Audi RS5 vs. BMW M3

When it comes to sporting heritage, few marques can match Audi and BMW. Both have succeeded in the white heat of competition, and proved that the race track and rally stage are the best proving grounds for new products.

Over the decades, Audi and BMW have developed their sporting brands to the point where they have become shorthand for excellence. Both the Quattro and M badges are revered, enjoying a fanatical following from owners and enthusiasts alike.

Although BMW has held the upper hand in the performance coupé market for nearly 25 years with the M3, Audi is hitting back with its most powerful and focused rival to date – the RS5. It recalls the classic Quattro coupés of the Eighties, with stunning looks, breathtaking performance and four-wheel drive. However, it will need to be at the very top of its game to see off the latest offering from BMW – the M3 Competition Pack. With a mighty V8, bespoke suspension set-up, unique wheels and revised stability control software, it’s the sharpest M3 on the market. So, can Audi edge a victory over its fiercest rival?

Verdict

This is a hard one to call. Both cars are supremely capable and hugely entertaining to drive, whether you’re on the shopping run or taking in a lap of the Nordschleife. The BMW is the benchmark machine. Breathtakingly efficient, the addition of the new Competition Pack has made it sharper and even more engaging to drive. The Audi, on the other hand, is simply one of the best fast coupés the company has ever
produced. Its drivetrain is sophisticated yet smooth, while the design – both inside and out – is wonderfully executed. However, judged purely on the job they are designed to do, it’s the BMW that takes an extremely narrow victory. Yes, the RS5 is bigger and more refined than the M3, but the Munich machine has an almost indefinable edge that delivers more seat-of-the-pants excitement.

1. BMW M3 Comp. Pack
Simply because it has been around for a few years, don’t discount the BMW. The changes brought about by the new Competition Pack give the coupé a fresh lease of life. Both of these cars are designed for enthusiasts, so while the Audi is the sensible bet, the more enjoyable BMW is the car we would choose... just! 

2. Audi RS5
Defeats simply don’t get much narrower than this. In most measurable respects, the Audi is the superior car, but it lacks the dynamic brilliance of the BMW. What you do get is the security of four-wheel drive, a more
luxurious cabin and extra interior space.