Compare the2026 BMW M4VS 2025 Audi RS 5 Sportback

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 M4 are reminded to check the back seat. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M4 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The M4 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the RS 5 Sportback’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the M4 has standard Cross Traffic Warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the RS 5 Sportback.

The M4’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 RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the M4 and the RS 5 Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, 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, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M4 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the RS 5 Sportback.

There are over 14 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the M4’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the M4 has a standard 209-amp alternator. The RS 5 Sportback’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the M4 has a standard 900-amp battery. The RS 5 Sportback’s 420-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 73 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

The M4’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 29 more horsepower (473 vs. 444) than the RS 5 Sportback’s 2.9 turbo V6. The M4 Competition’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 59 more horsepower (503 vs. 444) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 442) than the RS 5 Sportback’s 2.9 turbo V6. The M4 Competition xDrive’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 79 more horsepower (523 vs. 444) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 442) than the RS 5 Sportback’s 2.9 turbo V6.

The M4 offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The M4 Competition’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the M4’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RS 5 Sportback:

The M4 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

For better traction, the M4 has larger tires than the RS 5 Sportback (F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19 vs. 265/35R19).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M4’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the RS 5 Sportback (112.5 inches vs. 111.3 inches).

The M4 Coupe handles at 1.03 G’s, while the RS 5 Sportback pulls only .97 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The BMW M4 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the Audi RS 5 Sportback.

The M4’s standard power retractable hardtop allows a seamless transition from an open car, to a completely sealed coupe. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a retractable hardtop.

The M4 Coupe has 2.6 inches more front headroom and .7 inches more front legroom than the RS 5 Sportback.

With its coupe body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the M4 offers cargo security. The RS 5 Sportback’s hatchback body style defeats cargo security.

The M4’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 RS 5 Sportback’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The RS 5 Sportback’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The M4’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the M4 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The M4’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The RS 5 Sportback’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The BMW M4 comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the Audi RS 5 Sportback isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

The M4 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.