2021 Audi A4 v 2021 BMW 330i comparison
Build a better 3 Series and buyers will beat a path to your showroom. Let’s find out if Audi has managed to do that, or if BMW’s perennial executive sedan remains at the top of its game.
Overview
There was once a time when every premium carmaker worth their salt strove to build a better 3 Series. Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, executive sedans like the BMW 3 Series and its rivals – Audi A4, Lexus IS, Jaguar XE, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Volvo S40 to name a few – were the entry points to their brands. And those brands knew that if they captured the prestige buyer early, they’d most likely stay with the brand over time, stepping up to bigger, more luxurious and more expensive models later in life.
Those days are gone. Not only are cars like the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class no longer the entry points to those brands, but ambitious white-collar types are now buying SUVs instead of executive sedans. That’s why the prestige sedan category that once boasted 30,000 sales a year in 2000 barely manages one-third of that today.
That doesn’t mean cars like the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series aren’t any good. In fact, they’ve never been better. The class of 2022 boasts more space, more technology, more power and more refinement than their Y2K forebears could ever have dreamed about.
Let’s not forget they’re also the base on which hyper-performance sedans like the BMW M3 and Audi RS4 are built. So they also know their way around a corner or two.
The Audi A4 received a minor facelift in 2021 and the BMW 3 Series, meanwhile, went through a turbulent 12 months as the company was forced to remove certain key features because of the semi-conductor shortage.
Both cars are now back at the top of their game, and we wanted to see which one makes the more compelling offering to buyers with $80,000 to spend, and who don’t want an SUV.
Let’s find out.
Introduction
Audi A4
Premium mid-size sedans aren’t the aspirational powerhouses of the middle classes they once were, supplanted in buyers’ consciousness – and aspirations – by luxury SUVs.
The Audi A4 sedan, while not exactly defying the trend, does make a case for the traditional sedan. In 2021, it remains Audi’s best-selling car that’s not an SUV, eclipsing even the more affordable and arguably more appealing A3 hatchback and sedan range. Add in the numbers for the A4 sedan’s twin-under-the skin A5 range, and it’s clear Ingolstadt’s medium sedan still holds an important place in the Audi line-up.
The A4 range underwent a minor facelift late last year, bringing with it some subtle styling tweaks and tech upgrades designed to keep Audi’s aspirational sedan fresh.
Model-year 2022 is coming and will see some minor price increases across the range that starts with the entry-level A4 35 TFSI at $57,700 plus on-road costs. Next step on the ladder is the A4 35 TFSI S Line priced at $61,800, before taking a leap into the 2022 Audi A4 45 TFSI S Line priced at $70,800 plus on-road costs, which represents as much A4 as you can buy before the ‘A’ in its nomenclature is replaced by an ‘S’.
There’s also, for those who love such things (and we do), an A4 Avant (Audi speak for ‘station wagon’) 45 TFSI S Line that asks for $73,300.
That pricing stacks up well when compared to the A4’s traditional rivals, the A4 range undercutting the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Lexus IS.
But, the car we have on test here is the model-year 2021 Audi A4 45 TFSI S Line, which is $2300 more affordable than the incoming MY22-plated model. Priced at $68,500 plus on-road costs before options, our tester came fitted with a smattering of options that bumped the price up to $77,555 plus on-roads as tested.
Those options include the $3770 Assistance Plus pack that bundles in adaptive cruise control with Pre-sense front, a head-up display, 360-degree camera, and park assist. There’s a $1990 coat of ‘special paint’, in our case Quantum Grey, as well as adaptive sports suspension ($1430), 19-inch alloy wheels ($501), a high-gloss black styling package for the exterior ($1040) and piano-black interior accents for $520.
You could probably do without the extra styling garnishes, but the Assistance Plus pack is a box we’d tick, if only for the enhanced capabilities of Audi’s autonomous emergency braking system, which in standard trim works at speeds up to 85km/h, but is bumped up to 250km/h with the optional pack.
BMW 330i
It wasn’t that long ago we suggested BMW had finally rediscovered its iconic driver-first form in the recent update to the 5 Series saloon. However, it only took a few moments behind the wheel of the 2021 BMW 330i to be reminded that the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ form has actually been there all along, and that this car never actually lost it.
Since 1975, the 3 Series has been the quintessential executive sports sedan. There have been highs and lows along the way, but the seventh-generation G20 3er has overcome the odds to deliver both a proper BMW experience, and in the mid-level guise of the 330i, the undeniable pick of range.
