Compare the2023 BMW 5 Series SedanVS 2023 Audi S7

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 5 Series Sedan offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The S7 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The 5 Series Sedan has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 S7’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 5 Series Sedan has standard Cross Traffic Warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Audi charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the S7.

The 5 Series Sedan’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 5 Series Sedan 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 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 standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the 5 Series Sedan its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The S7 has not been tested, yet.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 5 Series Sedan 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 5 Series Sedan’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 5 Series Sedan second among midsize premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The S7 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 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 6th.

The M550i’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 79 more horsepower (523 vs. 444) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 442) than the S7’s 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the 5 Series Sedan gets better mileage than the S7:

The 5 Series Sedan’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 5 Series Sedan 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 5 Series Sedan 540i/M550i offers 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 M550i offers an available adjustable 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 5 Series Sedan’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the S7 (117.1 inches vs. 115.3 inches).

For better maneuverability, the 5 Series Sedan’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the S7’s (39.4 feet vs. 40 feet).

The BMW 5 Series Sedan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 800 pounds less than the Audi S7.

The front grille of the 5 Series Sedan 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 5 Series Sedan has 4.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S7 (98.8 vs. 94).

The 5 Series Sedan has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room and .4 inches more rear headroom than the S7.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 5 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 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 1% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The 5 Series Sedan 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 S7 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The 5 Series Sedan’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The S7’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The S7’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The 5 Series Sedan’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.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the 5 Series Sedan to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The S7 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The 5 Series Sedan is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S7 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the 5 Series Sedan owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the 5 Series Sedan will cost $2570 less than the S7 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the BMW 5 Series Sedan will be $6303 to $25004 less than for the Audi S7.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW 5 Series Sedan, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW 5 Series outsold the Audi A7/S7/RS 7 by over 9 to one during 2022.