Audi A6 vs BMW 7 Series

The 2024 BMW 7 Series presented a more conventional design compared to its predecessors, with a traditional luxury sedan shape from the windshield backward. However, the front of the vehicle featured a massive grille, similar to other recent BMW models, flanked by narrow LED headlights and large projector beams. This bold design was an acquired taste for many. The car offered a wide array of colour and trim choices, including two-tone schemes on the 760i trim, which varied its appearance significantly. The M Sport Shadowline Package turned the grille black, making the styling indistinct, while chrome options were more appealing. The interior was less controversial, with beautifully made metal grilles hiding the speakers and seats available in various materials and colours. The cabin featured a big curved-screen infotainment display and a crystalline-looking strip with customizable ambient lighting, adding to the luxurious feel.

The 2026 Audi A6, like the smaller A5, was handsome but not visually striking. It featured a lower "singleframe" grille and fender flares inspired by the iconic Quattro rally car. The LED headlights had a pixelated effect with programmable signatures, and the taillights were moved to accommodate programmable lights for different icons. The A6 was available in base, Progressiv, and Technik trim levels, with the S Line Black package offering sportier features. The interior materials were disappointingly bland, with a lot of tinny plastic. The A6's design was more subdued than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and less ungainly than the BMW 5 Series, making it a stable and composed car better suited for highway driving.

The 2024 BMW 7 Series offered two potent powertrains in Canada. The 760i featured a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 with 536 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds. The 750e plug-in hybrid combined a 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine with an electric motor, delivering 483 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, reaching 100 km/h in approximately 4.7 seconds. The 750e offered fantastic fuel economy, rated at 3.6 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres (electric) and 9.4 L/100 km (gas) combined, although real-world figures were closer to 8.4 L/100 km. The 760i delivered 11.5 L/100 km combined. The 7 Series handled like a sports sedan, with precise steering and relatively little body roll, thanks to the standard air suspension and optional rear-wheel steering.

The 2026 Audi A6 featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine with 362 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and standard quattro AWD. The A6 achieved 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, quicker than a base BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E-Class. The transmission exhibited hesitation when accelerating from a stop, but shifts were smooth once up to speed. The A6's handling was enhanced by brake-based torque vectoring and an optional sport rear differential. The Sport Plus package included a lower ride height and rear-axle steering, improving handling but compromising ride quality. The A6 was stable and composed, better suited for highway driving than spirited cornering.

The 2024 BMW 7 Series was available only as a long-wheelbase sedan, offering a comfortable and opulent experience. The front seats were well-padded and supportive, with optional massaging functions. Rear legroom was generous at 1,087 millimetres, and rear passengers enjoyed door-mounted control screens and optional ventilated and massaging seats. The 7 Series offered 523 litres of cargo volume in the 750e and 540 litres in gas-only models, with a pass-through for skis. Interior storage was unremarkable.

The 2026 Audi A6 was six centimetres longer than the previous model but maintained the same wheelbase, resulting in no significant increase in passenger space. The panoramic glass roof increased front-seat headroom by five centimetres. The A6 offered comparable headroom and legroom to a BMW 5 Series, with heated rear seats and available massaging front seats. The trunk provided 382 litres of cargo space, more than a CT5 or Mercedes-Benz E-Class but less than a 5 Series.

The 2024 BMW 7 Series featured a massive curved-screen display with a 12.3-inch driver's screen and a 14.9-inch infotainment display. The iDrive 8.5 software offered a smartphone-like interface but was not an improvement over iDrive 8.0. The system required navigating complex menus, but a voice assistant helped with commands. An 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo was standard, with an optional 40-speaker system. The 31.3-inch theatre screen was a dramatic interior feature but blocked the rearview mirror when in use.

The 2026 Audi A6 introduced the Digital Stage setup with an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.5-inch touchscreen. An optional 10.9-inch front-passenger touchscreen was available. The MMI infotainment system was oversimplified and hard to interpret, but voice recognition and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto helped. An interface upgrade was planned for mid-year, adding an integrated dashcam and a new steering wheel. The optional Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system featured headrest speakers for navigation directions.

The 2024 BMW 7 Series had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it shared platform architecture with the BMW 5 Series, which earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The Advanced Driver Assistance Package added partially automated driving systems, but these cost extra. BMW's systems operated smoothly and reliably, with good pedestrian and hazard detection.

The 2026 Audi A6 came standard with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. It lacked a hands-free driving system, and the lane centring feature allowed some wobbling. Driver monitoring was robust, and the threshold for warnings was higher than in the A6 e-tron. Crash-test ratings were not available at the time of writing.