A comparison of the 2025 BMW 3 Series and the 2025 Audi A4 is filled with uncanny similarities and wide disparities. One of the sedans—the 3 Series—recently underwent a refresh while the other is nearing the end of its current generation, slated to be reborn with a different model name.
For the 2025 model year, the BMW 3 Series, which once featured a variety of body styles, is available only as a four-door sedan, while other BMW models, notably the 4 Series, build on its vehicle platform.
Audi has also moved in that direction. The primary A4 offering is a four-door sedan, but the lineup still includes the A4 Allroad—a station wagon with off-road allusions. The performance-oriented S4 sport sedan is very closely related to the A4, and the A5 Sportback is also part of the extended family.
So, as the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 face off for the 2025 model year, they bring different levels of newness to the competition. At the same time, the sedans are in many ways more alike than they are different. Both compact sport sedans offer more fun-to-drive than the average four-door and plenty more than the average compact crossover SUV.
Indeed, the 3 Series and A4 offer premium levels of style, comfort, and convenience, mimicking the available equipment of full-size luxury sedans. For example, their equipment lists include impressive rosters of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), comprehensive connectivity, and fuel-efficient mild-hybrid powertrains. Their available all-wheel-drive (AWD) systems enhance bad-weather road-holding and improve dry-road handling and performance.
While you can buy versions of these cars with relatively modest equipment, they don’t skimp available comfort and convenience items. If you desire heated and ventilated seats, semi-autonomous driving systems, and premium audio, it’s all there with the check of an option box.
The comparison of the 2025 BMW 3 Series and the 2025 Audi A4 offers you two very tempting choices. It's difficult to find fault with either one. This article will deliver the information you need to make your decision.
2025 BMW 3 Series
The 2025 BMW 3 Series, a four-door sedan, comes in three variants: 330i, M340i, and the high-performance M3. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard, with AWD widely available. Starting at $45,950, the 330i is the most affordable trim in the lineup, while the M3 Competition xDrive Sedan, equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and AWD, sits at the top with a base price of $86,000.
The 3 Series gives buyers four years of complimentary roadside assistance and three years or 36,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance. The BMW sedan's Connected Package Professional includes real-time traffic and parking updates, navigation, and voice-command functionality.
The 2025 Audi A4 sedan lineup offers the 45 TFSI in three package levels: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. All feature the automaker’s Quattro AWD system. At $44,100, the Premium 45 TFSI is the least expensive A4 model, while the Prestige 45 TFSI tops the mainstream models with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $51,300. The A4 range also includes the 2025 Audi A4 Allroad Quattro—a station wagon with an MSRP of $47,600—and the related S4—a performance-oriented sedan based on the A4 with a starting price of $54,900.
The 2025 A4 offers complimentary roadside assistance for four years with no mileage limit, but Audi does not provide free scheduled maintenance. Audi Connect Care offers complimentary services that include emergency calls, remote lock/unlock, remote start, stolen-vehicle locator, and vehicle status.
Advantage: BMW 3 Series
Why? The two sedans are competitively priced, but the 3 Series offers free scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, while the Audi doesn’t.
2025 Audi A4
The BMW 3 Series ranks third in the Compact Premium Car segment in the JD Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which assesses owner-reported problems during the third year of ownership.
The 3 Series also ranks third in its segment in the JD Power 2024 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), which tracks problems experienced by owners during the first 90 days.
The 2025 BMW 3 Series offers a standard warranty of four years or 50,000 miles and a powertrain warranty of four years or 50,000 miles.
The Audi A4 does not rank among the top three models in its segment in either the 2024 VDS or 2024 IQS. Its warranty coverage matches the 3 Series.
Advantage: BMW 3 Series
Why? The BMW 3 Series ranks among the top three models in its segment in terms of vehicle dependability and initial quality.
2025 BMW 3 Series
The 2025 BMW 3 Series provides multiple powertrain options. The base 330i and 330i xDrive feature a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The M340i upgrades to a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine producing 386 hp and 398 pound-feet of torque. Both engines get support from a mild-hybrid system and pair with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The lineup’s peak performance comes from the M3 Competition xDrive, a “screamer” that delivers up to 523 hp.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the 2025 330i sedan's combined fuel economy at 31 mpg. With AWD, the rating drops to 29 mpg—the same mark as the M340i sedan in both RWD and AWD form.
For 2025, the Audi A4 offers a single mainstream engine choice. The 45 TFSI trim features a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 261 hp and 273 pound-feet of torque and benefits from a mild-hybrid system. The A4 Allroad shares this powertrain, while the S4 specialty performance model features a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder rated at 349 hp and 369 pound-feet of torque. All 2025 A4 variants include a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and AWD.
The EPA rates the 2025 A4 at 29 mpg combined, while the S4 gets a 24-mpg combined estimate. The EPA estimates that the 2025 A4 Allroad will turn in a 26-mpg combined performance.
Advantage: BMW 3 Series
Why? The Audi A4 offers more base horsepower, but the 3 Series has the power advantage as you go up the model hierarchy.
2025 Audi A4
At this point, it is reasonable for any consumer to expect a brand-new vehicle to include the following safety features:
So, how do the 3 Series and A4 stack up? Let's take a look.
