Compare the2026 BMW 7 SeriesVS 2026 Audi A6

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 7 Series has a standard 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 A6 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the 7 Series xDrive’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The A6 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The BMW 7 Series’ optional Surround View offers available integrated front and rear camera washers, ensuring clear, all-weather visibility without the need for manual cleaning. In contrast, the Audi A6 lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

Both the 7 Series and the A6 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The BMW 7 Series weighs 410 to 1325 pounds more than the Audi A6. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are over 14 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 7 Series’ warranty.

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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 8 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The 740i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 13 more horsepower (375 vs. 362) than the A6’s 3.0 turbo V6. The 750e’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 121 more horsepower (483 vs. 362) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 406) than the A6’s 3.0 turbo V6. The 760i’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 174 more horsepower (536 vs. 362) and 147 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 406) than the A6’s 3.0 turbo V6.

On the EPA test cycle the 750e running on electricity gets better mileage than the A6 (68 city/74 hwy MPGe vs. 20 city/29 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the 7 Series running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the A6:

The 750e can travel with zero emissions for 35 miles. The A6 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the 7 Series’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The A6 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The 7 Series 750e’s standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the A6 (17.2 vs. 16.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The 7 Series’ standard fuel tank has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the A6 (19.5 vs. 16.1 gallons).

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW 7 Series, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A6.

For better stopping power the 7 Series’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the A6:

For better traction, the 7 Series has larger tires than the A6 (F:255/45R20 & R:285/40R20 vs. 245/45R19).

The 7 Series’ standard 285/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A6’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 7 Series has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the A6.

The 7 Series 750e/760i 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 A6 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the 7 Series uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the A6, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The 750e/760i 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 A6.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 7 Series’ wheelbase is 11.5 inches longer than on the A6 (126.6 inches vs. 115.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 7 Series is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A6.

For better maneuverability, the 7 Series’ turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the A6’s (39.7 feet vs. 40.4 feet).

The front grille of the 7 Series uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The A6 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 7 Series has 3.9 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 6.1 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the A6.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the 7 Series’ available rear seats recline. The A6’s rear seats don’t recline.

The 7 Series’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The A6 has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The 7 Series’ optional power side swing out doors make it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the car. The A6 doesn’t offer a power rear door.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the 7 Series’ passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The A6 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The 7 Series has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the A6.

Both the 7 Series and the A6 offer available massaging front seats. The 7 Series also offers optional massaging rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the A6.

Both the BMW 7 Series and the Audi A6 have a standard Qi wireless phone charging system in the front seat. To easily keep personal devices charged in the rear seat, without cables tangling and wearing out, the 7 Series also offers an optional wireless charging system in the rear seat. The A6 does not.

The 7 Series is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A6 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The BMW 7 Series outsold the Audi A6/S6/RS 6 by 5% during 2025.