Compare the2025 Audi S3VS 2025 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

The S3’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi S3 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the S3 and 2 Series Gran Coupe have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S3 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the S3. But it costs extra on the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the S3 has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Assist and Automatic Brake Activation automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. BMW charges extra for Cross Traffic Warning on the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

Both the S3 and the 2 Series Gran Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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 and rearview cameras.

The Audi S3’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 1 place higher in reliability than BMW.

The S3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 87 more horsepower (328 vs. 241) than the 228 Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The S3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 16 more horsepower (328 vs. 312) than the M235’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi S3 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The M235 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The S3 has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (14.5 vs. 12.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the S3’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

The S3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s standard 45 series tires. The S3’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the M235’s optional 40 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the S3 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For better maneuverability, the S3’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s (36.5 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the S3 has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

The S3 has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The 2 Series Gran Coupe has no towing capacity.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the S3 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The S3 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the S3 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield, the S3 has standard extendable sun visors. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer extendable visors.