Compare the2025 BMW M5VS 2025 Audi S4

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 M5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The S4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M5 has 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 S4 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The M5 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 S4’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the M5 has standard Cross Traffic Warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the S4.

The M5’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 S4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the M5 and the S4 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

The BMW M5 weighs 1510 to 1650 pounds more than the Audi S4. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, 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 S4.

There are over 14 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the M5’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 36 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 With 85 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks BMW higher than Audi.

The M5’s 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 368 more horsepower (717 vs. 349) and 369 lbs.-ft. more torque (738 vs. 369) than the S4’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the BMW M5 is faster than the Audi S4:

The M5 can travel with zero emissions for 25 miles. The S4 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

For better stopping power the M5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the S4:

The M5 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 S4 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The M5 stops shorter than the S4:

For better traction, the M5 has larger standard tires than the S4 (285/40R20 vs. 255/35R19). The M5’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S4 (F:285/40R20 & R:295/35R21 vs. 255/35R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M5 has standard 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels. Only 19-inch wheels are available on the S4.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M5’s wheelbase is 7.3 inches longer than on the S4 (118.3 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the M5 is 4.4 inches wider in the front and 4.2 inches wider in the rear than on the S4.

The M5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53.9% to 46.1%) than the S4’s (57% to 43%). This gives the M5 more stable handling and braking.

The M5 Sedan handles at .98 G’s, while the S4 Prestige pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The front grille of the M5 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The S4 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the M5 Sedan a Mid-size car, while the S4 is rated a Compact.

The M5 has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S4 (98 vs. 92).

The M5 has 3.3 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, .5 inches more rear legroom and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the S4.

The M5 Sedan has a much larger trunk than the S4 (16.5 vs. 12 cubic feet).

The M5 has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the S4 (17.7 vs. 12 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the M5 has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The S4 doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

The M5’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The M5’s standard Comfort Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the car, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Engine Start/Stop standard on the S4 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the M5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The S4 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The BMW M5 has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the S4 Premium Plus/Prestige.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW M5 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the S4 Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The M5’s Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The S4 Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The BMW M5 comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Audi S4 isn’t available as a station wagon.

The BMW 5 Series outsold the Audi A4/S4 by over two to one during 2024.