Compare the2024 BMW M3VS 2023 Audi S5 Sportback

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M3 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 S5 Sportback doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The M3 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 S5 Sportback’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the M3 has standard Cross Traffic Warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Audi charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the S5 Sportback.

The M3’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 S5 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the M3 and the S5 Sportback 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 and available around view monitors.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M3 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, 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 S5 Sportback.

There are over 15 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the M3’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the M3 has a standard 720-amp battery. The S5 Sportback’s 420-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 M3’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 124 more horsepower (473 vs. 349) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 369) than the S5 Sportback’s 3.0 turbo V6. The M3 Competition’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 154 more horsepower (503 vs. 349) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 369) than the S5 Sportback’s 3.0 turbo V6. The M3 CS’ standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 194 more horsepower (543 vs. 349) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 369) than the S5 Sportback’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the M3 Competition is faster than the Audi S5 Sportback (automatics tested):

The M3 offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The S5 Sportback doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The M3’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 S5 Sportback doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the M3’s brake rotors are larger than those on the S5 Sportback:

The M3 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The S5 Sportback doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The M3 stops shorter than the S5 Sportback:

For better traction, the M3 has larger tires than the S5 Sportback (F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19 vs. 255/35R19). The M3’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S5 Sportback (F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19 vs. 265/30R20).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M3’s wheelbase is 1.3 inches longer than on the S5 Sportback (112.5 inches vs. 111.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the M3 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the S5 Sportback.

The M3’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.9% to 47.1%) than the S5 Sportback’s (56% to 44%). This gives the M3 more stable handling and braking.

The M3 Competition handles at 1.03 G’s, while the S5 Sportback Prestige pulls only .93 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The M3 Competition executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the S5 Sportback Prestige (23.8 seconds @ .85 average G’s vs. 25 seconds @ .76 average G’s).

The M3 has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S5 Sportback (95 vs. 91).

The M3 has 2.8 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, .5 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the S5 Sportback.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the M3’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The S5 Sportback doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the M3 offers cargo security. The S5 Sportback’s hatchback body style defeats 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 M3 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 S5 Sportback doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The M3’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 S5 Sportback’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Laser headlights, optional on the M3, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the S5 Sportback’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the M3 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The S5 Sportback doesn’t offer cornering lights. The M3 also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW M3 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the S5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The M3’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The S5 Sportback Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The M3 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S5 Sportback doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The BMW 3 Series outsold the Audi A5/S5/RS 5 by 66% during 2022.