Small luxury cars contain the best of all worlds: they are full of creature comforts and the latest technologies, and more often than not they are sporty and powerful as well. This is especially true of the German performance brands like Audi and BMW. If you are after a small car that is as fun to drive as it is comfortable to ride in, consider the 2018 Audi A5 or 2018 BMW 3 Series. Both of these cars seem to provide the top levels of performance and luxury in their class, but which is actually the superior vehicle?

For the purposes of this research page, we will compare the 2018 Audi A5 Premium Plus Sportback, starting at $45,600 MSRP, to the 2018 BMW 330i xDrive Sedan, starting at $42,250 MSRP.

2018 Audi A5 vs. 2018 BMW 3 Series: Engine Specs

The Audi A5 is quick and powerful with handling that responds immediately to driver input. The Audi A5 also scores high on everyday drivability - it's easy to make your commute in this sleek yet practical Sportback. And because the Audi A5 is equipped with quattro® all-wheel drive, possibly the best all-wheel drive system of any manufacturer, it's capable of getting you through harsh Illinois winters. To see how the BMW 330i's specs compare, read the table below.

2018 Audi A5 vs. 2018 BMW 3 Series: Comfort

Audi knows how to do a lot of things right, but one of the ways in which they truly excel is the comfort of their cabins. When comparing the quality of the materials used throughout and the attention paid to each occupant, the Audi A5 is the clear winner over the BMW 3 Series.

• The BMW 330i has synthetic leather seats, but every Audi A5 comes standard with genuine leather seat trim.
• The Audi A5 Premium Plus has 8-way power adjustable front seats plus four-way power lumbar adjustment and position memory for the driver.
• Unlike in the BMW 330i, Audi A5 Premium Plus owners will enjoy heated front seats.
• The Audi A5's Cold Weather Package adds a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats, while the Warm Weather Package adds ventilated front seats.
• Even rear passengers can enjoy personalized comfort in the Audi A5, thanks to three-zone automatic climate control and a panoramic sunroof.

2018 Audi A5 vs. 2018 BMW 3 Series: Technology

If you are interested in driving a car with the most advanced safety and entertainment technology available, you need a luxury vehicle. Both the Audi A5 and BMW 3 Series are available with impressive infotainment systems and available driver assistance features, but only the Audi A5 truly deserves your consideration.

• The 2018 Audi A5 comes with a larger multimedia touchscreen and more standard speakers than the 2018 BMW 3 Series.
• Only the Audi A5 is available with a fully digital instrument panel.
• Using Audi pre sense®, the Audi A5 can sense and start preparing for a collision before it occurs in order to keep you safe.
• When you are driving down a crowded highway or in a busy downtown area, safety features like Audi side assist and vehicle exit assist help you determine when it's safe to change lanes or open your doors.

Test Drive the New 2018 Audi A5 near Schaumburg, IL

Now that you know all the ways in which the A5 beats out the BMW 3 Series, you can learn more about the Audi A5 and its available trim packages by reading through our other research pages and searching our current new Audi A5 inventory. To speak to a product specialist at our Audi dealership near Schaumburg, IL about the new Audi A5 or to schedule a test drive, call (888) 698-1441.