Compare the2025 BMW 3 Series SedanVS 2024 Audi S4

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the 3 Series Sedan are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The S4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 3 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 S4 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The 3 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 S4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 3 Series Sedan and the S4 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 3 Series Sedan 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 S4.

There are over 14 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 3 Series Sedan’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 3 Series Sedan third among compact premium cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The S4 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 36 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 With 85 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks BMW higher than Audi.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 10 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The M340i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 37 more horsepower (386 vs. 349) and 29 lbs.-ft. more torque (398 vs. 369) than the S4’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the M340i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Audi S4:

On the EPA test cycle the 3 Series Sedan gets better mileage than the S4:

Regenerative brakes improve the 3 Series Sedan’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The S4 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW 3 Series Sedan higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Audi S4 (5). This means the 3 Series Sedan produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the S4 every 15,000 miles.

The 3 Series Sedan stops much shorter than the S4:

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 3 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 S4 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 3 Series Sedan’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the S4 (112.2 inches vs. 111 inches).

The 3 Series Sedan’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.1% to 47.9%) than the S4’s (57% to 43%). This gives the 3 Series Sedan more stable handling and braking.

The 330i handles at .99 G’s, while the S4 Prestige pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The BMW 3 Series Sedan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 200 pounds less than the Audi S4.

The design of the BMW 3 Series Sedan amounts to more than styling. The 3 Series Sedan has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .26 Cd. That is significantly lower than the S4 (.3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the 3 Series Sedan get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the 3 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 S4 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 3 Series Sedan has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the S4.

The 3 Series Sedan has a much larger trunk than the S4 (16.9 vs. 12 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the 3 Series Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The S4 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the 3 Series Sedan offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The S4 doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

The BMW 3 Series Sedan has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the S4 Premium Plus/Prestige.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW 3 Series has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the S4 Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The 3 Series Sedan’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The S4 Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The 3 Series Sedan is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S4 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW 3 Series Sedan, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 3 Series Sedan third among compact premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The S4 isn’t in the top three.

The BMW 3 Series outsold the Audi A4/S4 by almost three to one during 2023.