The 2025 BMW 3 Series comes equipped with a robust ADAS suite. BMW Active Guard, which includes forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning, is standard across the lineup. Adaptive cruise control is a standalone option, while the optional Active Driving Assistant Professional package adds features like traffic-jam assist, automatic emergency steering, lane-centering assistance, lane-changing assistance, and automatic emergency stop assistance.
Additional options include wide-view camera parking assistance, a surround-view camera, and a head-up display.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2025 BMW 3 Series the maximum five-star overall crash safety rating, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named it a Top Safety Pick for the 2024 calendar year.
The 2025 Audi A4 offers a somewhat limited list of standard ADAS with some interesting inclusions. Adaptive cruise control and traffic-jam assist are standard on the A4, but other systems, including blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warnings, are not. The Premium Plus and Prestige trims offer those technologies standard, and they also include a safe-exit assistance system and rear parking sensors. A surround-view camera and a head-up instrument display are also available.
As with the BMW 3 Series, the (NHTSA) gave the 2025 Audi A4 a five-star overall safety rating. However, as of this writing, the (IIHS) has yet to rate the crashworthiness of the 2025 A4.
Advantage: BMW 3 Series
Why? The 3 Series offers a more expanded list of ADAS.
2025 BMW 3 Series
The 2025 BMW 3 Series features an infotainment setup that includes the new BMW Operating System 8.5 paired with a 14.9-inch centrally mounted digital touchscreen display. Key highlights include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a one-year SiriusXM Platinum satellite radio subscription. While the touchscreen is the primary control method, users can also interact via voice commands or the iDrive touchpad. A Harman Kardon premium sound system is an option.
BMW Remote Services comes standard, offering features such as remote door unlock, stolen-vehicle tracking, remote light activation, and remote climate control. The Connected Package Professional enhances functionality with traffic and parking information, music streaming, weather updates, and navigation that accepts natural-voice commands.
BMW equips all 2025 3 Series models with cloud-based navigation capable of receiving over-the-air updates. The standard vehicle key and memory system stores personalized settings for audio preferences, radio presets, climate controls, exterior mirror positions, and power-seat configurations.
Audi equips the 2025 A4 with its Multi-Media Interface (MMI) infotainment system featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and AM/FM/HD Radio are standard. SiriusXM with 360L has a trial subscription in the Convenience package and is standard on higher trims. A Bang & Olufsen 19-speaker upscale audio system is an option.
Audi Connect provides A4 buyers with extensive connected services options, many of which come with trial subscriptions. The complimentary Audi Connect Care includes features like remote door lock/unlock, remote start, stolen-vehicle locator, and vehicle status monitoring. Audi Connect Nav offers real-time traffic updates, point-of-interest search, and natural-voice recognition, including a six-month trial period.
A legible and logical instrument display with a 7-inch screen is standard on the base trim, but other A4s feature the Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus. It has a 12.3-inch digital instrument display that provides integrated driver information and three customizable display modes.
Advantage: BMW 3 Series
Why? The infotainment systems offer similar functionality, but the 3 Series has a larger touchscreen.
2025 Audi A4
The 2025 BMW 3 Series features a notably upgraded interior design compared to previous generations of the sedan. The BMW Curved Display is one of the cabin's highlights—a high-mounted, horizontally oriented digital infotainment screen paired with a digital instrument cluster.
Even the entry-level 330i comes with premium touches, such as perforated synthetic leather upholstery and open-pore wood accents, with genuine leather and aluminum trim options. Additionally, the 3 Series has 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats and a convenient "through-load" feature.
The 2025 3 Series includes a glass moonroof and heated, power-adjustable front sport seats with four-way lumbar support. BMW also equips the sedan with features like an electric interior trunk release, a locking glove box, and additional storage compartments throughout the cabin.
The BMW 3 Series surprises with its spacious trunk, which is made even more versatile by the split-folding rear seatbacks. The trunk provides nearly 17 cubic feet of cargo space, considerably more than several key competitors.
Though the 2025 Audi A4 is nearing the last roundup in its current form, it still presents potential buyers with a contemporary and attractive cabin. The leather seats are supportive and multi-adjustable. A 7-inch driver information display is standard, and the 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus is the upgrade. While others have changed gear-selection schemes and put most controls into touchscreens, the A4 includes a shift lever and physical controls for many vehicle functions.
The Audi A4 comes with leather-covered, heated, eight-way power-adjustable front seats for the driver and passenger. Ventilated front seats are optional on select trims. The S Line trim package enhances the cabin with carbon fiber accents, stainless steel pedals, and unique leather and synthetic leather seating.
The A4 sedan has a conventional trunk; it offers 12 cubic feet of cargo space. While not especially accommodating, it is about average for the class. The A4's standard 40/20/40 split-folding rear seatbacks add versatility and help compensate for the small trunk.
Advantage: BMW 3 Series
Why? The 2025 3 Series has a newer design with a slight edge over the A4 in interior accommodations, layout, and cargo space.
If you’d like to learn more about these luxury compact sport sedans, be sure to read our expert reviews of the BMW 3 Series and the Audi A4. To find out how people like you rate models in this segment, check out our ratings from verified vehicle owners.
Also, please remember that while the information in this article was accurate and valid on December 2, 2024, it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs for over three decades. He also managed the editorial efforts of MotorTrend, JD Power, and Kelley Blue Book. Jack currently hosts the Sports Byline Network program "America on the Road," available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Audacy, Amazon Music, and other outlets.
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