Power Struggle-Audi A4 3.2 FS

BMW challenges the mighty Audi A4 3.2 FSI by gaining more power and of course offers more thrills. Bunny Punia plays judge as the two Germans battle hard, smoke rubber and push their electronic stability controls to the max

This is the 500 plus horsepower bash that involves two top of the line premium saloons with enough juice to satisfy every power hungry owner it will ever see in India. While for some time Audi ruled the roost with the 3.2-litre FSI motor plonked into the little A4, BMW has now decided to hit back with the replacement of the 325i (and its 2.5-litre straight six)  – the new 3.0-litre 330i. Number crunchers rejoice as the new model, in addition to an extra 500cc, adds 44 horses and 54Nm of torque. With just 35 kilos extra to lug around, the 330i seems ready to set a benchmark in this class. Or does it? Before you wonder on the exclusion of a Mercedes-Benz in this comparison, the fact is that, as of today, they really don’t have a petrol engine on offer larger than 2.5-litre. In all respects, it would be unfair to pit the C250 with these two hair raising performers. Right then, let the battle begin…

I remember the first time I got behind the wheel of the Audi A4 3.2 FSI for our 2008 anniversary issue. Blame it on the ravishing red colour and gorgeous 18-inch alloy wheels, but even before I sank into the comfortable driver’s seat, I was completely sold. For me, the BMW was always the car to have, but that would be history soon. Even an hour spent with the four-ringed car had me grinning from ear to ear, blabbering like an old village woman on how good, over engineered and appealing the A4 seemed to be. Much has already been spoken about the Audi’s looks, and though our test car this time came in a sobered down golden shade and 17-inch alloys with higher profile tyres for ride comfort, it still managed to make heads turn. However, once we reached our shoot location at Tiger Hill, the herd of tourists (some from as far as Ahmedabad) turned their attention to the new challenger in white. It might be smaller in dimensions but trust me, the choice of colour can play an important role in the get up of a machine. Add to it, the Beemer’s famed ‘Bangle’ eyes, the crisp crease running along the length including through the door handles and the in-your-face twin pipes protruding from the rear and the A4 suddenly seems to have found a match in the looks department.

Further, the 3’s front bumper is crafted with more passion – the sharp lines running down next to the fog lamps are simply amazing and more artistic. The Audi however hits back with a sexy lip job up front and of course striking daytime running LEDs. The 3, on the other hand, also comes with what seems to be like side skirts. Whatever they may be, these little additions go a long way in adding sportiness to the design – just what is required and needed to catch up to the A4 in terms of aesthetics.
Step inside however and the tables turn heavily in favour of the Ingolstadt giant. The interiors have a similarity to its bigger and more expensive sibling, the A6 and that is not just limited to the design. The A4 comes with quality and craftsmanship that simply leaves no room for the Beemer to fight back. Be it the soft touch fascia, the controls or the list of standard features including a reverse camera, a better music system or even extra space. Take these two cars out for a spin with a load of five passengers and you are sure to have them complaining in the 3. The high transmission tunnel as well as tighter knee room at the rear of the BMW puts the Audi on top when it comes to interiors and space. I however loved the paddle shifters on the 3’s steering which the A4 lacks. The Beemer’s spartan and airy looking interiors are on the whole starker in comparison to the A4’s interiors which have more flair in the design.  What is really shocking in the Beemer is the omission of cup or bottle holders for the rear passengers. No, the central armrest is flat without any pop-outs like the Audi’s for holding cups. The white leather seats do look good (and sporty if I may add) in the 3, though they are sure to get soiled easily.

Fire the engines of these cars and both seem to be as different as chalk and cheese. While the Audi boasts of a 3123cc V6 mill producing 265 horses at 6500 engine revs with 330 units of turning force at 3000rpm, the Beemer hits back with an in-line six motor that on paper pumps out 259 horses at 6600rpm while managing to churn out 300Nm of torque between 2500-4000rpm. What however goes in favour of the 330i is its considerably lesser weight, which helps to lend it a spirited nature. In this car, apart from the terrific throttle response, (it’s got quicker roll-on timings than the Audi) what sets your pulse racing is the intoxicating sound of the engine and the exhaust note at high revs. If you want your weekly dosage of goose bumps, the BMW won’t disappoint you. Steering precision is something that the competition the world over is still trying to match up to, though this comes at the cost of extra effort required to steer the car specially at parking speeds.
The 330i, true to BMW traits, is a rear wheel drive. Even though it cannot match up to the grip of Audi’s Quattro, it can offer a thrilling drive in the hands of the experienced. The Audi, in contrast, goes about getting you quickly from point A to point B in a relaxed manner. However, give it the stick and it outperforms the 330i, taking half a second less for the 0-100km/h sprint. The steering is a delight at slow speeds and unless you are trying to outdo the BMW around a track, the slight lack of feedback won’t be a bother. Further, with its perfectly neutral handling and confidence from the all-wheel drive, the A4 remains rather stress-free when pushed hard.

BMWs have often been criticized for their run-flat tyres that rob the car of a good ride. The 330i also comes with lower profile tyres vis-à-vis the A4 (though as an option, you can go for crazily lower profile rubber while placing the order), which further means ride quality takes a hit. If you drive on roads anything other than smooth, the A4 wins by a huge margin. The Audi also has taller gearing, allowing the engine to spin at lower revs and hence consume less fuel.

You get what you pay for. The BMW 330i is a delightful driver’s car with the ability to make you grin, set your heart beat soaring and palms sweating. It also comes with a considerably lower sticker price and makes for an exciting buy. But if you have some extra dough to spare, the Audi A4 3.2 FSI, even with its higher sticker price is our winner. For a few lakh extra, what you get is a car that is a genuine all-rounder with the ability to play more than just one role. It will suit a variety of owners or even users in a single family as a chauffeur driven car, a weekend getaway companion, a car to impress your date with its amazing performance or to ferry your kids to school, this Audi will do it all.