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Audi A3 Sportback vs BMW 3 Series Saloon comparison

Compare performance (400 HP vs 530 HP), boot space and price (27,000 £ vs 39,900 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Audi A3 Sportback or BMW 3 Series Saloon?

Audi A3 Sportback vs BMW 3 Series Saloon: Key differences

Audi A3 Sportback

3.9 (1 Reviews)
rate
  • significantly cheaper
  • significantly more efficient
  • markedly more electric range
  • a bit lighter
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BMW 3 Series Saloon

  • noticeably more power
  • marginally quicker 0–100 km/h
  • clearly more trunk space
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By Achim Sedelmaier

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 significantly cheaper – starting at 27,000 £ , while the BMW 3 Series Saloon costs 39,900 £ . That’s a price difference of around 12,942 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Audi A3 Sportback uses 1.1 L/100km and is significantly more efficient than the BMW 3 Series Saloon with 2.4 L/100km. The difference is about 1.3 L/100km.

As for electric range, the Audi A3 Sportback offers markedly more range – reaching up to 141 km, about 40 km more than the BMW 3 Series Saloon.

3 Series Saloon

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 BMW 3 Series Saloon offers noticeably more power – delivering 530 HP compared to 400 HP. That’s roughly 130 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the BMW 3 Series Saloon is marginally quicker – completing the sprint in 3.5 s, while the Audi A3 Sportback takes 3.8 s. That’s about 0.3 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the BMW 3 Series Saloon delivers visibly more torque with 700 Nm compared to 500 Nm. That’s about 200 Nm more.

A3 Sportback

Space and Everyday Use:

Whether family car or daily driver – which one offers more room, flexibility and comfort?

Both vehicles offer seating for 5 people.

In terms of curb weight, Audi A3 Sportback is a bit lighter – 1,360 kg compared to 1,575 kg. The difference is around 215 kg.

Looking at boot space, the BMW 3 Series Saloon offers clearly more boot space – 480 L compared to 380 L. That’s a difference of about 100 L.

When it comes to payload, the BMW 3 Series Saloon carries marginally more – 495 kg compared to 480 kg. That’s a difference of about 15 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Audi A3 Sportback is clearly superior 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
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Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

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.

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Reviews Audi A3 Sportback

3.9 (1 Reviews)
rate

No reviews yet. Share your experience and help others decide.

BMW 3 Series Saloon

The BMW 3 Series saloon is a driver's car in a suit, blending poised handling with a cabin that feels more premium than its practicality suggests. It’s composed enough for daily duties yet playful enough to keep weekend drives interesting, making it a sensible choice for buyers who still want to have fun.

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Reviews BMW 3 Series Saloon

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BMW 3 Series Saloon

Costs and Consumption
Price
27,000 - 92,900 £
Price
39,900 - 92,200 £
Consumption L/100km
1.1 - 9.3 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
2.4 - 10.1 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
134 - 141 km
Electric Range
96 - 101 km
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
25 - 211 g/km
co2
54 - 227 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Hatchback
Body Type
Sedan
Seats
5
Seats
5
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,360 - 1,685 kg
Curb weight
1,575 - 1,960 kg
Trunk capacity
280 - 380 L
Trunk capacity
375 - 480 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,816 - 1,851 mm
Width
1,827 - 1,903 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
410 - 480 kg
Payload
405 - 495 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Diesel, Plugin Hybrid
Engine Type
Diesel MHEV, Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission
Automatic, Manuel
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox, Manual Gearbox
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
116 - 400 HP
Power HP
150 - 530 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
3.8 - 10.1 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
3.5 - 8.6 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
220 - 500 Nm
Torque
250 - 700 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4 - 5
Number of Cylinders
4 - 6
Power kW
85 - 294 kW
Power kW
110 - 390 kW
Engine capacity
1,498 - 2,480 cm3
Engine capacity
1,995 - 2,998 cm3

General
Model Year
2,025 - 2,026
Model Year
2,024 - 2,025
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, F, E, G, B
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, E, F, G, B
Brand
Audi
Brand
BMW
What drive types are available for the Audi A3 Sportback?

The Audi A3 Sportback is available as Front-Wheel Drive or All-Wheel Drive.

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.