Compare the2025 BMW 4 Series Gran CoupeVS 2024 Audi A3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 4 Series Gran Coupe are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The A3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 4 Series Gran Coupe 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 A3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The A3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The 4 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 4 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 4 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 4 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, 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.

The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe weighs 404 to 937 pounds more than the Audi A3. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 4 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 14 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s warranty.

Reliability

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.

Engine

The 430i Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 54 more horsepower (255 vs. 201) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 221) than the A3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The M440i Coupe’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 185 more horsepower (386 vs. 201) and 177 lbs.-ft. more torque (398 vs. 221) than the A3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the A3 FWD’s standard fuel tank (15.6 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The 4 Series Gran Coupe has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the A3 Quattro’s standard fuel tank (15.6 vs. 14.5 gallons).

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A3.

The 4 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.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s brake rotors are larger than those on the A3:

	4 Series Gran Coupe	M440i Gran Coupe xDrive	A3
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	14.7 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.6 inches	10.7 inches

The 4 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.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the 4 Series Gran Coupe has larger standard tires than the A3 (245/45R18 vs. 225/45R17). The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the A3 (F:245/40R19 & R:255/40R19 vs. 225/45R17).

The 4 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 4 Series Gran Coupe has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the A3. The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the A3.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 4 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.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s wheelbase is 8.9 inches longer than on the A3 (112.4 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the 4 Series Gran Coupe is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 3.8 inches wider in the rear than on the A3.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the 4 Series Gran Coupe a Compact car, while the A3 is rated a Subcompact.

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

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the A3.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the 4 Series Gran Coupe is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the A3. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has a standard 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 4 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.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s standard Comfort Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Engine Start/Stop standard on the A3 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 4 Series Gran Coupe offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The A3 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The 4 Series Gran Coupe also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The 4 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.

The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe 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 costs extra on the A3.

Both the 4 Series Gran Coupe and the A3 have standard heated front seats. The 4 Series Gran Coupe also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the A3.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the 4 Series Gran Coupe keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The A3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the 4 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 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Homelink® is only available on the A3 Premium Plus.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW 4 Series has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the A3.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The A3’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Model Availability

The BMW 4 Series comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Audi A3 isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

Economic Advantages

The 4 Series Gran Coupe will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the 4 Series Gran Coupe will retain 52.7% to 54.31% of its original price after five years, while the A3 only retains 48.11% to 50.83%.

Recommendations

The BMW 4 Series outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by almost four to one during 2023.

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