3 Series Research for Northern California
2026 BMW 3 Series vs Audi A5
The A5 replaced the A4 as Audi's answer to the 3 Series. One is a rear-drive sedan with a six-cylinder option; the other is an all-wheel-drive liftback. That framing decides most of it.
The 2026 BMW 3 Series starts at $48,000 MSRP against the Audi A5 Premium's $50,200 MSRP, both excluding destination, and it is the only one of the two you can order with a six-cylinder engine or with rear-wheel drive. The A5 answers with a genuinely useful liftback body and standard quattro all-wheel drive. These two are less alike than the badges suggest, and the right pick depends on whether you want a sports sedan or a small luxury hatchback that looks like a sedan.
At BMW of Napa Valley, we sell the 3 Series and not the A5, so weigh this accordingly. We have been straight about the places the Audi is the better tool. Our team serves Solano County and Northern California, from Vacaville and Vallejo to American Canyon, just off I-80.
Quick Take
For the buyer who wants a driver's sedan, the 3 Series is the pick: it starts $2,200 less, offers rear-wheel drive, and steps up to a 386-horsepower inline-six the A5 cannot match with any engine. Choose the A5 if you need cargo room above all, since its liftback holds 22.6 cubic feet against the BMW's 16.9, or if you want all-wheel drive and a full driver-aid suite standard on the base car without paying extra.
Our Car
2026 BMW 3 Series Overview
The 3 Series comes as the 330i, with a 2.0L TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder making 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft, or the M340i, with a 3.0L M TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder making 386 horsepower and 398 lb-ft. Both use an 8-speed automatic and carry 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance. Rear-wheel drive is standard on both and xDrive all-wheel drive is available on both for $2,000. Pricing runs $48,000 MSRP to $64,300 MSRP. The rear-wheel-drive 330i is EPA-estimated at 28 MPG city / 35 MPG highway / 31 MPG combined, and the trunk holds 16.9 cubic feet behind a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat.
The Rival
2026 Audi A5 Overview
The A5 is a well-executed car and the most practical sedan-shaped thing in this class. Audi consolidated the old A4 sedan and A5 Sportback into this single model, so the A5 is now the direct rival to the 3 Series. Audi lists one engine across the lineup: a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder making 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. Every A5 comes with quattro all-wheel drive standard; Audi does not offer a rear-wheel-drive version. The three trims are Premium at $50,200 MSRP, Premium Plus, and Prestige at $56,700 MSRP, all excluding destination. Its defining trait is the body: a liftback with a rear hatch rather than a conventional trunk, holding 22.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 36.6 with them folded. The higher-performance S5 and RS 5 are separate models, not A5 trims.
Note on fuel economy: the EPA has not yet published 2026 Audi A5 ratings, so this page makes no MPG comparison between the two cars rather than pairing a current BMW figure against an older or estimated Audi one.
Under the Hood
Powertrain Comparison
Base to base, the A5 carries a 13-horsepower advantage on identical torque. Where the 3 Series separates itself is choice: two engines, two drivetrains, and a six-cylinder at the top that Audi does not offer in the A5 at any price.
| Measure | BMW 330i | Audi A5 Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder | 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 255 horsepower | 268 horsepower |
| Torque | 295 lb-ft | 295 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Rear-wheel drive | Standard | Not offered |
| All-wheel drive | xDrive, $2,000 option | quattro, standard |
| Six-cylinder available | Yes, M340i inline-six, 386 horsepower | Not offered in the A5 lineup |
The A5's 268 horsepower is a real, if narrow, advantage over the 330i's 255, and the two make the same 295 lb-ft. But the 3 Series ladder keeps climbing: the M340i's 3.0L inline-six makes 386 horsepower and 398 lb-ft and reaches 60 mph in about 4.1 seconds in xDrive form. To get past 268 horsepower in an Audi you leave the A5 for the separate S5.
Cabin and Cargo
Interior and Technology Comparison
Cargo is where the A5 wins outright and it is not close. The liftback swallows 22.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 36.6 with them folded, against 16.9 cubic feet in the 3 Series trunk. If you regularly carry bulky items, that hatch changes what the car can do. The A5 also has 36.1 inches of rear legroom to the 3 Series' 35.2, though the BMW returns 37.6 inches of rear headroom to the Audi's 37.2.
On screens the two are close. The 3 Series centers on the BMW Curved Display with a 14.9-inch central touchscreen; Audi lists a 14.5-inch touchscreen alongside an 11.9-inch digital cluster. Both cabins lean heavily on those screens. Both cars come with heated front seats as standard.
Feature availability on the base cars, as each manufacturer lists it:
| Feature | BMW 330i | Audi A5 Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Central touchscreen | 14.9-inch, standard | 14.5-inch, standard |
| Heated front seats | Standard | Standard |
| All-wheel drive | $2,000 option | Standard |
| Blind-spot monitoring | Standard on M340i, not on 330i | Standard |
| Front and rear parking sensors | Standard on M340i, not on 330i | Standard |
| Rear cross-traffic alert | Standard on M340i, not on 330i | Standard |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 16.9 cubic feet | 22.6 cubic feet |
The Money
Pricing and Value
Both figures below exclude destination so they compare directly. BMW charges a $1,350 destination fee and Audi charges $1,295, so the gap narrows slightly once destination is added, but the 3 Series starts lower either way.
| Build | Starting MSRP (excludes destination) |
|---|---|
| BMW 330i | $48,000 MSRP |
| Audi A5 Premium | $50,200 MSRP |
| BMW M340i (inline-six, 386 horsepower) | $62,300 MSRP |
| Audi A5 Prestige (four-cylinder, 268 horsepower) | $56,700 MSRP |
MSRP excludes destination, tax, title, license, and dealer fees. BMW destination is $1,350; Audi destination is $1,295. Pricing can change; confirm current pricing with the dealership.