Albeit, not in this spec. More on that shortly, though.
Priced from $77,605 before options and on-road costs, the 330i Luxury Line sits $6035 above its lower-power 320i sibling ($71,570), but $4795 under the hybrid 330e ($82,400) and a massive $23,866 less than the all-wheel-drive M340i Pure ($101,471).
However, it is worth noting that the price changed on the 330i a couple of times this year, with equipment altering accordingly. When our tester was registered it had a list of $77,900, but this dropped $2500 to $75,400 as the car lost its standard Driver Assistance Plus package (adaptive cruise control and steering assist) due to microchip shortages.
You can’t even add it as an option.
Further production pressure has seen the price climb back up another $2205 (still without the semi-autonomous gadgetry), but option prices have reduced somewhat. For example, our car modestly adds just Sapphire Black metallic paint (currently $1538) and a glass sunroof ($2231) for a total of $3769, which did cost $2000 and $2900 respectively for an option addition of $4900. They’ve also now thrown in the Ambient Lighting package ($700), but taken out the wireless charging feature too.
Confused?
It gets even trickier when you consider the M-Sport variant is the same price and, while offering a different steering and braking set-up, it has no faux-leather stitched dashboard. The body styling is more muscular, too, and I will argue until all the suns set over all the lands that M-Sport is the better choice.
But hot damn, you want that driver assistance tech back in the car, so perhaps speak to your local BMW dealer to check just ‘when’ your proposed car was built and, if ordering new, when it will get all the touring goodies added back in.
| Key details | 2021 Audi A4 45 TFSI Quattro S Line | 2021 BMW 330i Luxury Line |
| Price (MSRP) | $68,500 plus on-road costs | $77,900 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Quantum Grey | Sapphire Black Metallic |
| Options | Assistance Plus – $3770 Premium paint – $1990 Sports suspension – $1430 19-inch alloy wheels – $501 High-gloss exterior styling – $1040 Piano black interior styling – $520 |
Glass sunroof ($2900), metallic paint ($2000) |
| Price as tested | $77,751 plus on-road costs | $82,800 plus on-road costs |
| Drive-away price |
Inside
Audi A4There are no surprises inside the Audi A4. The cabin is an exercise in minimalism with generous dollops of premium refinement. The leather seats are comfortable, with decent support and bolstering, with electric lumbar support for both driver and passenger.
The leather-wrapped steering wheel feels chunky and solid, exactly as it should, as does the gear selector that to our eyes remains one of the better examples in the new car space. It feels just right in hand, eschewing the trickery and gimmicks, such as rotary dials, that are starting to sprout up in new cars of all shapes and sizes. It’s the little things that count sometimes, right?
There’s a decent amount of storage too: from the central storage bin to the twin cupholders and, new in the revised model, a small cubby where the dial for controlling Audi’s infotainment once lived. It’s been consigned to the back catalogue, and in its place a touchscreen (10.1 inches) sprouts from the dashtop.
The second row isn’t the last word in roominess but it’s serviceable enough. There’s adequate knee and leg room behind my 173cm driving position, but the fact the front seat backs feature scalloped inserts (fashioned out of hard plastic) for some extra space says a lot.
There are air vents back there and temperature controls, but only a single 12V outlet for charging devices. We’d venture the latter would be more useful than the former in a vehicle the size of the A4. A pair of cupholders in a flip-down armrest complete the accoutrements.
For those with kiddies, there are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard seats, while all three rear pews are equipped with top-tether anchor points on the seat backs.
That second row folds away in 40:20:40 fashion to free up storage in the boot.
With the back seats in use by people, the A4’s boot measures in at 460L, although Audi doesn’t quote a figure with the seats folded away. That’s slightly down on the 480L found out the back of the BMW 3 Series, but just ahead of the 455L the Merc C300 sedan offers. A space-saver spare lives under the A4’s boot floor.
Like I said, the M-Sport version of the 330i is a far more aggressive and handsome car. The chrome flourishes on the 330i Luxury Line don’t quite balance with the smoked tail-lamp lenses, and the trim around the lower LED fog lamps on the front valance and reflectors on the back do feel, to me, a little tacky.
That said, the 19-inch BMW Individual alloys are very smart, and the G20 as a platform is a very sharp-looking car. Sapphire Black is a lovely colour, with gold metallic flake stirred in with the deep black duco, and has been my personal choice on the last two family BMWs we have owned.
There are eight colours offered on the 330i Luxury Line (Portimao Blue is an M-Sport exclusive choice).
