Compare the2024 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 use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The A3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 2 Series Gran Coupe has standard Cross Traffic Warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist 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.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 2 Series Gran Coupe for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, 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’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 29 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Audi.

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 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 101 more horsepower (302 vs. 201) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 221) than the A3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe is faster than the Audi A3:

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.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe stops much shorter than the A3:

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 M235i xDrive Gran Coupe handles at .91 G’s, while the A3 Premium Plus Quattro pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The M235i xDrive Gran Coupe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the A3 Premium Plus Quattro (25.8 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the 2 Series Gran Coupe a Compact car, while the A3 is rated a Subcompact.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A3 (91 vs. 87).

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).

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 2 Series Gran offers cargo security. The A3’s 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 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 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the 2 Series Gran Coupe will retain 51.55% to 52% of its original price after five years, while the A3 only retains 48.11% to 50.83%.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 2 Series Gran Coupe second among small premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The A3 isn’t in the top three.

The BMW 2 Series outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by 18% during 2022.