Compare the2023 BMW 2 Series Gran CoupeVS 2023 Audi A3

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 2 Series Gran Coupe offers optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The A3 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe 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 A3’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 2 Series Gran Coupe 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 A3.

The 2 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 A3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 2 Series Gran Coupe and the A3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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 and available all wheel drive.

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 available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the 2 Series Gran Coupe the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 162 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A3 has not been tested, yet.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 2 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 A3.

There are over 15 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 2 Series Gran Coupe first among small premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The A3 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 228i Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 27 more horsepower (228 vs. 201) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 221) than the A3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The M235i xDrive Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 100 more horsepower (301 vs. 201) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 221) than the A3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A3.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The A3 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s brake rotors are larger than those on the A3:

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the A3 are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the A3 (235/35R19 vs. 225/45R17).

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A3’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 2 Series Gran Coupe offers optional 19-inch wheels. The A3’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 2 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 A3 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the A3 (105.1 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 2 Series Gran Coupe is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A3.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe has 3 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the A3.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe has a much larger trunk than the A3 (15.1 vs. 10.9 cubic feet).

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 2 Series Gran Coupe 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 A3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The A3 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

Consumer Reports rated the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the A3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the 2 Series Gran Coupe offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The A3 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The A3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

On extremely cold winter days, the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The A3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s optional Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The A3’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and the Audi A3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW 2 Series outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by almost four to one during the 2021 model year.