2014 BMW 535d xDrive Beats 2014 Audi A6 TDI in Latest Comparison Test

Last week I told you about how BMW is beating Audi in the laser-headlight race. This week, BMW is beating Audi once again — this time in an AutoGuide comparison test pitting the Audi A6 TDI against the BMW 535d xDrive.

With six-cylinder diesel power and all-wheel drive, both cars are similar in execution, but the BMW’s powertrain refinement, and the Audi’s lack thereof, meant the winner was obvious for AutoGuide’s editors.

Maybe if this were a $25,000 sedan comparison, a sprinkle of diesel vibration through the chassis would have weighed less heavily on VW Group’s entry in this test, but when you’re dealing in a segment that sprints toward $75,000 as frantically as a new contestant rushing the stage on The Price is Right, perfection is expected, and the 5 Series’ smoother 3.0-liter oil burner offers the silky driving experience one would expect in an expensive midsize luxury sedan.