There are three leading actors in the pantheon of German luxury brands: Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Audi against BMW is the fight that has intensified over the past 20 years as both brands actively chase younger, wealthier customers, despite the fact that the rivalry between the three has been waging for almost 100 years and the conflict between BMW and Mercedes is still extremely severe.
Both automakers maintain sizable lineups of opulent cars and SUVs, and both have created certified pre-owned programs that are becoming more and more well-liked. In search of luxury, performance, and elegance in 2019 new and used car buyers frequently wind themselves comparing cars from both Audi and BMW. Comparisons between the omnipresent Audi A4 and the BMW 3 Series are most common among consumers. The BMW X3 and the Audi Q5 are frequently compared. That is skillful.
- What distinguishes BMW and Audi from one another?
- BMW vs. Audi: which is superior?
- Which brand is more dependable, BMW or Audi?
- Audi or BMW, which is more expensive?
- Which brand has a better reputation, Audi or BMW?
- Audi versus BMW, which maintenance costs are less?
In This Article...
BMW’s two problems
If you believed that the Mini Cooper was initially a symbol of Britain, you should know that BMW, a German luxury automaker, owns and manufactures Mini automobiles. Following a deal with Volkswagen Group, who now have custody of Bentley, BMW is now the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, another British luxury car brand that attracts attention everywhere it travels.
In 1917, the engine manufacturer Rapp Motorenwerke changed its name to Bayerische Motoren Werke, and in 1922 it amalgamated with the aircraft manufacturer Bayerische Flugzeug-Werke. It initially began selling aviation engines before extending its manufacture to include motorcycles and cars in the future.
In relation to the Volkswagen group, numerous well-known automobile brands are owned by this German automotive behemoth. Volkswagen currently owns all of Audi, Scania, and Porsche, as well as Skoda Auto, Lamborghini, and Ducati in its entirety. The Volkswagen Group obviously makes great decisions when selecting its auto brands because they can claim to hold some of the best and most recognizable auto brands in the world.
In order to mobilize its populace for the future, the brand needed to have a car for the masses. Only a few of the models were produced before the start of World War II, at which point the factory shifted its focus to producing military vehicles.
Following the war, production of the company’s iconic Beetle began to pick up again, eventually reaching a total of over 21 million. Volkswagen’s corporate headquarters are in Wolfsburg, Germany. These assets are within the corporation’s control:
- Volkswagen
- Bentley
- Audi
- Bugatti
- Porsche
- SEAT
- Lamborghini
- Skoda
- MAN
- Scania
- Ducati
A Guide to Automobile Companies
The major automakers with present presences in the United States are listed below, along with the brands they sell.
BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce are all owned by BMW Group. Smart and Mercedes-Benz are owned by Daimler AG. Lincoln and Ford are owned by Ford Motor Co. Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac all belong to General Motors. Hummer is back as a GMC subsidiary brand. In order to co-develop EVs, GM and Honda have an official collaboration. Acura and Honda are owned by Honda Motor Co. It collaborates with GM. Sony Honda Mobility is the name of the electric vehicle firm they founded with Sony. Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia are all owned by Hyundai Motor Group. Mazda is owned by Mazda Motor Corp. Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Infiniti are all owned by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Following the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot S.A., a new company called Stellantis was created. According to the explanation, the word is derived from the Latin verb “stello,” which means “to dazzle with stars.” Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, and Ram are now under Stellantis and are FCA brands that are offered in the United States. Other Stellantis automobile brands include Citroen, DS Automobiles, Opel, Peugeot, and Vauxhall. Subaru is owned by Subaru Corp. Jaguar and Land Rover are owned by Tata Motors. Owned by Tesla. Lexus and Toyota are owned by Toyota Motor Corp. Additionally, it owns stock in Suzuki and Subaru. The automotive brand VinFast, along with VinHomes, VinBigData, VinBioCare, and VinBrain, are all owned by VinGroup. Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Scout, and Volkswagen are all brands owned by Volkswagen AG. Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus are all brands owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH).
