Twin test: Audi A4 v BMW 3 Series review

Twin test: Audi A4 v BMW 3 Series reviewSteve Walkercontent editor, MSN Cars2012-08-02T11:31:53Look around you next time you're out driving. A huge proportion of the other motorists you see on the roads don't actually own their cars. But before you get on the phone to the police, just hang on a minute, they're not criminals or anything like that, they're company car drivers.The so-called 'fleet' sector accounts for over 50% of the new cars sold in the UK every year. That's companies buying cars for their employees, or employees of their clients, to get about in. It all means that company cars are very, very big business for car manufacturers. Some models owe their entire existence to the specific demands of fleet customers.That brings us to the two cars we're looking at here - Audi's A4 and BMW's 3 Series. The versions we have are both economical diesels from the middle of their respective ranges. Priced around the £30,000 milestone, they're both perfect company car fodder but which one is best? First drive: Audi A4 (2012 onwards)First drive: BMW 3 Series (2012 onwards)- The BMW 3 Series pictured is a 328i with Modern trim rather than the 320d Sport we tested.How practical are they?It's hard to imagine the thrusting account manager who wouldn't be proud to swing into the office car park at the wheel of one of these. But once he or she has soaked up the envy seeping out of colleagues, how happy will they be actually living with the car?Audi has crafted some exquisite interiors in recent years. Its patented brand of tough, tech-heavy 'black 'n' bling' has been aped across the industry. This A4 bears all the usual hallmarks of Audiness from the super-slick MMI infotainment system to the glinting metallic highlights on the switchgear. The all-important monster coffee cups that fuel overworked executives fit neatly in the holder and there's plenty of space for nutritious garage food.in recent times BMW has closed the cabin quality gapThe Audi is good but in recent times BMW has closed the cabin quality gap that its rival had opened up. The latest 3 Series dash is a triumph of clean, minimal lines and the seats are particularly cosy. The Audi shades it on storage space but the latest iDrive control system is excellent and we love the widescreen infotainment display with its fresh, clear graphics. It feels friendlier than the sober Audi and on build quality it's the 3 that marginally gets the nod.Around at the back, the A4 passes the all-important golf clubs test without too much trouble. Its boot is fractionally deeper and wider of opening. That said, the 3 Series boot is well shaped, and in practice, it will swallow the kit you need for a swift 18-hole business meeting almost as easily. Interestingly, both cars have identical boot capacities of 480 litres so again, the margins are small.MSN Cars' best executive cars How do they cope with a commute?The 2.0-litre diesel engines are central to what makes these two ideal company car tools. No employee wants a work runabout that can't venture into the outside lane for fear of causing an instant tailback, but an insanely powerful tyre smoker that has you endlessly hopping from fuel station to fuel station is just as unattractive. In the modern marketplace, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel has become the default compromise.The Audi's version has 141hp and an official combined economy of 62.8mpg. That means tax-friendly CO2 emissions of 119g/km. On paper, the BMW's engine knocks the Audi's for six; for the same price, it delivers 184hp, that's more than 40hp of extra grunt, but official economy and emissions are almost as good at 61.4mpg and 120g/km.Get the two cars out on the M roads and it's closeGet the two cars out on the M roads and it's closer than the numbers would have you believe. The Audi seems to have done the more thorough job on the sound insulation front. It's quieter most of the time with the wind, the tyres and the engine's whirrings more successfully masked.In terms of outright comfort, it's the 3 Series that has the edge. BMW's Drive Performance Control system is bundled up with the Sport trim level and it lets drivers skip between ECO PRO, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ settings.By contrast, the S Line spec Audi gets standard sports suspension which is jittery around town and overly busy even on the snooker table-smooth motorway Tarmac that's as rare as 147 breaks in the UK. In Sport mode, the 3 Series soaks up the bumps that bit better. Go for comfort and there's no contest.New 2013 Mercedes C-Class Do they get an 'A' on B-roads?Despite the 1,495kg BMW wielding a 15kg weight advantage, it's the A4 that comes across as the heavier car on twisty roads. Many will equate the Audi's hefty, planted feel with quality and security, preferring it to the liveliness of the more agile, communicative BMW.The extra power of the BMW really tells on the roadThe extra power of the BMW really tells on the road. As does its rear-wheel-drive chassis. You feel more in touch with what the car's doing than in the front-wheel-drive Audi and when you put your foot down there's quite a bit more shove across a broader spear of the rev range.Despite the power shortfall, the A4 is still a lively drive. The steering might not be as precise but it gains weight more obviously as your speed increases and the S-Line suspension does help create a sporty impression. There's very little body roll through corners and plenty of grip.Top 10 most economical carsSo which is best?So we've put these two kings of the compact executive car sector head to head, trying to examine them from the perspective of the company car users who'll be driving them.We like the looks, solidity and refinement of the Audi, but BMW's effort is clearly the driver's choice. Great strides have been made with the latest 3 Series interior and the standard Drive Performance Control system adds depth to its abilities.Ultimately, it's tough to split them. They both do the compact executive job admirably, but if they popped up side-by-side on our company car list and a choice had to be made, we'd take the 3 Series. It just feels like the more modern car that, ultimately, it is. - The BMW 3 Series pictured is a 328i with Modern trim rather than the 320d Sport we tested.First drive: Audi A4 (2012 onwards)First drive: BMW 3 Series (2012 onwards)Read Audi car reviewsRead BMW car reviewsBuy a used Audi A4 on Auto TraderBuy a used BMW 3 Series on Auto Traderseo_keywordsAudi A4 v BMW 3 Series250749056http://cars.uk.msn.com//reviews/images.aspx?cp-documentid=250749056