[ElderHokage]

Hi,

As the Audi A6 Premium Plus roughly costs the same as a BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class, I wanted to get some expert opinions on this comparison.

The comparison is between the Mercedes C200, BMW 330Li and Audi A6 Premium Plus Model Year 24. No diesel for me whatsoever because of low running.

The cars I own right now are:

1. The super awesome Linea T-Jet with only 65K km (2013 model).
2. The super reliable EcoSport Diesel (2017 model).

My own experience with test drives of these vehicles:

1. C-Class:
Felt the narrowest and smallest of the three and it is just that. I felt the power was missing and I felt the gap between the pedal and the brake was more than that in the other two. It made driving uncomfortable. During acceleration, the car takes its time to make up its mind.

The ground clearance is the lowest and the car touched all three speed-breakers (outside my colony) with three persons sitting in it. The Audi A6 and BMW 3-Series didn’t touch those speed-breakers with 4 persons sitting inside.

The interiors are lovely, but that’s it. I think Mercedes is doing wrong by providing these puny engines in their cars. It doesn’t feel like a full-blown premium car.

2. BMW 3-Series: This was probably the best car I have driven. It gave me the same connected feel as my Linea T-Jet but like it was on steroids. I loved the drive. The road presence is fine as well. The interiors are okay, but I drove this after A6, and I think the Audi spoiled me.

3. Audi A6: I think Audi A6 has the best interiors. I love how the interior ambient lighting is not overdone and there is no sound inside the car. I felt the difference was night and day between the Audi A6 and the other two. And the A6 felt like it was from a segment above. The engine is super silent and that gearbox is super quick. I have apprehensions about the DSG though.

After the test drive, I am sure that it is the 3-Series vs Audi A6 for me. I did a quick notes exercise to write down the pros of each car over the other. This is what I ended up with:

A6 Pros -
Interiors
Ambient lighting
Boot space
Drive comfort and comfortable suspension
Level up
Size and dimensions
Chauffeur driven car (if applicable in the future).
Tail-lights of the A6 are beautiful
Gear lever (don’t like what BMW and Mercedes have done with their gear levers)
Lane assist (just mentioning)
Electric steering adjust
Welcome function, I like that

3-Series Pros -
Driving pleasure (How much difference though? Will it matter in the long run?)
BMW grille (I liked it since I was a kid).
Steering feel (A6 felt light even in dynamic)
Wireless Apple CarPlay (I don’t know why the A6 doesn’t have this)
Sunroof (A6 is smaller but I think it provides more safety)
Knob for controlling screen (I like that, don’t know how useful it will be in the long run)
Rear wheel drive
Internet connected car features.

A6 Premium Plus Cons -
1. That Audi has a 10 speaker music system. I heard it and didn’t like it much. I heard the B&O in A4 and was blown away. Correct me if I am wrong, but the same speaker combo is present in Audi A4 Premium. So it is not sitting well with me.
2. The alloy wheel design is okay but I like the wheels to be diamond cut.
3. Doesn’t have a 360-degree camera, which might have come in handy in tight situations.
4. Doesn’t have comfort key (don’t know why it isn’t standard in the A6)
5. Doesn’t have Park Assist, which might have been useful or not, but I think it would be good to have.

All these cons are pushing me towards the A6 Technology. The difference is around 6 lakhs. What do you think of the comparison?

Also, please share your thoughts on the transmission that the A6 uses. Is it a DQ381? What is the long-term reliability of the gearbox? I have we reached a point where DSGs are as reliable as other ATs. I personally think the BMW transmission is more robust and reliable. Please comment.

What is the after-sales service like for BMW and Audi? I heard Audi’s service is notorious.

Also, for the same price, what do you think about Audi being a class higher than the 3-Series. Is it just a better product overall?

Which one would you have purchased between the Audi A6 Premium Plus and 3-Series and why?

PS My driving will be mostly in Delhi NCR with occasional road trips to Kanpur, Jaipur, Jodhpur and some hill stations which premium sedans like these can handle.

[vattyboy]

Go for the Audi A6.

3 series feels more engaging and tighter to drive but the Audi A6 is no slouch either.

A6 is the best of both worlds i.e. comfort and performance. It has carpet-like ride quality, I drove my friend's 2019 A6 TDI and it eats bumps and undulations of the road in breakfast. It has everything comparable to E class and 5 series, not 3 or C.

