Does The New BMW 6-Series Interior FINALLY Trump Audi's?

Start talking about who makes the better car, BMW or Audi on AutoSpies.com and you are bound to set off an argument of biblical proportions.

But there is ONE thing even the most ardent BMW fan would concede lately to Audi and that is they make a higher quality interior.

As much as I personally prefer the DRIVE of most BMW's to most Audi's, I can't help but not be impressed every time I go to an auto show and sit in one of the Audi models and see the quality of materials and elegance of what their designers do.

But BMW is not sitting still.

Just look at the interior of the 2012 6-Series.

In my opinion, it's the BEST BMW interior ever.

But is it good enough to impress event the most die-hard Audi fanboy like our own 009 or regular reader and contributor Iamevilhomer?

So today's question is two-fold...

Has BMW finally trumped the Audi interior?

Remember there are two parts to the answer we're looking for...

1. WHO now has the better actual material quality and best style

AND

2. Which company has the better driver to machine interface and interior layout of buttons/switchgear/placement/functionality?

Please answer both in your comments below.

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MeanVulcan - 1/22/2011 10:59:41 PM

-7 Boost

Ummm, no.

B7FAN - 1/23/2011 10:12:41 AM

+7 Boost

I always loved audi interiors but the new interios on the 5,6, and 7 are definitley a tie breaker. the interior on the new F chassis models look 10 times better than the previous models. I would have to say they are neck and neck NOW!!!!!!!

edeus123 - 1/23/2011 4:39:24 PM

+3 Boost

I agree with you,B7fan, because now it just comes down to personal choice. This is due to the exemplary execution done on both Audi's and BMW's part. And yes, Audi have been great "monarchy" in the terms of interior, but as well as the 7Series is a great execution and very highly competitive with the A8.

stone - 1/22/2011 11:03:05 PM

+5 Boost

From these pics I can't really get a great feel for either, but I prefer the BMW's interior between the 2. It seems to be more minimalist and to me that's appealing. It's no secret that I hate the popup nav on the Audi cars so that's probably swaying my decision. BMW has come a long way though. Too bad the 2011 5-series didn't get this treatment...

stone - 1/22/2011 11:09:26 PM

+4 Boost

Okay a better look at the BMW interior here [img]http://shows.autospies.com/gallery/auto-show-photos.asp?imageId=116337&galleryId=249[/img]

I like it, except for the Nav screen which looks like an afterthought. Why not mold the center of the dash upward closing the gap behind the nav screen and raising the height of the center channel speaker. Doesn't look like it would have hut visibility and looked a bit cleaner...

JustaCar - 1/23/2011 7:12:08 AM

+1 Boost

You say you hate the popup screen on the A8. The screen in the 6 series is fixed but looks like a pop-up.

1dott8 - 1/22/2011 11:28:30 PM

+1 Boost

I like the interior of the new BMW's but I still prefer Audi interiors.

Lexus - 1/23/2011 12:37:49 AM

-7 Boost

whatswrongwith009,

please stop talking out of your a$$, have you ever driven or own a Lexus? I use to own a Lexus and they use real wood inside the interior. Unlike most BMW where their interior look like they were made in the 70s or 80s.

The last time I remember Lexus has get a lot of praise for their interior design. When was the time an automagazine really praise anything about BMW interior? ah ha...ha..ha...

synx - 1/23/2011 4:06:00 AM

+1 Boost

Lexus have the unique ability to make even the most expensive real wood look fake. My dad has an RX400h so I know what i'm talking about.

theoptimisticpessimist - 1/24/2011 2:48:29 PM

+1 Boost

BMW has NEVER used fake wood in a car. While bragging about Lexus interiors grab a hold the side of your seat you'll find plastic, just the seating surfaces are leather (and paper thin). At least BMW tells you when the seats are vinyl and when its interior are leather they are all leather.

sexlan - 1/23/2011 12:44:09 AM

+2 Boost

The BMW has the better material quality and best style, but thats just from viewing photo, not from real-life experience.
AND
The Audi has the better driver to machine interface and interior layout of buttons/switchgear/placement/functionality, from experience.
But why are you comparing the 6-series interior with the Audi A8??? Shouldn't you compare it to the A7 or A6?
Oh, and wheres the 2012 Mercedes-benz CLS interior in all of this? That, in my opinion is the best!

KeyserSoze - 1/23/2011 1:29:24 AM

+3 Boost

Whatswrongwith009 = new resident troll.

528i - 1/23/2011 1:44:45 AM

-2 Boost

The new bmw interior looks great, but Audi still the king of interiors.

racerf109 - 1/23/2011 10:08:01 AM

+5 Boost

I saw both of these cars in detroit, and they both have excellent interiors. The audis has nice placement of materials, but i feel like a kid could rip the nav screen off. The BMWs is excellent too, its more modern looking and has a better dash/instrument layout.

BondMI6 - 1/23/2011 3:00:56 AM

+4 Boost

New 6 series interior > S5 interior....

Audi would need to make a direct 6 series competitor for this question to be fair though.....

The new 6er is the best interior from Munich for sure but unfortunately what other near future Bimmers will it or a derivative of it go into?

motion - 1/23/2011 7:48:40 AM

-2 Boost

no

tango - 1/23/2011 8:40:33 AM

+4 Boost

The pic of the Audi interior shows more than that of the BMW interior so it's not really a fair comparison. If I isolate the things that I can see in both I would say I don't care for either wheel, though I am a bit partial to 3-spoke designs, giving the BMW's a slight edge. The instrument pod of the BMW appeals to me more as well. The woodwork on dashboard always gets my attention so the Audi has the edge there. I can't answer either of the questions from looking at pictures, as those are tactile tests. That said I'm not moved by German interiors. I'm far more impressed by British and Italian efforts.

