Compare the2023 Audi S3VS 2023 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe

Both the S3 and 4 Series Gran Coupe have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S3 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 4 Series Gran Coupe’s 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 S3. But it costs extra on the 4 Series Gran Coupe.

Both the S3 and the 4 Series Gran Coupe 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 blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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 S3 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 101 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 4 Series Gran Coupe has not been tested, yet.

The Audi S3’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The S3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 51 more horsepower (306 vs. 255) and 1 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 294) than the 430i Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the S3 gets better fuel mileage than the M440i Gran Coupe xDrive (23 city/32 hwy vs. 22 city/31 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi S3 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The 4 Series Gran Coupe requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The S3 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

For better stopping power the S3’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the 4 Series Gran Coupe:

The S3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s 45 series tires. The S3’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s optional 40 series tires.

For better maneuverability, the S3’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s (36.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Audi S3 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 650 pounds less than the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.

The S3 is 11.2 inches shorter than the 4 Series Gran Coupe, making the S3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the S3 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The S3 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The S3 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the S3 will retain 50.76% to 50.94% of its original price after five years, while the 4 Series Gran Coupe only retains 46.46% to 47.21%.