The style of a coupé 😎 The practicality of a five-door hatch 💪 Audi's A5 Sportback and BMW's 4 Series Gran Coupe are both great options, but which is the better used buy?
Performance, ride, handling, refinement
Sensible the engines may be, but there’s certainly no shortage of poke in either car. Both are evenly matched for power, and while the A5 proved fractionally swifter in almost all of our acceleration tests, the 4 Series felt similarly strong. The difference was mainly down to our A5 having a speedy-shifting seven-speed automatic gearbox, whereas our test 4 Series had a notchy six-speed manual.
During cornering, the more natural weighting of the 4 Series’ steering impresses. The A5’s is a bit too light in Comfort mode, while Dynamic adds a gloopy weighting, like the tyres are turning in treacle, but no more feedback. Even so, the fact that the A5’s steering is quicker helps to make it feel keener to turn in to corners and it can ultimately carry more speed through corners than the 4 Series. It just won’t put quite as big a smile on your face.
In most driving conditions, the A5 is the more comfortable cruiser, even when fitted with optional 19in wheels, although our test car also had the excellent optional adaptive suspension. Only the worst ruts cause any discomfort. As for the 4 Series, its optional 19in wheels and run-flat tyres transmit every imperfection in the road; this can be tiring over long distances.
The A5 is also far more refined; its engine is much quieter at idle and is barely audible at 70mph. The 4 Series has a gruffer-sounding engine that never completely shuts up, even on the motorway.