Compare the2023 BMW X3VS 2023 Audi A4 Allroad

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The X3 offers optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The X3 has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the A4 Allroad’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the X3 has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the A4 Allroad.

The X3’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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the X3 and the A4 Allroad have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, 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 and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the BMW X3 is safer than the Audi A4 Allroad:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the X3 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 96 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A4 Allroad is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 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 A4 Allroad.

There are over 15 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the X3’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X3 first among compact premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The A4 Allroad isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in initial quality. With 74 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

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 X3 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 121 more horsepower (382 vs. 261) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 273) than the A4 Allroad’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Regenerative brakes improve the X3’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X3 has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the A4 Allroad (17.2 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW X3, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A4 Allroad.

For better stopping power the X3 M40i’s brake rotors are larger than those on the A4 Allroad:

The X3 stops shorter than the A4 Allroad:

The X3’s optional 245/40R21 front and 275/35R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A4 Allroad’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X3 has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the A4 Allroad. The X3 offers optional 21-inch wheels.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the X3 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X3’s wheelbase is 1.9 inches longer than on the A4 Allroad (112.8 inches vs. 110.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X3 is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A4 Allroad.

The X3 M40i xDrive handles at .88 G’s, while the A4 Allroad Prestige pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The X3 M40i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the A4 Allroad Premium Plus (25.9 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X3 has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the A4 Allroad (8 vs. 6.5 inches), allowing the X3 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the X3 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The X3 has 9.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A4 Allroad (101.4 vs. 92).

The X3 has 3.7 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, .7 inches more rear legroom and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the A4 Allroad.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X3’s rear seats recline. The A4 Allroad’s rear seats don’t recline.

The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the A4 Allroad with its rear seat up (28.7 vs. 24.2 cubic feet). The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the A4 Allroad with its rear seat folded (62.7 vs. 58.5 cubic feet).

The X3’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the A4 Allroad’s (4400 vs. 3968 pounds).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 1% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The X3 offers a 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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The A4 Allroad’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The X3’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The X3’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The A4 Allroad Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The X3 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The X3 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the X3 will retain 49.78% to 50.55% of its original price after five years, while the A4 Allroad only retains 46.18% to 46.44%.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW X3 and the Audi A4 Allroad, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW X3 outsold the Audi A4/S4 by over four to one during the 2021 model year.