Head to head: Audi A6 v BMW 5-Series

Audi A6 2.0 TFSI ... from $77,900 plus on-road and dealer costs. 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo petrol;  132kW/320Nm; 6.4L/100km and 149g/100km CO2; CVT; FWD.

BMW 520i ... from $77,900 plus on-road and dealer costs. 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo petrol; 135kW/270Nm; 6.4L/100km and 155g/km CO2; 8-sp auto; RWD

Value

Audi: All the usual luxuries including leather upholstery, dual-zone airconditioning, automatic lights and wipers, keyless ignition, parking sensors, cruise control, 17-inch alloys and eight airbags.  Gets an electronic park brake and space-saver spare tyre.

BMW: The two Germans are keeping a close eye on each other because the 520i is the same price and has a near-identical equipment list as the A6. The only major differences on specification are the BMW’s traditional handbrake lever and run-flat tyres.

Winner: Audi

Inside

Audi: Audi has long been considered one of the leaders on interior design and the A6 continues that tradition. Highlights include a large screen that slides in and out of the dash on start-up.

BMW: Still a luxurious place to be but the design isn’t as fresh as the latest 3-Series. Functional and with some clever touches but lacking the flair of the Audi. Interior storage also light on.

Winner: Audi

Engine

Audi: Less powerful but with more pulling power than the 520i. Looks small on paper but does a good job hauling such a big car. The CVT isn’t as refined as the BMW’s traditional auto. Audi Drive Select allows tweaks to throttle response and transmission for economy.

BMW: The combination of a small turbo engine and eight-speed automatic gearbox works surprisingly well. It also helps get impressive fuel economy for such a large car, although the Eco Pro mode takes the edge off performance.

Winner: BMW

How it drives

Audi: It rides well, dealing with imperfections with ease and is quiet and cosseting. Driving the front wheels (more expensive A6s get Audi’s Quattro 4WD system) the base A6 still puts its power down well.

BMW: Sharp bumps can upset the otherwise composed ride, which alsodoes a good job settling from bumps. Solid feel, although additional weight means it feels slightly heavier.

Winner: Audi

Technology

Audi: Standard MMI Navigation Plus includes Audi’s unique touchpad that can be used to write letters and numbers with your finger. The screen graphics look more premium, too.

BMW: iDrive controller now intuitive and menu system allows good interaction with multiple functions. The eight touch-sensitive programmable buttons are also handy.

Winner: Audi

Verdict

Audi: A narrow winner despite what the scorecard says. It is proof that a big car can not only work with a small engine but also feel like a luxury car.
BMW: Pipped at the post but only just, with the frugal drivetrain a highlight.

Winner: Audi