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Audi A3 Sportback vs BMW 1 Series comparison

Compare performance (400 HP vs 300 HP), boot space and price (27,000 £ vs 28,800 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Audi A3 Sportback or BMW 1 Series?

Audi A3 Sportback vs BMW 1 Series: Key differences

Audi A3 Sportback

3.9 (1 Reviews)
rate
  • barely cheaper
  • clearly more power
  • significantly more efficient
  • visibly quicker 0–100 km/h
  • marginally lighter

BMW 1 Series

5 (1 Reviews)
rate

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

A3 Sportback

Costs and Efficiency:

When it comes to price and running costs, the biggest differences usually appear. This is often where you see which car fits your budget better in the long run.

Audi A3 Sportback is barely cheaper – starting at 27,000 £ , while the BMW 1 Series costs 28,800 £ . That’s a price difference of around 1,800 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Audi A3 Sportback uses 1.1 L/100km and is significantly more efficient than the BMW 1 Series with 4.3 L/100km. The difference is about 3.2 L/100km.

1 Series

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration are the classic benchmarks for car enthusiasts – and here, some clear differences start to show.

When it comes to engine power, the Audi A3 Sportback offers clearly more power – delivering 400 HP compared to 300 HP. That’s roughly 100 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Audi A3 Sportback is visibly quicker – completing the sprint in 3.8 s, while the BMW 1 Series takes 4.9 s. That’s about 1.1 s quicker.

Looking at top speed, the BMW 1 Series is only slightly faster – reaching 250 km/h, while the Audi A3 Sportback tops out at 237 km/h. The difference is around 13 km/h.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Audi A3 Sportback delivers somewhat more torque with 500 Nm compared to 400 Nm. That’s about 100 Nm more.

A3 Sportback

Space and Everyday Use:

Beyond pure performance, interior space and usability matter most in daily life. This is where you see which car is more practical and versatile.

Both vehicles offer seating for 5 people.

In terms of curb weight, Audi A3 Sportback is marginally lighter – 1,360 kg compared to 1,465 kg. The difference is around 105 kg.

Boot capacity is identical – both offer 380 L of storage.

For maximum load capacity, the BMW 1 Series offers only slightly more capacity – up to 1,200 L, about 100 L more than the Audi A3 Sportback.

When it comes to payload, the BMW 1 Series carries barely more – 510 kg compared to 480 kg. That’s a difference of about 30 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Audi A3 Sportback is far ahead overall in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £27,000
A3 Sportback

Audi A3 Sportback

  • Engine Type : Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Diesel, Plugin Hybrid
  • Transmission : Manuel, Automatic
  • Drive Type : Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 116 - 400 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 1.1 - 9.3 L/100km
  • Electric Range : 134 - 141 km
Audi A3 Sportback
BMW 1 Series

Costs and Consumption

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Engine and Performance

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Dimensions and Body

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Audi A3 Sportback

The Audi A3 Sportback wraps premium materials and crisp German design into a practical hatchback package that makes daily driving feel smart rather than showy. It’s nimble in the city, composed on longer trips, and carries just enough swagger to satisfy buyers who want quality without shouting about it.

details

BMW 1 Series

The BMW 1 Series is a compact premium hatchback that injects a proper sense of driving fun into everyday life, with sharp handling and a cabin that punches above its class. It’s a great pick for buyers who want sporty manners without losing practicality, and yes, you’ll still get that unmistakable BMW grin behind the wheel.

details
Audi A3 Sportback
BMW 1 Series

Costs and Consumption

Price
27,000 - 56,600 £
Price
28,800 - 51,100 £
Consumption L/100km
1.1 - 9.3 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
4.3 - 7.6 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
134 - 141 km
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
19.7 kWh
Battery Capacity
-
co2
25 - 211 g/km
co2
112 - 173 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
40 L
Fuel tank capacity
49 L

Dimensions and Body

Body Type
Hatchback
Body Type
Hatchback
Seats
5
Seats
5
Doors
5
Doors
5
Curb weight
1,360 - 1,685 kg
Curb weight
1,465 - 1,625 kg
Trunk capacity
280 - 380 L
Trunk capacity
300 - 380 L
Length
4,352 - 4,353 mm
Length
4,361 mm
Width
1,816 - 1,851 mm
Width
1,800 mm
Height
1,441 - 1,470 mm
Height
1,459 mm
Max trunk capacity
1,100 L
Max trunk capacity
1,135 - 1,200 L
Payload
410 - 480 kg
Payload
475 - 510 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Diesel, Plugin Hybrid
Engine Type
Diesel, Petrol MHEV, Diesel MHEV, Petrol
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic
Transmission Detail
Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
116 - 400 HP
Power HP
122 - 300 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
3.8 - 10.1 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
4.9 - 9.8 s
Max Speed
225 - 237 km/h
Max Speed
210 - 250 km/h
Torque
220 - 500 Nm
Torque
230 - 400 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4 - 5
Number of Cylinders
3 - 4
Power kW
85 - 294 kW
Power kW
90 - 221 kW
Engine capacity
1,498 - 2,480 cm3
Engine capacity
1,499 - 1,998 cm3

General

Model Year
2,025
Model Year
2,024
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, F, E, G, B
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, C, F
Brand
Audi
Brand
BMW
DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.