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Audi A4 vs BMW 3 Series

2025 Audi A4 vs 2025 BMW 3 Series — two compact cars compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Audi A4

2025 Audi A4

Compact CarsAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS0 – 4BMW 3 Series wins 4 of 4 categories
BMW 3 Series

2025 BMW 3 Series

Compact CarsAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The BMW 3 Series is more fuel-efficient: 31 vs 29 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $200 a year less in fuel for the BMW 3 Series (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Audi A4 is the bigger car, about 2 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the BMW 3 Series has had fewer recall campaigns (4 vs 25).

The two cars

The 2025 Audi A4 is a compact car offered with a 2.0L 4-cyl turbo engine, including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive. It measures about 187 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 111-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,633 lb (4dr Sedan Quattro).

The 2025 BMW 3 Series is a compact car offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl turbo and 3.0L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 185 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 112-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,902 lb (3-Series 330e 4dr Sedan).

Buying used? The 2024 A4 and the 2024 3 Series have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2020 A4.

Basics

Compact Cars
Class
Compact Cars
Hybrid
Fuel
Hybrid
2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.0L 4-cyl turbo
All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

29 MPG
Best combined MPG
31 MPG
26 city
City / highway MPG (best)
28 city
$2,850
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$2,650

Performance & space

261 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
–
187.4 in
Length
185.4 in
72.8 in
Width
72 in
56.3 in
Height
56.7 in
3,633 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,494 lb

Safety & reliability

12
Driver-assist features standard
–
0
Recalls (2025)
0
25
Recalls, all years since 2005
4
1
Owner complaints (latest year)
0

Interest

27,360
Wikipedia views, 30 days
47,774

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2024
2020
Year to avoid
–

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Audi A4 if…

It doesn't clearly beat the BMW 3 Series on any measure we track.

Choose the BMW 3 Series if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (31 vs 29 MPG)
  • You put reliability history first (4 vs 25 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2025 Audi A4

  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • No recalls so far
  • Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
  • Modest powerUp to 261 hp, versus about 362 hp for similar 2025 models.

2025 BMW 3 Series

  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • No recalls so far
  • Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.

Full 2025 Audi A4 specs →Full 2025 BMW 3 Series specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →