Audi A6 vs BMW 2 Series

The 2025 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe was a unique addition to BMW's lineup, standing out as a four-door model built on a different platform than its two-door counterpart. Sharing some underpinnings with the Mini Cooper, it was the most affordable BMW, though its appearance didn't quite match the brand's traditional aesthetics. The front-wheel-drive platform necessitated a taller hood, which added visual weight and gave it a profile more similar to a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. Despite lacking the athletic stance of its two-door sibling, the Gran Coupe maintained a traditional BMW twin-kidney grille, allowing it to blend in with other BMW sedans and coupes from the front and rear views.

Inside, the Gran Coupe adhered to BMW's design language, featuring a large glossy panel housing the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen. The interior quality was comparable to base-model BMWs, with sturdy, soft-touch materials and metallic accents. While the Mini Cooper origins were subtly present in the steering wheel buttons, the cabin exuded the sporty seriousness typical of BMW models.

The 2026 Audi A6, like its smaller sibling the A5, was handsome but not particularly striking. Its trademark “singleframe” grille was lower and more pronounced, while fender flares and a ribbed lower door skin added definition. Although it didn't make as bold an impression as a Cadillac CT5, it was more subdued than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The A6 featured LED headlights with a pixelated effect and programmable signatures, while the taillights were repositioned to accommodate programmable lights for different icons. However, the similarity between the hazard and auto park symbols was a minor drawback.

Available in base, Progressiv, and Technik trims, the A6 was initially offered only as a sedan, with the previous-generation RS 6 Avant wagon still available. The S Line Black package for the Technik trim added sportier elements, while the Sport Plus Package included 21-inch wheels and a sport rear differential. Despite these enhancements, the interior materials felt disappointingly bland and cheap, lacking the premium feel expected in a luxury sedan.

The 2025 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe was equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 241 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The Canadian market offered the 228 xDrive Gran Coupe, featuring a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. BMW claimed a 0-100 km/h time of six seconds. The xDrive AWD system effectively mitigated front-end traction issues, providing ample grip for cornering, though the FWD-derived platform still exhibited some nose-heaviness. Adaptive dampers allowed for adjustable ride settings, offering comfort for long drives despite occasional road surface thumps. The cabin remained quiet, with minimal wind and road noise, though the engine's four-cylinder nature was evident under hard acceleration.

The 2026 Audi A6 retained a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, producing 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and standard quattro AWD. This engine, shared with the S5 sedan, offered 27 more horsepower and 37 more pound-feet of torque than the previous A6's more powerful option. The A6's 0-100 km/h time of 4.8 seconds was impressive, outpacing base models of the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class. However, the transmission exhibited hesitation under heavy throttle from a stop. The Sport Plus package included a sport rear differential and rear-axle steering, enhancing handling and stability. Despite these features, the A6 was better suited for highway driving, with noticeable tire noise on less-than-perfect pavement.

The 2025 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe featured an attractive and intuitive gear selector lever, surrounded by capacitive-touch buttons that were occasionally activated accidentally. The instrument panel was well-placed, with an available head-up display to reduce distractions. The minimalist air vent slots added a modern touch, though the remote toggle for airflow direction seemed over-engineered. Storage space was adequate, with a small tray, wireless charging pad, and modest cup holders. Rear legroom was sufficient, but headroom was limited, and the narrow door opening required caution. The trunk, with a 340-litre capacity, appeared more accommodating in person, easily fitting large suitcases and offering convenient seatback release levers for additional space.

The 2026 Audi A6 was six centimetres longer than its predecessor, though the wheelbase remained unchanged, resulting in no significant increase in passenger space. Front-seat headroom improved by five centimetres due to the new panoramic glass roof, which extended to the rear seats with dimmable panels. Rear seat headroom and legroom were comparable to the BMW 5 Series, with slightly less headroom than a Cadillac CT5 but more legroom. Rear passengers enjoyed climate controls, USB-C ports, and heated seats, while front seats offered heating, ventilation, and optional massage functions. The conventional trunk, with 382 litres of space, was more spacious than a CT5 or Mercedes-Benz E-Class but less than the 5 Series.

The 2025 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe came standard with a 10.7-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, and a Harman Kardon sound system. While basic functions were intuitive, secondary features required navigating complex menus. Adjusting adaptive cruise control following distance was cumbersome, with a conspicuous blank button on the steering wheel where a control should be. Climate controls were moved to the touchscreen but remained accessible. Voice-activated controls offered some relief, though they lacked user settings. The Gran Coupe featured remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app, with the BMW Digital Key allowing phone-as-key functionality. Over-the-air updates kept the system current, with streaming services available through the display.

The 2026 Audi A6 introduced the Digital Stage setup, featuring an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.5-inch touchscreen, with an optional 10.9-inch front-passenger screen. Despite larger screens, the MMI infotainment system was oversimplified and difficult to interpret. Improved voice recognition and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto helped, but small, unorganized text in the instrument cluster was challenging. An interface update was planned for mid-year, adding a dashcam and a new steering wheel with fewer haptic controls. The optional Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system featured headrest speakers for navigation directions, enhancing the audio experience.

The 2025 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe offered standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and parking sensors. The optional Driving Assistant Professional package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-change assist, evasive steering assist, and traffic jam assist. All safety features performed well, with no false alarms or glitches. Adaptive cruise control had an automatic setting for following distance, though manual adjustment was preferred to prevent other drivers from cutting in. Crash test ratings were unavailable, but the Gran Coupe was expected to match the first-generation model's "Good" IIHS rating.

The 2026 Audi A6 included standard driver-assist features such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot monitors, traffic sign recognition, parking sensors, and lane departure warning. However, it lacked a hands-free driving system, and the lane centring feature allowed for some lane wobble. Robust driver monitoring was included, with a higher threshold for warnings compared to the A6 e-tron. Crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available, typical for a new generation's first model year.