tron GT’s standard 245/45R20 front and 285/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 7 Series’ standard 50 series tires. The e-tron GT Prestige/RS’ optional 265/35R21 front and 305/30R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the 7 Series’ optional 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the e-tron GT has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the 7 Series. The e-tron GT Prestige/RS’ optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the 7 Series.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the e-tron GT is 3.2 inches wider in the front and .6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 7 Series.

The RS e-tron GT handles at .95 G’s, while the 745e xDrive pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The RS e-tron GT executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the 745e xDrive (24.1 seconds @ .85 average G’s vs. 26.1 seconds @ .73 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the e-tron GT’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the 740i’s (38.1 feet vs. 42 feet). The e-tron GT’s turning circle is 4.3 feet tighter than the 7 Series xDrive’s (38.1 feet vs. 42.4 feet).

The e-tron GT is 10.3 inches shorter than the Alpina B7, making the e-tron GT easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The e-tron GT is 11 inches shorter than the 7 Series.

The design of the Audi e-tron GT amounts to more than styling. The e-tron GT has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .24 Cd. That is lower than the 7 Series (.27 to .31) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the e-tron GT get better fuel mileage.

The e-tron GT’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The 7 Series doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

The e-tron GT will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the e-tron GT will retain 42.28% to 42.99% of its original price after five years, while the 7 Series only retains 33.92% to 40.78%.

The Audi e-tron outsold the BMW 7 Series by 20% during the 2021 model year.