Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2015 Audi A3 VS 2015 BMW 4 Near Scottsdale, AZ

The A3 Sedan’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi A3 Sedan are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The A3 Sedan has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the A3 Sedan and the 4 Series Gran Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the A3 Sedan its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2015, a rating granted to only 48 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 4 Series Gran Coupe has not been tested, yet.

The Audi A3 Sedan’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Audi vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Audi 14th in reliability, above the industry average. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 18th.

As tested in Car and Driver the A3 Sedan 2.0T is faster than the 428i Gran Coupe:

On the EPA test cycle the A3 Sedan TDI gets better fuel mileage than the 428i Gran Coupe RWD (31 city/43 hwy vs. 23 city/34 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the A3 Sedan 2.0T Quattro gets better fuel mileage than the 428i Gran Coupe xDrive (24 city/33 hwy vs. 22 city/32 hwy).

The A3 Sedan stops shorter than the 4 Series Gran Coupe:

The A3 Sedan’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 428i Gran Coupe’s standard 50 series tires.

The A3 Sedan 2.0T Quattro handles at .94 G’s, while the 428i Gran Coupe pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the A3 Sedan’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.1 feet). The A3 Sedan’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the 4 Series Gran Coupe xDrive’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Audi A3 Sedan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 500 pounds less than the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.

The A3 Sedan is 7.1 inches shorter than the 4 Series Gran Coupe, making the A3 Sedan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The A3 Sedan has standard seating for 5 passengers; the 4 Series Gran Coupe can only carry 2.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the A3 Sedan to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Insurance will cost less for the A3 Sedan owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the A3 Sedan will cost $1275 to $2375 less than the 4 Series Gran Coupe over a five-year period.

The A3 Sedan will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The Intellichoice estimates that the A3 Sedan will retain 54.23% to 55.18% of its original price after five years, while the 4 Series Gran Coupe only retains 46.25% to 47.99%.

Intellichoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi A3 Sedan will be $10371 to $13650 less than for the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.

The Car Book by Jack Gillis recommends the Audi A3 Sedan, based on economy, maintenance, safety and complaint levels.