BMW 3 Series vs. Audi Q5
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the BMW 3 Series and Audi Q5 contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the BMW 3 Series and the Audi Q5.
When comparing the BMW 3 Series's and the Audi Q5's specifications and ratings, the BMW 3 Series has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing, typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency, resale value and base engine power. The Audi Q5 has the advantage in the areas of reliability and overall quality score. Based on this comparison of the BMW 3 Series's and the Audi Q5's specifications and ratings, the BMW 3 Series is a better car than the Audi Q5.
Pricing: A used 2025 BMW 3 Series ranges from $38,998 to $61,980 while a used 2025 Audi Q5 is priced between $41,698 to $56,991. For a new model, the BMW 3 Series's price is between $49,425 and $69,475, with the Audi Q5 priced between $49,539 and $64,250.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the BMW 3 Series loses 51.4 percent of its value and the Audi Q5 loses 58 percent of its value. This means the BMW 3 Series retains 6.6 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Audi Q5.
Quality Rating: The iSeeCars Overall Quality rating for the BMW 3 Series is 7.7 out of 10 while the Audi Q5's quality rating is 8.1 out of 10. This results in the BMW 3 Series being ranked 15 out of 36 Best Luxury Small Cars and the Audi Q5 being ranked 4 out of 28 Best Luxury Small SUVs.
Reliability Rating: iSeeCars’ Reliability Rating for the BMW 3 Series is 7.3 out of 10. For the Audi Q5 the reliability rating is 7.9 out of 10. This gives the Audi Q5 a slight advantage in reliability compared to the BMW 3 Series.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the BMW 3 Series’s base engine makes 255 horsepower, and the Audi Q5 base engine makes 201 horsepower. The 3 Series is rated to deliver an average of 31 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 546 miles. The Q5 is rated to deliver an average of 26 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 537 miles. This gives the BMW 3 Series the fuel efficiency and maximum range advantage over the Audi Q5. Both models use premium unleaded.
Safety Ratings: When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, both the BMW 3 Series and the Audi Q5 have the same average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
49425 - 69475
Starting MSRP:
45950
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
49451
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
33000 - 79900
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
49539 - 64250
Starting MSRP:
45400
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact SUVs)
49635
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact SUVs)
23800 - 79100
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
48859
Price Range:
38998 - 61980
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
51959
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
34107 - 95081
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
48829
Price Range:
41698 - 56991
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact SUVs)
51781
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact SUVs)
25863 - 81247
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
Depreciation %:
Resale Value $:
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
0.51356376
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
0.34749831 - 0.55942423
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
26449
Depreciation %:
0.58257299
Resale Value $:
18951
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Compact SUVs)
0.53712559
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Compact SUVs)
0.38326835 - 0.59140478
BMW 3 Series Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
7.7 / 10
Reliability:
7.3 / 10
Retained Value:
7.7 / 10
Safety:
8.0 / 10
Audi Q5 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.1 / 10
Reliability:
7.9 / 10
Retained Value:
7.3 / 10
Safety:
9.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW 3 Series
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
11.0
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
11.0
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
9.5 - 20.1
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.027
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Audi Q5
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
14.6
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact SUVs)
14.6
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact SUVs)
12.0 - 16.3
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.093
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
7.040631536476573
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
2.2
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
1.5 - 10.4
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.047113268927383
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact SUVs)
2.2
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact SUVs)
0.8 - 54.4
BMW 3 Series Rankings
Ranking
5 out of / 36Ranking
10 out of / 36Ranking
11 out of / 36Ranking
11 out of / 32Ranking
12 out of / 36Ranking
15 out of / 36Ranking
16 out of / 32Ranking
19 out of / 36Ranking
20 out of / 36Ranking
20 out of / 36Audi Q5 Rankings
Ranking
3 out of / 27Ranking
3 out of / 5Ranking
3 out of / 3Ranking
4 out of / 28Ranking
4 out of / 28Ranking
4 out of / 28Ranking
6 out of / 28Ranking
7 out of / 68Ranking
9 out of / 68Ranking
10 out of / 68Ranking
10 out of / 27Ranking
11 out of / 28Ranking
11 out of / 28Ranking
12 out of / 28Ranking
12 out of / 28Ranking
16 out of / 28Ranking
17 out of / 28Ranking
19 out of / 64Ranking
24 out of / 28Ranking
26 out of / 68Ranking
28 out of / 68Ranking
29 out of / 68Ranking
33 out of / 68Ranking
34 out of / 68Ranking
40 out of / 68Ranking
46 out of / 68Ranking
53 out of / 68Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Body Styles
SUV
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline, Plug-In Hybrid
BMW 3 Series Trim Levels
330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive
Audi Q5 Trim Levels
quattro Premium 40 TFSI, quattro Premium Plus 40 TFSI, quattro Premium Plus TFSI, quattro Premium TFSI, quattro Prestige 40 TFSI, quattro Prestige TFSI, quattro S line Prem Plus 45 TFSI, quattro S line Premium 45 TFSI, quattro S line Prestige 45 TFSI
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
255 hp @ 4700 rpm
Torque:
295 foot-lbs @ 1600 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.070 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
201 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque:
236 foot-lbs @ 1600 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.049 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
28 / 35 / 31
Range (city/hwy):
437 / 546 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
23 / 29 / 26
Range (city/hwy):
426 / 537 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Automatic Parking:
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Internet Radio:
Available
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Available
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Automatic Parking:
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Air Suspension:
Available
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
Available
Trailer Hitch:
Standard
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Lane Departure Warning:
Available
Lane Keeping Assist:
Available
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Available
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Available
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
Available
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.7 inches
Front Leg Room:
42 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
56 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.6 inches
Rear Leg Room:
35.2 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.6 inches
Cargo Space:
16.9 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
Not yet available
Overall Interior Volume:
94.0 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
39.6 inches
Front Leg Room:
40.9 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
57.7 inches
Rear Head Room:
39.3 inches
Rear Leg Room:
38 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
56.5 inches
Cargo Space:
25.9 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
54.1 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
Not yet available
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3644 lbs
Width:
81.4 inches
Height:
56.8 inches
Length:
185.9 inches
Wheelbase:
112.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.6 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
4079 lbs
Width:
84.2 inches
Height:
65.5 inches
Length:
184.3 inches
Wheelbase:
111 inches
Ground Clearance:
8.2 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/45R18
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 8.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
235/60R18
Exterior Colors
Black
Black Sapphire Metallic / Jet Black
Blue
Arctic Race Blue Metallic / Frozen Portimao Blue II Metallic / Portimao Blue Metallic / Tanzanite Blue II Metallic
Gray
Brooklyn Grey Metallic / Dravit Grey Metallic / Frozen Pure Grey Metallic / Skyscraper Grey Metallic
Red
Vegas Red Metallic
White
Alpine White / Mineral White Metallic
Green
Not available
Silver
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Brilliant Black / Mythos Black Metallic
Blue
Navarra Blue Metallic
Gray
Manhattan Gray Metallic
Red
Not available
White
Arkona White / Glacier White Metallic
Green
District Green Metallic
Silver
Florett Silver Metallic
Interior Colors
Beige
Canberra Beige
Black
Black / Black w/ Blue Contrast Stitching
Brown
Cognac / Mocha
Gray
Oyster
Red
Tacora Red
Interior Colors
Beige
Atlas Beige
Black
Black
Brown
Okapi Brown
Gray
Rock Gray
Red
Not available