Prefer the technology variant. Always prefer the most loaded version of the car because it will be beneficial in the long run. The car will not feel outdated due to the better features on the inside and better aesthetics on the outside like alloys etc.

[GTO]

You own a Linea & EcoSport, two dynamically accomplished cars. You clearly "live to drive". If I were you, I'd choose the BMW 330i for the sheer driving pleasure on tap. This is the best 3-Series generation ever built and offers great looks, perfect suspension balance, a high-revving turbo-petrol & among the best AT gearboxes in the world today. Brownie points for being a RWD vs the Audi's FWD.

The Audi will be great as a luxury & family car. But for driving pleasure, it can't touch the BMW 330i. Plus, being that the 3-Series is only available as the longer Gran Limousine now, it offers more than enough space at the back for your family.

This would be my choice.

[Axe77]

Out of these two I’d hands down pick the 330 Li. It’s got a nice enough back seat in LWB guise and the driving pleasure of the BMW will just be a MUCH nicer experience. The B48 engine too is one of the smoothest engines around and is a joy to experience.

Even in terms of maintenance, my general perception (having experienced BMW but not Audi) is that BMW should trump Audi in the upkeep and peace of mind department.

[iliketurtles]

Go for the 330Li. The A6 feels and is from a segment above, as you said, but what the BMW loses on plushness and outright luxury feels is more than made up by its improved dynamics vis-à-vis the Audi and the much better track record of reliability.

That, coupled with its easy ownership plans (seen in BSI) make it an easy recommendation over the A6 for me.

PS: I know of FNG owners who have told me pointedly not to buy Audi’s because, and I quote “when they crap the bed, they do so spectacularly”. Make of that what you will.

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by ElderHokage

Also, for the same price, what do you think about Audi being a class higher than the 3-Series. Is it just a better product overall?Which one would you have purchased between the Audi A6 Premium Plus and 3-Series and why?

If you're after outright comfort as a driver and passenger comfort is also important, get the Audi. If you're after fun behind the wheel, it can only be a BMW.

The A6 is pure elegance. The 330i is a sharp shooter.

You can't fault either on anything. They are both very good cars.

[Mission_PGPX]

Originally Posted by ElderHokage

Hi,

As the Audi A6 Premium Plus roughly costs the same as a BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class, I wanted to get some expert opinions on this comparison.

Which one would you have purchased between the Audi A6 Premium Plus and 3-Series and why?

PS My driving will be mostly in Delhi NCR with occasional road trips to Kanpur, Jaipur, Jodhpur and some hill stations which premium sedans like these can handle.

My suggestion would be to go ahead with the car which genuinely moved you. Both 330i and A6 are fantastic product, but think of this "will you ever regret not buying that car whenever you see it on road?", if your answer is yes, then you have solved the dilemma. Rest all points about after sales and reliability can be eventually managed.

From my perspective, analyze your usage and driving pattern. Do you wish to drive a nimble, dynamic and no-nonsense driver's car, 330i is for you. If you want to arrive in a luxo barge with all the bells and whistles, without much compromise on performance, A6 is your answer. Good luck and happy shopping!!

[anothercar]

We own C class 2021, 330Li 2022 and Audi A6 premium plus 2022.

Keeping C out of the equation, for the other two, you can consider following key points:

1 You cannot compare drive quality of BMW with Audi. (leaving out Quattro in Q3 vs X1)There is a stark difference if you drive both one after the other. But if you don't feel the same, this point then stands cancelled.

2. Audi A6 no longer comes with Air suspension, so try the new one properly. Call both of them home at the same time and take repeated test drives on same routes.

3. Take 5 year warranty and service plan, both would be good.

4. Strikingly, 330Li is more comfortable in the rear seat than Audi A6. It's not personal opinion, many family members use both everyday.

5. Class difference, yes A6 is a notch above 3, apt car would be if there were a 5 series in comparison. Its got a large boot.

6. Current offers on both, check the 1.99% ROI on BM and tell Audi to match BM price. They will. Audi does not have Audi financial and thus there won't be any buy back offers with them, if you are contemplating that route.