And while the Luxury Line trim may not be my personal preference, it is what Alpina uses as the starting point for the 3 Series-based B3, so perhaps we’re all just a lower lip spoiler and some sweet decals away from perfection after all.
Ticking the Luxury Line box does give you a snazzier interior, with a stitched Sensatec (leatherette) dashboard offering a vastly more premium-feeling cockpit than the regular rubbery-plastic dashtop.
The ‘Vernasca’ Leather trim and decorative contrast stitching on the upholstery is very nice, too, although the seats aren’t heated (part of a $1600 Comfort package), which is a bit cheeky for $80K.
That aside, the lashings of aluminium trim and well-built switchgear just underscore the quality offered in the 3 Series. It’s not just good for its segment, it’s as impressive as you’ll find the next size up.
There’s decent room for front and rear passengers, and ergonomics are typically well sorted. There’s even a good-size (480L) boot with through-loading access. It very quickly becomes an easy and pleasant place to spend time, regardless of whether you are whizzing to the shops or touring across the state.
| 2021 Audi A4 45 TFSI Quattro S Line | 2021 BMW 330i Luxury Line | |
| Seats | Five | Five |
| Boot volume | 460L | 480L |
| Length | 4762mm | 4709mm |
| Width | 1847mm | 1827mm |
| Height | 1428mm | 1435mm |
| Wheelbase | 2820mm | 2851mm |
Infotainment and Connectivity
Audi A4Audi has done away with its useful rotary dial that once acted as the control nerve centre for the A4’s infotainment system. Now the German brand has joined the touchscreen brigade, a 10.1-inch iteration across the range that sprouts from the dash.
Satellite navigation, smartphone connectivity via either Bluetooth or Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and DAB+ radio come fitted as standard.
Connecting to Apple CarPlay using a USB cable is easy and fast, and swiping through menus and screens is as intuitive as using a smartphone. The native satellite navigation is excellent, with crisp graphics and clear guidance. Still, smartphone mirroring does away with the need for proprietary sat-nav in most instances.
Audi’s interface loses points, however, for a lack of shortcut buttons, with every action requiring a touch of the screen that, thanks to its just out of reach position on the dash, can prove distracting on the move. There was something intuitive about the rotary dialler, which could be used while on the move and without averting eyes from the road.
Helpfully, though, the climate controls feature a selection of physical switches and buttons to keep the cabin nice and cosy.
Audi’s Virtual Cockpit is standard across the A4 range, bar for the entry-level 35 TFSI model. Here, its 12.3 inches can be configured to show a wealth of information including navigation. Our preferred set-up is for large sat-nav mapping flanked by smaller tacho and speedo digital dials.
A single USB socket up front is joined by a 12V outlet, while inside the central storage bin lives a USB Type C plug and a wireless charging pad for smartphones.
The 10.25-inch BMW OS7 display may be prominent in the middle of the dash, but it suits the modern layout of the 3 Series cabin. The screen itself is sharp and bright, and the more we use the new BMW operating system, the more we get used to the menu depth and functions.
Apple CarPlay will run in a full-screen mode, too, which feels very well integrated. The touchscreen interface makes this a breeze to use, with the ‘Hey BMW’ voice assistant supporting the native software as well.
There’s another 12.3-inch screen acting as a digital instrument cluster, which again is becoming more familiar over time, although it would be good to see some more configuration and personalisation integrated here. Some of the usability in this context isn’t great either, with a button that looks like it will cycle through information screens just changing details on the head-up display. You get used to it, though.
BMW still offers its Connected telematics technology with all new cars, with new functions now integrated into the main menu system. You do need to log into your BMW account to get the most value, but you can do some interesting things (or fun things, if you’re going to be driving someone else’s car…) with the software too.
For example, there’s an automatic window setting that will, at low speeds, lower the driver’s window at a precise GPS location. Handy for garage swipe card locations, maybe, but fun to set at a random set of traffic lights before you hand the car back to BMW Australia. Not that I know anyone who would do that…
And as noted, the wireless charge pad may have gone, but there is still a USB-C port in the centre console and another two for rear passengers.
Safety and Technology
Audi A4ANCAP awarded the A4 range a five-star safety rating when this generation launched in 2016. It scored well in all key protection criteria – 90 per cent for adult occupant, 87 per cent child occupant and 75 per cent pedestrian. Its safety systems were rated at 75 per cent.
