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Audi A6 vs BMW 5 Series

Audi A6

Audi A6

Audi’s executive saloon.

VS
BMW 5 Series

BMW 5 Series

BMW’s executive saloon.

First car
Second car
Pick this one if…

Audi A6

Pick the A6 for quattro, the 530-litre boot and the frugal 2.0 TDI — but the climate controls are touchscreen-only.

Best engine: The mid-range 2.0 TDI diesel for the best balance of economy and torque — or the 2.0 TFSI petrol.
Read the full guide
Pick this one if…

BMW 5 Series

Pick the 5 Series for a benchmark balance of comfort and handling, a hushed ride and a big boot in a premium executive sedan.

Best engine: The 520i (petrol) or 520d (diesel).
Read the full guide

Performance

EA888 45 TFSI · Petrol vs B48 520i · Petrol

Audi A6 BMW 5 Series
Power
245 hp Winner
184 hp
Torque
370 Nm Winner
290 Nm
0–100 km/h
6,0 s Winner
7,8 s
Top speed
250 km/h Winner
235 km/h
Power-to-weight
148,5 hp/t Winner
119,1 hp/t
CO₂ emissions (WLTP)
160 g/km
140 g/km Winner
Consumption (WLTP)
7,1 L/100km
6,2 L/100km Winner

Dimensions & space

Audi A6 BMW 5 Series
Boot
530 L
530 L
Boot (seats folded)
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—
Wheelbase
2,92 m
2,98 m Winner
Length
4,94 m
4,94 m
Width
1,89 m
1,87 m
Height
1,46 m
1,48 m
Seats
5
5

Powertrain & tech

Audi A6 BMW 5 Series
Platform MLB Evo (longitudinal) CLAR (rear-wheel-drive base)
Drive Front-wheel drive · All-wheel drive Rear-wheel drive · All-wheel drive
Engine family EA888 petrol · EA288 diesel · plug-in hybrid B48 petrol · B47 diesel · plug-in hybrid
Fuel Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid
Transmission 7-speed S tronic (DSG) 8-speed automatic (ZF)
Euro standard Euro 6d-TEMP (early) · Euro 6d (later) Euro 6 (early) · Euro 6d-TEMP (later)
LEZ access Euro 6 diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent) Euro 6 diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)

Reliability & watch-outs

Known issues

Audi A6
  • S tronic (DSG) mechatronics are the best-known weak point, especially on diesels
  • EA288 diesels: AdBlue/SCR needs attention with mainly short trips
  • Direct-injection TFSI petrols: carbon buildup with lots of short trips
BMW 5 Series
  • EGR cooler can leak on B47 diesels
  • Early iDrive (NBT EVO) software quirks
  • Level sensor of the optional air suspension can fail

Pros

Audi A6
  • quattro optional — standard on the 3.0-litre engines
  • 530-litre boot
  • 48V mild-hybrid standard on most engines
BMW 5 Series
  • Benchmark ride/handling balance (CLAR)
  • Efficient, quiet B47/B48 engines
  • Big boot (530 l) & roomy cabin

Cons

Audi A6
  • Touchscreen-only climate controls (no physical buttons)
  • S tronic/tiptronic only — no manual gearbox
BMW 5 Series
  • Firm ride on M Sport + run-flat
  • Pricey options list

Driving experience

Audi A6

As a model line, the A6 steers accurately with light, consistent weighting and stays quiet at motorway speeds. Front-drive versions feel light and easy; quattro adds strong traction out of corners (standard on 3.0-litre engines, optional on 2.0-litre models). The 2.0 TDI is strong and frugal, the 45 TFSI is smooth, and the 3.0 TFSI is genuinely quick. The S tronic shifts quickly. It is tuned for comfort over sharp handling.

BMW 5 Series

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Compare specific generations

Belgian taxes & LEZ

Region
Fuel
Euro norm
First registration
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For sale at dealers