The BMW M3 Touring has beaten the Audi RS 5 Avant in a track comparison at the Hockenheimring, despite giving up 107 horsepower and 130 lb-ft of torque to its rival. The result highlights how weight, handling and tires can outweigh a major power advantage in a high-performance wagon.
Performance Wagons Gain Attention in the U.S.
Performance wagons remain a niche segment, particularly in North America, but they have a dedicated following. The success of the Audi RS 6 and BMW M5 Touring is also showing automakers that high-powered wagons have a place in the U.S. market.
Audi and BMW remain cautious about expanding their wagon offerings in America, even as both companies give the idea more serious consideration. The U.S. market has already missed out on the G81 M3 Touring and G21 3 Series Touring, while Audi of America has not reversed its decision to keep the RS 5 Avant out of the country.
BMW M3 Touring vs. Audi RS 5 Avant
A comparison was inevitable, and German publication Sport Auto recently brought the BMW M3 Touring and Audi RS 5 Avant to the Hockenheimring for a track battle.
On paper, the Audi appeared to have a significant advantage. Its 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 works with a powerful electric motor from a plug-in hybrid system to produce 630 hp and 609 lb-ft of torque.
The BMW M3 Touring uses a twin-turbo inline-six producing 523 hp and 479 lb-ft. That leaves the BMW down 107 hp and 130 lb-ft compared with the RS 5 Avant.
Weight Changes the Equation
The Audi’s power advantage did not translate into a faster lap. A major factor was weight, with the RS 5 Avant tipping the scales at 5,225 lbs, making it even heavier than an RS 6 Avant.
The BMW M3 Touring weighed 4,277 lbs. Although that is still substantial, the BMW carried nearly 1,000 lbs less mass than the Audi, giving it an advantage around the track.
The RS 5 Avant ultimately finished behind the M3 Touring, with the Audi recording a lap time 3.71 seconds slower than the BMW.
The Audi did not suffer from apparent handling problems and performed well on the track. However, the M3 Touring was able to carry more speed through the bends, helped by its lower weight.
Tires Also Played a Role
Sport Auto also acknowledged another important factor: the tires.
The Audi RS 5 Avant used Pirelli P Zero R tires, while the BMW M3 Touring was equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. The latter are described as practically road-legal semi-slicks.
That difference could be viewed as an advantage for the BMW. Audi does not currently offer that type of tire for the RS 5 Avant, while BMW makes the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 an option for the M3 Touring.
Both Wagons Remain Seriously Fast
Although the RS 5 Avant lost the track battle, both it and the M3 Touring remain rapid performance wagons. Their presence in the segment also underscores that BMW and Audi continue to produce high-powered longroofs despite their limited volume, particularly in North America.
The remaining question is whether Audi of America will reconsider bringing the RS 5 Avant to the U.S. For BMW, there is also hope that the next-generation M3 Touring could eventually be offered stateside, especially after the M5 Touring became a surprise hit.
