The new 3 Series is out. Will it again dominate the competition? The German car magazine "Auto Zeitung" took the new top of the line model 330i for a comparison with the face-lifted and updated Audi A4. In a head-to-head test, the 330i had to show if it can stand up against Audi's A4 and its new 3.2 FSI engine with direct fuel injection.

No question: both Audi and BMW build great cars. And looking at the values on paper, the 330i and the A4 3.2 are obviously very very close: 258 hp to 255 hp, 6.1 secs to 6.5 secs, 250 km/h both... But driving both cars side by side also unveils the subtle differences. For example, matching superior sportive handling with superior driving comfort is an extremely challenging task -- one that BMW mastered a tick better. Less overall weight and an even weight distribution of 50:50 (front/rear) help to make the BMW both more agile and more comfortable than the A4. Despite the slightly smaller engine, the BMW engine's performance specs look better already on paper, and even let the 330i dominate more clearly in the real-world test. In conjuction with the perfect 6-shift manual gearbox, the BMW is not just clearly faster and more sportive, but also quieter than the Audi.

AZ's conclusion:
"The BMW wins this duell thanks to its extraordinary performance, the smooth engine, the excellent handling and the better driving comfort. The Audi has an excellent finish, a slightly lower fuel consumption and great usability, but all in all, the cheaper BMW represents the better synthesis of sportivity and comfort."