Compare the2026 BMW i5VS 2025 Audi S6 e-tron

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The i5 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 S6 e-tron doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

Both the i5 and the S6 e-tron 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 and available around view monitors.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the i5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the S6 e-tron.

There are over 14 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the i5’s 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 i5 M60’s standard electric motors produces 50 more horsepower (593 vs. 543) than the S6 e-tron’s electric motors.

For better traction, the i5 has larger standard tires than the S6 e-tron (245/45R19 vs. 235/45R20). The i5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S6 e-tron (F:255/35R21 & R:285/30R21 vs. F:245/40R21 & R:275/35R21).

The i5’s optional 255/35R21 front and 285/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S6 e-tron’s optional 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

The i5 M60 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 S6 e-tron doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The i5 M60 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 S6 e-tron.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the i5’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the S6 e-tron (117.9 inches vs. 116.1 inches).

The i5 M60 xDrive handles at .96 G’s, while the S6 e-tron Prestige pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The i5 M60 xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the S6 e-tron Prestige (23.9 seconds @ .86 average G’s vs. 24.9 seconds @ .81 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the i5 eDrive40’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the S6 e-tron’s (38.4 feet vs. 40.4 feet). The i5 M60 xDrive’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the S6 e-tron’s (39 feet vs. 40.4 feet).

The BMW i5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 350 pounds less than the Audi S6 e-tron.

The i5 has .3 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room and 1.3 inches more rear legroom than the S6 e-tron.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the i5 offers cargo security. The S6 e-tron’s hatchback body style, non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the S6 e-tron, the i5 has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the i5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The S6 e-tron doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The i5 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the S6 e-tron.

The i5’s Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The S6 e-tron Premium Plus/Prestige’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The i5 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S6 e-tron doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW i5, based on reliability, safety and performance.