Willis - 1/23/2011 8:54:45 AM

+8 Boost

How about BOTH interiors are good and that's all that matters and bitching and complaining about which interior is "better" is simply a waste of time. Period.

westy1974 - 1/23/2011 9:11:29 AM

+3 Boost

Try using pics of the A6 interior and not the A8 for a fair comparison.

DownRightBloggable - 1/23/2011 9:41:53 AM

+4 Boost

I like the 6's interior better. The Audis is nice, but the bmws shifter and i-drive are easier to use.

sdcarguy - 1/23/2011 10:39:38 AM

+4 Boost

IHO the biggest flaw in Audi interior layout is their reserving so much critical dash space for the blank door that covers two SD-card slots for music. Who puts music on SD cards? And because of this, frequently used controls are placed DOWN in the dash - or worse - WAY DOWN by the transmission selector - CRAZY and DANGEROUS.

The new BWM 5 series layout harkens back to the GREAT Beemer driver oriented layouts of the past (pre Bangle).

BMW has the better layout, and with the new 5 and 6, appears equivalent in materials.

JustaCar - 1/23/2011 3:56:15 PM

-2 Boost

If you've actually used the controls in the Audi, you would realize that they are far from crazy and dangerous. They are placed where the driver's hand can naturally fall to them. And you don't have to look down to use them once you get used to the functions. just like touch typing but more simple since you have visual guides on the screen. What I find dangerous are touch screens that require the driver to look at the screen to find a button and then lean forward to reach the screen and push the button. Not only is the driver's attention taken away from the road, their body position is compromised in case of an accident and airbag deployment.

uaw_lax - 1/23/2011 10:54:54 AM

+3 Boost

Boy both look so well built that if the glove compartments was large enough to hold a family of 5, they could survive a nuclear blast and live to tell about it.

iamdabest1 - 1/23/2011 12:17:33 PM

+2 Boost

i love bmw, but i dont think they will ever have interiors as nice as audi, and that 6 series is beautiful, but the steering wheel is UGLY !

AgentOrange - 1/23/2011 1:29:46 PM

+2 Boost

My last car was a BMW, my current car is a BMW and my next car will be a BMW - but I'll admit that Audi interiors are nicer.
I just like the performance & handling of the Bimmer better..

dotuno - 1/23/2011 2:16:18 PM

+2 Boost

My dilemma between these two brands for a while now has been preferring the design of Audi (interior & exterior), yet preferring the performance of BMW. So one has to wonder, "If you graft a BMW engine into an Audi body and no one else is around to see it, does the engine make a different sound?"

Seriously though, these two interiors are amazing (I especially love the lining on the BMW steering wheel). This may be a case of enjoying and respecting two good things rather than pitting one against the other.

JMB1013 - 1/23/2011 5:01:41 PM

-3 Boost

I actually like the pop-up nav on the new Audis. If you don't want a screen glowing in your face, it's not there. If you do want a screen, it pops up (and doesn't look out of place in my opinion). Sure your kid could try to do a number to it, but the Germans are pretty good at building their gear sturdily and the kids should know their place in the back.

tattedtwice - 1/23/2011 5:32:21 PM

+2 Boost

To my eyes, audi interiors have ALWAYS been ugly and overrated. I'd much prefer any BMW over anything audi offers.

The 6's interior is stunning; truly a middle finger held up in audi's smug face.

Agent001 - 1/23/2011 5:50:57 PM

+6 Boost

Although the Audi interior materials are intoxicating to my eyes, I prefer the new 6 interior for a number of reasons.

1. I can't STAND pop-up dash navs. Corny and cheap looking
2. I HATE the yacht-like tranny shifter on the A8. Very OLD manlike.
3. I like the center stack biased towards the driver. This new 6 reminds me of one of the coolest BMW's ever, the 8-Series coupe.
4. I like 3-spoker steering wheels. Look sportier
5. Buttons and switchgear are cooler on 6.
6. Love the piano black gauges on newer BMW's. Looks killer on or off and I like the drama on startup.
7. And most importantly, the BMW projects a younger, more contemporary and sporty image. The A8 reminds me of a 70's Buick or Olds interior. Too old money for my taste.

001

MPowerDK - 1/24/2011 6:40:05 AM

+4 Boost

Well since the e46 e39 and so on this is the best looking and so is the one in 5 and 7 series. I only think BMW failed with the e9x series, otherwies it has been better than Audi all time.

2ndbimmer - 1/24/2011 10:33:12 AM

+3 Boost

ive never liked audi's interior, ever. So, of course, I like the BMW's better. Especially on the new 5, 7 and the new 6 will be nice.

2ndbimmer - 1/24/2011 10:34:32 AM

+3 Boost

also, I like BMW's 8 programmable softkeys. They can be used for nav, phone or radio functions. Just like shortcuts on a desktop, we all have them on our desktop, why not in a car? at least BMW makes sense.

internationalmanofmystery - 1/24/2011 11:04:57 AM

+3 Boost

How about a Merc / Audi comparo???

BimmersNme - 1/24/2011 6:54:59 PM

+3 Boost

IMHO Audi is really UP THERE when it comes to interiors/quality of materials, and I'm really glad to see that BMW is finally making interiors at least as well made as AUDI's.

1BadMan - 1/25/2011 11:20:40 AM

+2 Boost

I really don't think the VW/Audi interiors are that great. The BMW F12 and F13 interior is really good looking.