Audi’s standard suite of active safety technology includes blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert, exit warning system (which detects cars and cyclists when opening doors), and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection that works at speeds up to 85km/h.
Adding the optional Assistance Plus pack adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function and ups the A4’s AEB system to 250km/h. It also adds a 360-degree-view camera.
A suite of eight airbags covers both rows of occupants.
Despite the semiconductor shortage impacting some of the touring-assistant toys in current-build 330i models, there is still a wide range of safety equipment as well as a five-star ANCAP rating.
You can configure the sensitivity of the systems through the primary touchscreen, which offers neat graphical descriptions of what you are changing and how it will work, and does make understanding the A-to-Z of automotive safety acronyms a lot easier.
Fair to note, too, that while the active lane-keep assist has been deleted, the BMW Reverse Assistant (the car remembers and can self-drive the last 50m you travelled, backwards) is still here. I’ll admit it may not be all that useful very often, but it is very clever.
The cameras, too, are sharp and configurable, and just part of a well-integrated ‘everyday’ technology suite offered in the 3er.
| At a glance | 2021 Audi A4 45 TFSI Quattro S Line | 2021 BMW 330i Luxury Line |
| ANCAP rating & year tested | Five stars (tested 2016) | Five stars (tested 2019) |
| Safety report | ANCAP report | ANCAP report |
Value for Money
Audi A4Audi covers the A4 range with its three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which in this day and age, where five years is increasingly the norm, is below par.
Audi recommends a trip to the workshop for a check-up every 15,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first. The first five years of servicing can be prepaid at the time of purchase and Audi asking for $2920 upfront. That averages out to $584 per year, about par for the premium mid-size segment.
Audi claims the A4 45 TFSI will need 7.1 litres of premium 95RON unleaded per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle. Our week with the German mid-sizer returned an indicated 8.4L/100km, but that was heavily skewed towards urban. More highway running should see that number come down closer to Audi’s claim.
As noted above, the 330i is the sure-fire pick of the 3 Series range. While the production issues impacting all manufacturers may have made the pricing structure a little confusing, the amount of standard equipment in the 330i, particularly when compared to the 320i and M340i, do give it a strong value position.
That said, BMW really needs to step up its warranty game and offer a five-year package like Mercedes-Benz do. It’s time.
| At a glance | 2021 Audi A4 45 TFSI Quattro S Line | 2021 BMW 330i Luxury Line |
| Warranty | Three years / unlimited km | Three years / unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months / 15,000km | 12 months / 15,000km |
| Servicing costs | $2920 (5 years) | $1750 (5 years) |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 7.1L/100km | 6.4L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 8.4L/100km | 8.1L/100km |
| Fuel type | 95-octane petrol | 95-octane petrol |
| Fuel tank size | 58L | 59L |
Driving
Audi A4The Audi A4 45 TFSI Quattro S Line is as much A4 as you can buy before stepping into Ingolstadt’s sportier S4 models. It’s powered by Audi’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol making a healthy 183kW and 370Nm. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic sends drive to Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system.
Audi reckons the dash from 0–100km/h will take just 5.8 seconds, which is plenty fast for most situations. The 45 TFSI is eager to move away from standstill, surging ahead in an entirely predictable fashion.
The dual-clutch auto is impressive, too, displaying none of the hesitation sometimes found in transmissions of this type. Instead, shifts are smooth and intuitive; something that’s highlighted further under heavier acceleration where downshifts are perfectly executed.
The ride is commendable, too, a nice blend of firm and supple that feels just about right. Around town, the usual lumps and bumps that litter our roads are easily and comfortably dealt with, doing little to unsettle the A4. Similarly, larger bumps are dealt with easily, the A4 settling back onto its wheels nicely. Road noise too is kept nicely at bay, the cabin remaining nicely insulated from sonic intrusions.
Our test car came fitted with the $1100 optional adaptive sports suspension that, in Dynamic mode, can add some firmness to the ride and handling. That’s ideal if you’re planning on hustling some corners with vim and vigour, but largely unnecessary in day-to-day driving where the standard setting is not only all you need, but likely ever want.
As an overall driving experience, there’s plenty to like about the A4 in this specification. From the punchy 2.0-litre turbo four to its excellent ride, both around town and out on the highway. Better yet, there’s a nice sporting bent to the 45 TFSI that isn’t as manic as its S4-baged sibling, but still spritely enough to satisfy most urges.
The Quattro all-wheel-drive system underpinning this A4 provides plenty of assurance when under load, distributing torque to the axle and wheels that need it most during more aggressive driving and cornering.
