BMW’s new G50 3 Series is here, and it’s the biggest shake-up of the nameplate in years. The Neue Klasse cabin drops the traditional gauge cluster for a panoramic display along the base of the windshield and a large central screen. Audi’s A5 answers with three things BMW can’t match out of the box: a wraparound Digital Stage, standard quattro, and a liftback that carries far more than a sedan trunk. If you’re cross-shopping a base A5 against a 330 or M350, those three differences matter far more than any reveal-day photo.
Why the A5 is now the 3 Series rival
The A4 is gone. Audi folded the sedan role into the A5, so this liftback is now the car that lines up directly against the 3 Series. The G50 reaches U.S. showrooms in Q1 2027 as a 2027 model, per MotorTrend and Car and Driver. That means today’s A5 faces a brand-new 330, 330 xDrive, and M350 xDrive, not the outgoing G20. (If you’re after the performance versions, our S5 vs M340i vs C 43 comparison covers that.)
On price, the two start close. The A5 begins at $50,400 before destination, or $51,695 with Audi’s $1,295 destination and delivery charge. BMW lists the rear-drive 330 at $51,250 and the 330 xDrive at $53,250, both including destination. The M350 xDrive starts at $67,250 including destination. Options and dealer fees will move all of these, so build the exact car you’d buy before comparing.
Exterior: sleek vs sharp
This one comes down to taste. The A5 still looks clean and elegant, and from the side its liftback profile is the more graceful of the two. The G50 goes all-in on Neue Klasse angles: squarer, more upright, and noticeably more aggressive, especially in M Sport trim.
Cabin: Digital Stage vs Panoramic iDrive
This is where you’ll feel the difference every day.
- Audi A5: a 14.5-inch MMI touchscreen paired with an 11.9-inch Virtual Cockpit, wrapped into one curved Digital Stage. A passenger-side display is also available.
- BMW G50: a 17.9-inch central screen plus a wide, shallow display at the base of the windshield in place of a conventional gauge cluster. Car and Driver notes the iDrive rotary controller is gone.
The two brands are making opposite bets. Audi puts the information where your eyes already go. BMW strips the dash back and trusts that a cleaner, more open layout feels calmer. Both are good. Drive both at night before you decide, because photos won’t tell you which one you’ll be happy living with.
Quattro vs RWD and xDrive
Every U.S. A5 comes with quattro. You can’t order one without it. The 330 is rear-drive as standard, xDrive costs $2,000 more, and the M350 is xDrive only.
If you deal with snow, ice, or a wet commute, that’s a clear win for the Audi: all-wheel drive is built into the starting price. With the 330 you either pay for xDrive or budget for winter tires. If you live somewhere dry and want the classic rear-drive 3 Series feel, BMW still offers it.
The hatch that settles it
Load a stroller, a golf bag, or a warehouse-club haul into the A5 once and you’ll see why this matters. The A5 offers 22.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 36.6 with them folded (Car and Driver, Edmunds). BMW quotes 15.9 cubic feet for the G50’s trunk, with 40/20/40 folding rear seats. The Mercedes C 300 has 11.6.
The opening matters as much as the numbers. A liftgate takes boxes and bulky gear that a trunk lid won’t. If you carry real stuff in your daily car, the A5 is the most practical of the three, and it isn’t close.
Powertrains: A5 vs 330, and where the M350 fits
The base engines are closely matched:
- A5: turbo 2.0-liter four, 268 hp / 295 lb-ft, 7-speed S tronic, quattro, 0–60 mph in 5.6 seconds
- 330 / 330 xDrive: turbo 2.0-liter four with 48-volt mild hybrid, 255 hp / 295 lb-ft, 8-speed automatic, 0–60 mph in 5.9 seconds
- M350 xDrive: turbo 3.0-liter six with mild hybrid, 437 hp / 428 lb-ft, 8-speed automatic, 0–60 mph in 3.9 seconds
All 0–60 times are manufacturer claims, not instrumented tests.
The A5 edges the 330 on paper. The M350 is a different kind of car: a six-cylinder step the A5 lineup doesn’t have.
Where the C-Class fits
Plenty of shoppers add the Mercedes C 300 to this list. The 4MATIC version starts at $51,650 MSRP before destination (Mercedes-Benz USA), makes 255 hp and 295 lb-ft through a 9-speed automatic, and claims 0–60 mph in 6.0 seconds. Its cabin is built around MBUX, with a digital instrument cluster and a large central touchscreen. A rear-drive C 300 is also available at $49,650 MSRP before destination.
Pick the C-Class if the Mercedes cabin and badge matter most to you. Just know it has the smallest trunk of the three by a wide margin.
Spec sheet
| Spec | Audi A5 | BMW 330 / M350 | Mercedes C 300 4MATIC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $50,400 ($51,695 w/ dest.) | $51,250 / $53,250 xDrive / $67,250 M350 (incl. dest.) | $51,650 MSRP before destination; RWD $49,650 MSRP before destination |
| Power | 268 hp | 255 / 437 hp | 255 hp |
| Torque | 295 lb-ft | 295 / 428 lb-ft | 295 lb-ft |
| 0–60 mph (claimed) | 5.6 s | 5.9 / 3.9 s | 6.0 s |
| Engine | 2.0L turbo I4 | 2.0L turbo I4 MHEV / 3.0L turbo I6 MHEV | 2.0L turbo I4 MHEV |
| Transmission | 7-speed S tronic | 8-speed auto | 9-speed auto |
| Drivetrain | quattro standard | RWD or xDrive (M350: xDrive) | 4MATIC (RWD available) |
| Cargo | 22.6 cu ft (36.6 folded) | 15.9 cu ft | 11.6 cu ft |
| Screens | 14.5″ MMI + 11.9″ cockpit | 17.9″ central + panoramic display | MBUX dual screens |
Verdict
For most buyers who deal with weather, haul gear, and drive every day, the A5 is the easier car to recommend. You get standard quattro, a hatch that carries what the sedans can’t, and a cabin layout you’ll feel at home in within a weekend.
The G50 is a real step forward for BMW, and it will win over buyers who want the open-dash Neue Klasse look, rear-drive balance, or the M350’s six-cylinder punch. Those are legitimate reasons to choose it. Just price xDrive or winter tires honestly if you live where it snows.
If the Mercedes cabin is what you’re after, the C 300 is worth a test drive, but it can’t match the A5 for space.
Buying used instead?
If a pre-owned A5, 3 Series, or C-Class is on your shortlist, download our free Audi PPI Checklist before you commit.
Sources:
- BMWBlog — New BMW 3 Series vs Audi A5 photo comparison (Sep 30, 2026)
- BMWBlog — 2027 BMW 3 Series revealed (pricing, trunk, cabin)
- MotorTrend — 2027 BMW 3 Series first look
- Car and Driver — 2027 vs 2026 BMW 3 Series specs
- Audi USA — 2027 A5 overview
- Mercedes-Benz USA — C-Class Sedan (C 300 / C 300 4MATIC MSRP)
- Mercedes-Benz USA — C 300 4MATIC Sedan
- Mercedes-Benz Media USA — 2026 model line updates (C 300 pricing)
- Audi Club NA — 2027 A5 MSRP table (Audi of America; destination $1,295)
- CBT News — Audi 2027 lineup (destination remains $1,295)
- Edmunds — Audi A5 (cargo)
- Car and Driver — Audi A5 specs (cargo)