Audi A5 Sportback vs BMW M4 Coupe
Verdict
The Audi A5 Sportback costs RM440,990 against the BMW M4 Coupe’s RM878,800, so the RM437,810 gap is not subtle. The BMW turns that money into 530 hp, 650 Nm and a 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time, while both stop at 250 km/h. The Audi answers with five seats, a larger 480-litre boot, 7.1 L/100 km economy and much lower RM372 road tax. For Malaysia, this is pace versus daily cost and space.
Pick the Audi A5 Sportback if you want all-wheel drive, five seats, a 480-litre boot and far lower running costs than the BMW.
Pick the BMW M4 Coupe if you want the harder-hitting car, with 530 hp, 650 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds.
Key differences
- Price: Audi RM440,990; BMW RM878,800
- Output: Audi 249 hp/370 Nm; BMW 530 hp/650 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: Audi 5.6 s; BMW 3.5 s
- Seats and boot: Audi 5 seats/480 L; BMW 4 seats/440 L
- Annual road tax: Audi RM372; BMW RM2,113
- Auto emergency braking: Audi —; BMW Yes
A5 Sportback
- Much lower purchase price
- Five seats and 480-litre boot
- Declared 7.1 L/100 km economy
- Far less power than the BMW
- Slower 5.6-second 0-100 km/h time
- No auto emergency braking listed
M4 Coupe
- Huge 530 hp and 650 Nm outputs
- Very quick 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time
- Auto emergency braking included
- Costs RM878,800
- Only four seats and 440 litres of boot space
- RM2,113 annual road tax
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 440,990✓ | RM 878,800 |
| Body type | Hatchback | Coupe |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, turbocharged with variable valve timing | 24-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 1,984 cc | 2,993 cc |
| Horsepower | 249 hp | 530 hp✓ |
| Torque | 370 Nm | 650 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore | 82.5 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 9.6 | — |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 6 hp | — |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7-speed S tronic | 8-speed M Steptronic Transmission with Drivelogic |
| Gears | 7 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | BorgWarner | ZF |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.6 seconds | 3.5 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | 7.1 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Co2 | 163 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,757 mm | 4,794 mm |
| Width | 1,843 mm | 1,887 mm |
| Height | 1,386 mm | 1,393 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,831 mm | 2,857 mm |
| Weight | 1,605 kg | 1,800 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 58 litres | 59 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres✓ | 440 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/35R19 | 275/35R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R19 | 285/35R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Potenza S001 | Pirelli P Zero |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" Multi-spoke Two-tone Alloy | 19" M Forged Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Multi-spoke Two-tone Alloy | 20" M Forged Alloys |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated and Cross Drilled Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated and Cross Drilled Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Passive Sports Suspension | M Adaptive Suspension |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars — Equivalent to A4 | — |
| ANCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side and Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Manual for Front Passenger Door |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 80 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED Projector with Matrix High Beam and Sequential Indicators | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED with Sequential Indicators | Laserlight |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 12-way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | Powered Front Seats |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | Front 1x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 1x 12V, Rear 1x 12V | 1 Front, 2 USB-C Front |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front |
| Audio | 10.1" Touchscreen MMI navigation plus with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 10-speaker, 180W Sound System | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 12-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | — | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | — | 5 years |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 372✓ | RM 2,113 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
A5 Sportback vs M4 Coupe FAQ
Is the Audi A5 Sportback or BMW M4 Coupe better?
The BMW M4 Coupe is better for outright performance and gets auto emergency braking. The Audi A5 Sportback is the better daily-use choice if you need five seats, a bigger boot, lower road tax and a declared fuel economy figure.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M4 Coupe costs RM878,800, while the Audi A5 Sportback costs RM440,990. That makes the BMW RM437,810 more expensive before considering road tax, which is RM2,113 versus RM372 per year.
Which car is quicker from 0-100 km/h?
The BMW M4 Coupe is quicker, taking 3.5 seconds from 0-100 km/h. The Audi A5 Sportback takes 5.6 seconds, so the BMW is 2.1 seconds faster to the benchmark sprint.