Red Alert: We Don't Have Pricing Parity
Although we matched the cylinder counts and transmissions on these midsize luxury sedans, our 2011 BMW 535i test car costs $60,225, while our 2012 Audi A6 3.0 TFSI Quattro comes in at $71,330.
How do we live with ourselves? Simple math. The base prices on these sedans are within $300 of each other, but this particular 535i is an austerity special. It has the Sport and Dynamic Handling packages and à la carte Dakota leather, but no Premium package, no navigation system, not even an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
If you option the 2011 BMW 535i up to the level of our A6 tester (Prestige, Sport and Innovation packages, plus the Bang & Olufsen philharmonic), it finally arrives at $71,920, a difference of $590.
Taking the Back Road to Work
For this kind of money, you want more than a nice daily driver — you want a sedan that takes you on an adventure. That's the reason we've always liked the BMW 5 Series. But this time around, we have to admit that if construction forced us onto a back road, we'd rather be in the A6.
Earlier A6s were clumsy when you got them on a good road, but this one feels light and changes directions easily. The 255/40R19 Pirelli P Zero Sport package tires certainly help with grip, but there's a solid suspension underneath this car as well. It gives the A6 excellent balance and makes you feel as if your inputs matter. This builds confidence, and when you arrive at the corner exit, you can wood the throttle and take full advantage of the Audi's AWD.
This kind of feedback is what made previous 5 Series sedans so addictive, and it's exactly what's missing from the 2011 535i. The car put on nearly 200 pounds in its latest redesign and that, combined with its suspension's softer state of tune, makes for a far more isolating experience. This 5 Series still goes where you expect it to, but now you don't really know how it got there. You just assume the adaptive dampers and antiroll bars were working their magic.
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