Audi simply dropped a brand new wagon – the A5 Avant. Whereas forbidden fruit for the US market, the longroof has shut competitors elsewhere. It contends with the brand new BMW 3 Sequence Touring, which obtained reasonable updates alongside the remainder of the mannequin’s physique types for the 2023 mannequin yr. For the reason that Audi A5 can also be formally changing the A4, it’s going to must be good – let’s see how the Avant stacks up in opposition to BMW’s workhorse 3 Sequence Touring.
Exterior Design
Each the brand new 3 Sequence and new A5 Avant provide good-looking entrance fascia designs. The Audi A5 Avant adjustments issues up from final yr’s mannequin by sporting narrower headlights, bigger air ducts, and rather more pronounced hood strains. It’s total a way more aggressive look than the outgoing A4 Avant. The grille is tweaked, too, with a barely busier design. The three Sequence Touring wears a entrance finish that’s quintessentially BMW. Historically styled kidney grilles be a part of the model’s latest lighting signature for an ideal mixture of new-meets-old styling.
Each wagons look good from the aspect and rear, too. The three Sequence Touring appears to stretch a bit longer – thanks partly to the enduring Hofmeister Kink – whereas the A5 Touring involves a sharper level. Each tout good-looking alloy wheels of their press images, lending to an athletic look. Within the again, the Audi will get some devilishly cool LED lighting signatures that, honestly, put the three Sequence to disgrace. Each have (fortunately) twin exhaust cutouts – hopefully, the A5’s are actual.
The A5 Touring seems to be so much angrier and extra trendy than its predecessor. And the again of the automotive seems to be improbable. However the 3 Sequence Touring is genuinely among the perfect of present BMW design. So a tricky selection right here…a tie for us.
Inside Design
Typically, the brand new Audi A5 Avant follows newer BMW and Audi designs. A virtually-invisible shifter, big dashboard-mounted display, and redesigned steering wheel modernize the Audi’s inside. Humorous sufficient, BMW made just about the identical adjustments to the three Sequence Touring throughout the mannequin’s refresh.
In relation to cargo house, the 2 are shut – the 3er affords as much as 1,510 liters of storage, whereas the A5 Avant boasts 1,424 liters. General, the 2 are extra related than completely different. So, we’re gonna name this one a tie.
Efficiency
Each the three Sequence Touring and the A5 Avant include higher-performance fashions—the M340i and S5 Avant, respectively. The M340i makes just a little bit extra energy from the vaunted B58 engine below the hood. Plus, each the A5 Avant and three Sequence Touring have a beneficiant array of gasoline and diesel engine selections.
Although the three Sequence is usually the higher performer, the A5 Avant comes with one small benefit. Quattro all-wheel drive is normal on the brand new Audi wagon. After all, some could view that as a downgrade from the rear-wheel drive that every 3 Sequence Touring comes with. We’re gonna with a tie once more since we have now not pushed the brand new S5 Avant but.
Expertise
Audi ditches its previous tiny screens for one thing that appears awfully just like what we see in new BMW fashions. The show includes an 11.9-inch digital cockpit (gauge cluster) and a 14.5-inch touchscreen centered within the cockpit. It affords acquainted facilities, too—navigation, wi-fi telephone connectivity, and so forth. The A5 Avant does provide one thing BMW doesn’t but: a passenger-side display.
Each automobiles get related driver aids, like frontal collision warning and blind spot warning. It’s fairly shut right here; iDrive has a stupendous and intuitive format. However, the brand new Audi MMI appears simple and appears fairly, too. Vendor’s selection on this one – we just like the familiarity of iDrive however can see why customers prioritizing the newest and best tech would possibly swing the opposite method.
What do you consider the brand new Audi A5 Avant?
