Road & Track says: BMW 335d ahead of the Audi A4 3.2 Quattro

Road & Track magazine published an interesting but in the same time strange comparison of two vehicles that not many will dare to put head-to-head: the new BMW 335d, a diesel powered car and the Audi A4 3.2 Quattro, a direct-injected gasoline-powered sports sedan.

As a disclaimer posted by R&R as well, the 335d was equipped with Sports Suspensions while A4 Quattro was running with stock suspension settings.

Before we go further, how many of you really think this is an insane comparison and how many of you will bet on the Audi? Well, I have to admit, I did…… Was I wrong? Let’s find out next.

Okay, we can agree diesels are much improved. But that doesn’t mean we want one providing the motive force in a BMW 3 Series, right? After all, it’s hard to envision true back-road thrills with an engine that tops out at 4600 rpm. How does it respond when driven hard? Is it slow and heavy? More importantly, how does the BMW 335d compare to a state-of-the-art direct-injected gasoline-powered sports sedan, in this case Audi’s excellent A4 3.2 Quattro?

While that makes our test an apples-to-oranges comparison, we’re much more concerned about the engines involved here anyway — their power, performance, driveability, fuel consumption…and fun.

Unfortunately, even in outright acceleration, the Audi gets smoked by the BMW diesel. With 265 bhp and “only” 243 lb.-ft. of torque from a direct-injected 3.2-liter V-6 — and despite the launching traction of Quattro all-wheel drive and a curb weight almost identical to the BMW’s — the A4 can’t overcome the BMW’s monstrous 425 lb.-ft. of torque. Although we bettered the acceleration times over the previous A4 3.2 we tested, the Audi’s 0–60-mph time of 5.9 seconds lags significantly behind the BMW’s 5.3.

BMW 335d vs. Audi A4 3.2 Quattro Continued

8 Responses to “Road & Track says: BMW 335d ahead of the Audi A4 3.2 Quattro”

Gil says:

April 6, 2009 at 1:05 am

Aaahhh! Thanks for posting this article. I’ve been meaning to test drive the 335d for a while, but haven’t gotten around to it yet (there’s always something around the house that needs attention, how pesky). I really should make the effort to visit the dealership and test drive this car. My dealer has 2 in their inventory, I just checked. With no price! I love it. lol.

Tom Hegedosh says:

April 6, 2009 at 2:07 am

damn… faster than a stock z4 3.0

H. Lamas says:

April 6, 2009 at 2:19 am

Yeah, but the A4 is more beautiful than 3 series.

Giom says:

April 6, 2009 at 3:35 am

Nothing too surprising here. This 3.0 tt mill won an enjin award not so?

In the end, BMW is BMW and Audi isn’t.

P.wong says:

April 6, 2009 at 4:15 am

oh plz @h.lama

L1ndja says:

April 6, 2009 at 4:41 am

hahahahahahah Fuck Audi Bmw forever

anti fanboy says:

April 6, 2009 at 5:37 am

BS comparison. everyone knows the twin turbo diesel’s much more powerful than audi’s 3.2 fsi (which was meant to compete with 330i)..
the twin turbos (335i and d) were supposed to compete with the S4.

I am a fan of both cars (big fan of 35i and d engines) but this type of comparison is BULL. Most comparisons here (if not all) favor bmw, S4 already beats the hell out of 335i, what more of the 335d:
http://www.autospies.com/news/B8-Audi-S4-vs-BMW-335i-xDrive-vs-Mitsubishi-Lancer-Evo-40340/

@Giom: what the hell was that supposed to mean? how the f*** can audi become bmw? and by the way it was funny how you said, in the end bmw is bmw haha fanboy

Lance says:

April 6, 2009 at 12:42 pm

The Audi is one ugly stretched fish! absolute trash compared to the stately 3 Series with an iconic muscular design