Both carry a 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty. On complimentary scheduled maintenance, BMW Ultimate Care runs 3 years or 36,000 miles while Audi's program runs 3 years or 30,000 miles. Our 3 Series maintenance guide covers what that includes.
Advantage BMW
Where the 2026 BMW 3 Series Wins
1. A six-cylinder engine, which the A5 does not offer. The M340i's 3.0L inline-six makes 386 horsepower and 398 lb-ft. Audi lists a single engine across all three A5 trims, the 268-horsepower four; the six-cylinder S5 is a separate model.
2. Rear-wheel drive is available. The 330i and M340i are rear-drive as standard, the layout that gives the 3 Series its balance. Every A5 is quattro all-wheel drive; Audi does not offer a rear-drive A5.
3. Lower starting price. $48,000 MSRP against $50,200 MSRP, a $2,200 difference on the same ex-destination basis.
4. Longer complimentary scheduled maintenance. BMW Ultimate Care covers 3 years or 36,000 miles; Audi's program covers 3 years or 30,000 miles. That is 6,000 additional miles of covered service.
5. A slightly larger central touchscreen and more rear headroom. 14.9 inches against 14.5, and 37.6 inches of rear headroom against 37.2.
Advantage Audi
Where the 2026 Audi A5 Wins
1. Cargo capacity, decisively. The A5's liftback holds 22.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats against 16.9 in the 3 Series trunk, and 36.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The hatch opening also swallows shapes a trunk lid will not. If you haul, this is the car.
2. All-wheel drive is standard, at no extra charge. Every A5 includes quattro. Matching that on a 3 Series means adding xDrive for $2,000. The A5 also has 36.1 inches of rear legroom to the BMW's 35.2.
3. A fuller driver-aid suite on the base car. Audi includes blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic alert as standard on the A5 Premium. On the 3 Series those are standard on the M340i but not on the 330i. The A5 also makes 268 horsepower to the 330i's 255.
The Verdict
Which Should You Choose?
| If You | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want a rear-drive sports sedan | BMW 330i | Rear-wheel drive is standard. The A5 is offered only with all-wheel drive. |
| Want a six-cylinder | BMW M340i | 386 horsepower from a 3.0L inline-six. The A5 offers one four-cylinder engine. |
| Want the lower entry price | BMW 330i | $2,200 less to start on the same ex-destination basis. |
| Haul bikes, gear, or bulky cargo | Audi A5 | 22.6 cubic feet behind the seats, 36.6 folded, through a liftback hatch. |
| Want AWD and full driver aids standard, plus a little more base power | Audi A5 | quattro, blind-spot monitoring, and parking sensors included; 268 horsepower. |
For the typical buyer cross-shopping these two, the 3 Series is the better sports sedan: it costs less to start, it can be had with rear-wheel drive, and it offers an inline-six the A5 lineup does not. The A5 earns the nod when practicality leads, when you want a hatch and standard all-wheel drive more than you want the driving character, or when the base car's standard driver aids matter more than what sits above it. Cross-shopping further? See our 3 Series vs Mercedes C-Class comparison, or the full numbers on our 3 Series specifications page.
Decide for Yourself
Test Drive the 3 Series in Person
Numbers narrow the field; the drive settles it, and rear-wheel drive versus all-wheel drive is something you feel in the first mile. Our selection runs deepest in the 330i xDrive and we typically carry the M340i, so you can sample both engines in one visit to our Fairfield showroom. Drivers across Northern California make the trip for exactly that reason. Call (707) 402-1500 or contact our team to line one up.
Answers
3 Series vs A5 FAQs
Did the Audi A5 replace the A4?
Yes. Audi consolidated the A4 sedan and the A5 Sportback into a single model, so the 2026 A5 is the car that now competes directly with the BMW 3 Series. It uses a liftback body with a rear hatch rather than a conventional trunk.
Which has more horsepower, the 3 Series or the A5?
The Audi A5 makes 268 horsepower to the BMW 330i's 255, and both make 295 lb-ft of torque. However, the BMW M340i steps up to a 3.0L inline six-cylinder making 386 horsepower, while every A5 uses the same 268-horsepower four-cylinder.
Which costs less, the 3 Series or the A5?
The BMW 330i starts at $48,000 MSRP and the Audi A5 Premium at $50,200 MSRP, a difference of $2,200. Both figures exclude destination. BMW's destination fee is $1,350 and Audi's is $1,295.
Which has more cargo space, the 3 Series or the A5?
The Audi A5 has considerably more. Its liftback holds 22.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 36.6 cubic feet with them folded, against 16.9 cubic feet in the BMW 3 Series trunk.
Does the Audi A5 come with rear-wheel drive?
No. Every 2026 Audi A5 comes with quattro all-wheel drive as standard, and Audi does not offer a rear-wheel-drive version. The BMW 3 Series is rear-wheel drive as standard, with xDrive all-wheel drive available for $2,000.
Drive the 3 Series and Decide
BMW of Napa Valley, 2399 Auto Mall Pkwy, Fairfield, CA. Call (707) 402-1500 or start online.