Audi A8 vs BMW 3 Series Saloon
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AudiA8 | BMW3 Series Saloon | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | November 2017 | March 2019 |
| Performance | ||
| Powertrain | Mild hybrid, Plug-in hybrid | Petrol, Plug-in hybrid, Mild hybrid |
| Power | 282–563 bhp (better) | 181–386 bhp |
| 0–62 mph | 3.8–5.9 s (better) | 4.3–7.4 s |
| Top speed | 155 mph | 143–155 mph |
| Engine or motors | 3.0-litre V6 TDI (286 PS), 3.0-litre V6 TFSI plug-in hybrid with a 100 kW electric motor (462 PS system output), 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 TFSI (571 PS, S8); the TDI and S8 have 48-volt mild hybrid technology; bhp converted from Audi's PS figures | 320i: 1,998 cc four-cylinder turbo petrol, 135 kW (184 hp); 330e: same engine plus an 80 kW (109 hp) motor, 215 kW (292 hp) system output; M340i xDrive and Black Edition: 2,998 cc six-cylinder turbo petrol with 48 V mild hybrid, 288 kW (392 hp) system output; bhp converted from BMW's kW figures |
| Torque | 600 Nm (50 TDI), 700 Nm system (60 TFSI e), 800 Nm (S8) | 300 Nm (320i), 420 Nm system (330e), 540 Nm (M340i xDrive) |
| Gearbox | 8-speed tiptronic | 8-speed Steptronic automatic |
| Drive | quattro four-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive (320i, 330e) or xDrive all-wheel drive (M340i) |
| Range and charging | ||
| Zero-emission range (WLTP) | 36 miles | 61–63 miles (better) |
| Battery | 14.4 kWh | 19.5 kWh (better) |
| Economy (WLTP) | 24.5–63 mpg | 40.4–353.1 mpg (better) |
| Range detail | 60 TFSI e WLTP electric range: 33–36 miles combined (A8), 32–36 miles (A8 L), depending on trim | 330e WLTP electric range 59–63 miles depending on trim and equipment |
| Charging | 60 TFSI e has a 14.4 kWh net (17.9 kWh gross) battery; AC charging, 150 minutes to full | 330e: 19.5 kWh battery; 11 kW AC, 0–100% in 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Efficiency | WLTP combined: 37.3–40.3 mpg (50 TDI), 36.9–40.1 mpg (A8 L 50 TDI), 55.9–63.0 mpg weighted (60 TFSI e), 24.4–24.6 mpg (S8); depends on trim. Audi UK lists 134.5–156.9 mpg for the A8 L TFSI e on a separate battery and powertrain page, but its current configurator has no selectable car. | WLTP combined: 41.5–43.5 mpg (320i), 313.9–353.1 mpg (330e, GB figures; BMW also lists 104.6–117.7 mpg for Northern Ireland), 37.7–40.4 mpg (M340i xDrive) |
| CO2 emissions | 183–200 g/km (50 TDI), 102–115 g/km (60 TFSI e), 260–263 g/km (S8), WLTP combined | 147–154 g/km (320i), 19–21 g/km (330e), 159–172 g/km (M340i xDrive), WLTP combined |
| Practicality | ||
| Body | Saloon | Saloon |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Length | 5,190 mm | 4,713 mm |
| Width | 1,945 mm | 1,827 mm |
| Weight | From 2,020 kg | – |
| Boot | 505 litres on 50 TDI and S8; 390 litres on 60 TFSI e | 480 litres (320i, M340i); 375 litres (330e) |
| Towing | 2,300 kg braked (50 TDI and S8) | Up to 1,600 kg braked (320i), 1,500 kg (330e), 1,800 kg (M340i) |
| Size | 5,190 mm long, 1,945 mm wide, 1,473 mm high (A8 50 TDI); A8 L is 5,320 mm long and 1,488 mm high, with a 3,128 mm wheelbase; unladen weight is 2,020 kg (A8 50 TDI, Audi UK) to 2,340 kg (A8 L 60 TFSI e, Audi German technical sheet) | 4,713 mm long (4,714 mm M340i), 1,827 mm wide (2,068 mm with mirrors), 1,440 mm high (1,446 mm 330e); 2,851 mm wheelbase; EC unladen weight including a 75 kg driver is 1,590 kg (320i), 1,910 kg (330e), 1,835 kg (M340i xDrive) |
