BMW i Series vs Audi A7
What's the difference?

BMW i Series

$88,900 - $233,400

2026 price

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Audi A7

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2019 price

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Aston Martin Vanquish

Lamborghini Aventador

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz A35

Mercedes-Benz A45

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz C43

Mercedes-Benz C63

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz E53

Mercedes-Benz EQ-Class

Mercedes-Benz EQS

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Summary

2026 BMW i Series

2019 Audi A7

By Andrew Chesterton

By Matt Campbell

Safety Rating

Electric motor type

Electromagnetically Excited

Turbo V6, 3.0L

Vehicle type

Battery Electric

Premium Unleaded/Electric

Electric range

805 km

7.3L/100km (combined)

Energy consumption

18.8 kWh/100km

Battery capacity

108.70 kWh

Seating

Likes

Ridiculous range in its most efficient settings
Properly fun in its sportiest settings
Tech that feels futuristic but somehow familiar

Glorious to behold
Surprising value
Great safety kit

Dislikes

Light-touch steering takes some getting used to
Feels heavy on some roads
The native operating system can be clunky and confusing

Launching with top-spec petrol only
Still some options to pick
Some tech quibbles on launch

2026 BMW i Series Summary

There are a lot of big numbers surrounding the BMW iX3, the German brand’s new-from-the-ground-up EV that acts as the flagbearer for its future-facing Neue Klasse (or New Class) architecture, designed to distil all the ingredients that make a BMW a BMW, and then electrify for them for the post-ICE (internal combustion engine) era.

But the one that really stood out? 805. That’s how many kilometres of driving range the iX3 will deliver, though admittedly in its most efficient and least exciting driving modes. That is bonkers, right?

It’s worth pointing out the first BMW i3, which only launched a decade-or-so ago, delivered more like 150km on what would have been the WLTP cycle, if it had existed then. Talk about leaps and bounds.

A good start for the newest BMW EV, then. But what else does the iX3 have to offer?

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2019 Audi A7 Summary

Audi is known as a design-led brand, and arguably no model in the line-up embodies that ethos more than the Audi A7 Sportback.

This all-new version of Audi's largest swoopy five-door hatchback takes the concept of the original first-generation version and, rather than reinventing the idea, reimagines it with a more modern and even more style-focused look, inside and out.

And it's a very convincing execution, indeed.

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Deep dive comparison

2026 BMW i Series 2019 Audi A7

Verdict

The thing that really grabs you from behind the wheel of a car like this is just how far EVs have come. The fact you can get a ridiculous range and have a really, really good time on the right twisting road is a pretty good deal and solidifies the fact EVs like this one are the future.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number of automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Verdict

The Audi A7 is a really likeable car, one that is heavily focused on style but also emanates substance. The 55 TFSI model will appeal to many, but my initial impression is that the best buy in the range could well be the entry-level 45 TFSI. I can't wait to sample it sometime in 2019.

BMW i Series vs Audi A7 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

BMW i Series vs Audi A7
What's the difference?