7. Resale: You can do some homework to see what will cost you more over the period you wish to keep

8. Audi has visible tech, BM has all the tech(more than PP for sure) but it isn't all in your face. Voice commands of 330 feel better than A6

9. Lastly as GTO says, invest in what your heart wants. Driving a 330Li and then feeling you could have gone a class above, won't feel good. Driving 330Li and feeling that butter smooth power that makes you ignore everything else, would be cool.

[Mtv]

Get the A6. Over the course of your ownership you will appreciate its comfortable nature over the 3. It’s from a segment above after all and the interior is top notch. I feel the quality of materials is far better than even the 5’s. The 3 has a slightly bouncy ride in the rear, whereas the A6 flattens road undulations like a champ. It’s no slouch either, you can look into a remap post warranty as well. Bmw Ecu is also locked now, unless there is some intervention from tuners abroad.

[autobahnjpr]

Audi A6 is the best sedan I read somewhere and experienced it as owner. It combines luxury and practicality and will make the owner happy for a long time. The boot space and the inside space is much better for you to take your family along a long trip with lots of luggage without any hassle. The sheer silent cabin and plush ride will ensure you arrive fresh at destination. The steering is light, agreed but this makes it easy to drive. If possible go for the higher technology version and you will not regret.

[Turbanator]

Stick with BMW; it will be the cheapest to own (maintenance/ repairs), should last the longest, is the most trouble-free car, has some of the best dealers, and is an extremely supportive manufacturer across any brand in India.

Whatever small shortcomings you see on the BMW, will vanish when you press that accelerator Do take advantage of yearend and see whatever best you can get in terms of discounts or maintenance packs. If they are giving nothing, stick with the 24 models even if it means a little increase in the price.

[abaliga]

I have not driven either of the options, but I have driven other cars with the same powertrain (Q5, X3 30i and 330i), here are my observations

- BMW has an upper hand on the powertrain, 30i is the best there is among 2.0 turbo petrols

- Audi 2.0 TSI doesnt lag behind by much (may be quicker on 0-100 as well), but it is slightly more docile than the enthusiastic BMW 2.0 litre

- 3 series as a package is nice with the Grand Limousine, however it misses out on some essential niceties like rear sub blinds

- It is not easy to disable speed warnings on newer BMWs with curved screens, some coders claim that it cannot be done, however, this can easily be done on an Audi and all VAGs as of now (I am not sure if this matters to you), Also Audi has an option to set up custom speed reminders that one can configure

- Audi messed up by not launching the A6 Quatttro in India, this would have been a perfect choice, in the current scenario BMW will offer a better driving experience with its RWD compared to the FWD Audi

- A6 interiors feel 2 segments higher than the BMW (despite BMW being reasonably high quality)

- I cannot comment on the service specifically, but BMW is selling more cars than Audi for the past few years and that is a good reason to chose a BMW as the dealerships will have decent business and parts availability may be better, BMW also comes with one of the best torque converter units (relatively more reliable)

- VAG DSG reliability looks to be improving, their wet clutch units were not that bad to start with, unless you are planning on driving the car over 1.5-2 lakh kms you should be good, overall maintenance cost on the A6 may be higher though, considering it is a segment higher

All in all, I feel if luxury is a priority then A6 should be your choice, if you prefer an engaging driving experience, it has to be the 330i GL even though A6 will be 90% as good

[SShandilya]

I think to decide between the two. There are set of easy questions which can help you -
1. How many times do you floor your pedal ?
2. How do you take your corners ?
3. Classy or sporty ?
4. Sense of occasion or playful ?

Either way, you can’t go wrong. Both are loaded with tech, it really comes down to your driving behaviour.

[senna]

The boot of the 330 is laughably small. If it doesn't matter to you, go for the bmw.
However, if you plan on taking the car on longer trips, this will be the car's achilles' heel.
I am using an Audi A6 technology for ~2.5 years now. No issues/complaints, just the regular annual service so far.

[Maky]

Originally Posted by ElderHokage

And the A6 felt like it was from a segment above.

Because it is : )

Originally Posted by ElderHokage

I did a quick notes exercise to write down the pros of each car over the other.

Reading your thread it really feels like you're making a lot of effort trying to find faults with the C and 3 Series. It seems like you've already made up your mind.
Go with what you have clearly fallen in love with. Go with the A6.