Compare the2025 BMW i5VS 2024 Audi e-tron GT

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the i5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The e-tron GT doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The i5’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The e-tron GT doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the i5 and the e-tron GT have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the i5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the e-tron GT.

There are over 14 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the i5’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 36 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 85 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks BMW higher than Audi.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 10 places higher in reliability than Audi.

As tested in Car and Driver the i5 M60 electric motors is faster than the Audi e-tron GT (522 HP engine):

On the EPA test cycle the i5 gets better mileage than the e-tron GT:

The i5 can travel longer on a full charge than the e-tron GT on a full charge:

For better stopping power the i5’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the e-tron GT:

The i5 stops shorter than the e-tron GT:

The i5 M60 offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The e-tron GT doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The i5 M60 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the e-tron GT.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the i5’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the e-tron GT (117.9 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The i5 has 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 4.3 inches more rear legroom and 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the e-tron GT.

The i5 has a much larger trunk than the e-tron GT (17.3 vs. 9.2 cubic feet).

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the i5 offers cargo security. The e-tron GT’s non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

The i5’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The e-tron GT’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the i5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The e-tron GT doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The i5 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The e-tron GT doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.