Performance plus confidence equals fun, and it’s that equation the A4 45 TFSI Quattro taps into. A blend of everyday comfort with just enough sportiness without being all snarling and angry.
BMW 330i
Ultimate Driving Machine. The origin of the timeless BMW marketing slogan becomes all too clear as you push the 330i along a winding country road, as this is simply a lovely car to drive.
It feels exceptionally well balanced, as a car with a perfect 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution rightly should. The thick-rimmed wheel feels good in your hands with the car responding accurately and confidently to every input.
Power delivery from the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder is nicely balanced, too, with a peak of 400Nm yours between 1550 and 4400rpm. It affords the 330i a very flexible performance envelope that continues to reward all the way to the 190kW, 6500rpm redline.
Fuel consumption, claimed at just 6.4L/100km, is pretty impressive too (we saw 8.1L/100km on our test week), with the 330i B48 engine’s balance of performance and efficiency a real highlight of the car.
The eight-speed ZF-automatic gearbox is great on the open road, too, but at times I found it a little jerky around town, particularly when coming to a stop. The car will be operating in as high a gear as possible to improve consumption, so the transmission will need to quickly shift back through the ratios when you pull up, and it occasionally felt a little funny.
It’s a small gripe, though, as once underway again you’re back to a fast-changing and smooth unit.
Less smooth is the ride on the 19-inch wheels and runflat tyres. I feel they are perhaps an inch too big for this car, and the slim profile (40 front, 35 rear) can identify and communicate plenty of imperfections in the road. On some surfaces the car can feel downright fussy, despite not actually dropping the inherent layer of confidence that it provides.
Think sports sedan, not plushy sedan, and you’ll have the right idea.
Switching suspension modes between Comfort and Sport exhibits a noticeable difference, particularly when touring, but fatter rubber on 18-inch wheels would provide a nicer ride, though perhaps not such a striking vehicle when parked.
| Key details | 2021 Audi A4 45 TFSI Quattro S Line | 2021 BMW 330i Luxury Line |
| Engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol | 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Power | 183kW @ 6500rpm | 190kW @ 6500rpm |
| Torque | 370Nm @ 1600-4500rpm | 400Nm @ 1550-4400rpm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic | Eight-speed torque convertor automatic |
| Power to weight ratio | 108.6kW/t | 132.6.kW/t |
| Weight | 1685kg | 1433kg |
| Tow rating | 1700kg braked, 750kg unbraked | 1600kg braked |
| Turning circle | 11.6m | 11.4m |
Conclusion
Price is where we begin this analysis, and it’s a win to the Audi, even though our test car was loaded with almost $10,000 worth of extras. That’s usually the way with prestige vehicles because buyers like to customise their cars to match their specific desires.
The interiors of both our combatants are on the premium side of presentable and make great places to while away the hours on a long drive. The Audi’s cabin comes across as more tech-savvy, but it’s an ambience rather than a feature-list advantage. In terms of tech usability, the BMW wins purely because it retains a rotary dial to supplement touchscreen functionality.
The BMW is also ahead on interior space, despite being slightly shorter in length than the Audi. Its longer wheelbase helps make the second row more spacious, and it has a bigger boot (480L vs 460L), although the Audi will still fit your golf clubs without drama.
Safety is a close race because both cars are loaded with active safety features and both were awarded five stars in ANCAP independent crash testing. If anything, the BMW’s active safety suite edges out the Audi’s, but BMW temporarily deleted some of these features in 2021 due to microchip shortages, so triple-check with your dealer that your car has everything it should.
Both Audi and BMW offer a miserly three-year warranty, which is disappointing at a time when five- and even seven-year warranties are common. The BMW’s servicing regime is more affordable, saving you more than a thousand dollars in the first five years.
The BMW is also more economical, as our real-world figures prove, which is not surprising because, even though it’s a touch more powerful, it’s 250kg lighter – and that also makes it a more enjoyable and agile car to drive.
Overall, the BMW 330i comes through as the winner of this head-to-head, notching up enough round wins to take the overall fight. It represents great value at this price, is an entertaining and engaging car to drive, and delivers on the high-quality, premium promise.
That said, the Audi is far from embarrassed here, and if brand loyalty compels you to shop the four rings from Ingolstadt, rest assured the A4 45 TFSI made the BMW earn this win every step of the way.
The post 2021 Audi A4 v 2021 BMW 330i comparison appeared first on Drive.