Powered by: Performance
The general consensus is that BMW vehicles offer a superior driving experience to Audi vehicles. The Audi A3 utilizes the same engine as the Volkswagen Golf, which detracts from its premium image and suggests a less-performant vehicle than BMW, which builds its vehicles around its engines. Audi also shares many of its parts, including engines, with other vehicles in the Volkswagen group.
It will be impossible to compare the engines on every model, so we’ll pick a few identical models from each manufacturer based on the features of the cheapest trims available for each car:
There isn’t much of a difference between Audi and BMW in terms of fuel efficiency. Both offer respectable mpg on the most of their models, which is about what you’d anticipate for the premium car class. Both have a variety of totally electric and plug-in hybrid options. Their crowning achievement in lowering fuel efficiency while increasing power is the Audi S Tronic transmission.
Regarding CO2 emissions, none is notably gaining ground in the “green” race. With the exception of the M2 and RS3, they produce essentially equal outcomes.
And what happens when you try to accelerate furiously to 62 mph while driving? Again, the distinction is not really obvious. It’s difficult to identify a clear winner when comparing the specifications of this constrained number of cars. The combat truly takes place while they are driving!
Audi
One of VW’s high-end brands, Audi, has a headquarters in Germany’s Ingolstadt and functions somewhat independently of its parent company.
The name Audi, which is derived from the Latin translation of the German word Horch, which means “listen,” was first registered in 1910 by German engineer August Horch, who had created an automobile manufacturer in his own name in 1904. The four rings of the company’s logo stand for the four automakers that joined forces to form Auto Union in 1932: Audi, Hord, DKW, and Wanderer.
After Volkswagen purchased Auto Union from Daimler-Benz in 1965, the brand was revived with the release of the Audi F103 series and the restoration of the Audi name after a 25-year absence.
At first, Volkswagen was only interested in the capacity of the plant in Ingolstadt and did not want Auto Union to function independently. The first Audi 100 was created by Auto Union engineers undercover, and it wowed VW brass before being released in 1968. A year later, Auto Union amalgamated with NSU Motorenwerke, a manufacturer of rotary engines, motorbikes, and compact vehicles. On January 1st, 1969, the new business, Audi NSU Auto Union AG, was established with Audi as a distinct brand.
In 1970, Volkswagen launched the Audi nameplate on the American market. The firm was renamed Audi AG in 1986, and its headquarters were once again in Ingolstadt.
Although the introduction of quattro all-wheel drive was well received, recalls for reports of sudden unintended acceleration, perpetuated by a false 60 Minutes report, nearly killed the brand in North America in the 1980s. The 1980 Audi quattro Coupe, which featured an all-wheel drive system developed from the Volkswagen Iltis military vehicle, set the template for modern rally cars.
When it was decided in 1972 that no member of the Porsche family (he was the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche) should be involved in the day-to-day operations of the German sports car manufacturer, Ferdinand Piech joined Audi from Porsche. While initially providing Volkswagen with engineering skills it lacked in-house, Audi’s impact on the company turned out to be far greater.
In 1993, Piech was appointed chairman of the Volkswagen Group. Since then, he has played a key role in the company’s aggressive brand acquisition strategy and the creation of iconic cars like the Golf 4, Audi R8, Bentley Continental, and Bugatti Veyron.
Despite being hit by scandal once more in 2015 as a result of the bigger Volkswagen emissions testing affair, Audi is now a reputable and well-known manufacturer of sporty premium vehicles and SUVs. Audi is moving into the electric car market, starting with the Audi E-Tron, in accordance with the general direction set for the Volkswagen Group.
Exterior design compares BMW and Audi.
Both Audi and BMW use premium materials for their exteriors. Making their cars obvious as luxury vehicles is a priority for both automakers. But there are important distinctions between the two.
With a unique kidney grille that comes standard on all models, BMW may be expected to have bolder styling. In comparison to Audi automobiles, BMW ones appear to be heavier. A
Audi is a vehicle manufacturer that continually prioritizes the interior over the outside. The exterior styling of Audi cars is also remarkably similar, with a graceful form and subtle contours.
Which automaker wins this category, by the way? It is tied. Your choice of aesthetics will totally depend on your personal preferences.
You might be astonished to learn that only a handful of parent firms control the majority of the world’s vehicle brands.
Most people are aware that BMW owns Mini and Lexus is Toyota’s premium division, but did you realize that Volkswagen-owned Audi also owns Lamborghini? Or that Holden initially made saddles before eventually failing to succeed as a car manufacturer?
Each major automaker’s current state is included below, along with a brief overview of its past and the date it was established.
The current owner’s nationality is typically a semantic issue. For instance, just because Jaguar is currently owned by Indians does not mean that the company is any less British than it has always been.
Regardless of who currently owns a certain brand, you’ll frequently discover that the head office, design centers, and perhaps even the factories remain in their various home countries.
It can be challenging to keep track of ownership changes at car firms since they occur more frequently than you might think, and part ownership shares occur even more frequently. This is how the world’s automotive market currently stands.
Does Audi make BMW?
Prior to delving into the specifics of each luxury brand, it is important to discuss the actual brand that each company is associated with. After all, each organization brings with it a unique set of individuals and characteristics.
Each brand is associated with one of the following businesses:
- Audi: Although it is a standalone brand, Volkswagen owns a portion of the business.
- BMW: The BMW brand is owned by the BMW Group as a whole. They also produce Rolls-Royces and Minis.
Although the luxury brands of BMW and Audi may be owned by different corporations, both are high-caliber brands that merit in-depth examination. We should start by discussing the overall brand performance.
The CoPilot app isn’t just for purchasing a car; it can also be used to keep track of recalls and receive recommendations on which regular maintenance activities are most crucial.
Is there a shared engine between BMW and Audi?
The website for Audi promises that TDI vehicles have a 12-hour range. On one tank of gas, that is equivalent to traveling from New York to Chicago (at least when there is no traffic). This results in combined gas mileage of 42 mpg and CO2 emissions that are 12% lower than gasoline.
The A6, A7, Q5, and the A8 L, the top-of-the-line luxury sedan from Audi, are all part of the TDI lineup. The gasoline model of the same style and trim package is distinguished from it by the addition of a TDI to the model name. A single turbo 3.0-liter V6 with 240 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque powers all four vehicles. All four cars have a 0-60 mph acceleration time of less than six seconds.
BMW adds a variety of improvements to its TwinPower Turbo-powered vehicles under the guise of its trademarked EfficientDynamics technology. This results in improved fuel economy, with combined city and highway miles getting roughly 37 mpg. The 3.0 liter turbocharged inline six engines feature variable turbine geometry for more effective use of exhaust heat energy and lightweight aluminum construction to mimic the behavior of larger, aspirated engines. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are decreased via an effective control unit and injection nozzles.
The company’s flagship 740LD xDrive long wheelbase luxury sedan, the 328d sedan and wagon, the 535d sedan, the X5 xDrive35d crossover, and the redesigned 2015 X3 xDrive28d, which made its premiere at the Chicago Auto Show this year, are all vehicles that BMW offers the engine in.
According to reports, the BMW 740LD xDrive produces 255 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, enabling the sedan to accelerate to 60 mph in little under six seconds during testing.
Although the BMW’s performance and efficiency are undoubtedly still good, the Audi TDI engine outperforms it in terms of acceleration and fuel efficiency right out of the gate. With a wagon and a crossover, the BMW offers additional possibilities if you’re seeking for more body type options.
Whatever you decide to do when it comes to purchasing a new clean diesel vehicle, you’ll be aware that you’re helping the environment. It also helps that you’re choosing a strong car that will turn heads on the road and at the petrol stations – on the rare occasions you have to stop, that is – and adds convenience to long travels.