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Audi A3 Sportback vs Mercedes A Class Saloon comparison

Compare performance (400 HP vs 320 HP), boot space and price (27,000 £ vs 32,700 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Audi A3 Sportback or Mercedes A Class Saloon?

Audi A3 Sportback vs Mercedes A Class Saloon: Key differences

Audi A3 Sportback

3.9 (1 Reviews)
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  • noticeably cheaper
  • slightly more power
  • noticeably more electric range
  • markedly quicker 0–100 km/h
  • marginally lighter
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Mercedes A Class Saloon

  • considerably more efficient
  • very slightly 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:

Looking at overall running costs, both models reveal some interesting differences in everyday economy.

Audi A3 Sportback is noticeably cheaper – starting at 27,000 £ , while the Mercedes A Class Saloon costs 32,700 £ . That’s a price difference of around 5,721 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Mercedes A Class Saloon uses 0.7 L/100km and is considerably more efficient than the Audi A3 Sportback with 1.1 L/100km. The difference is about 0.4 L/100km.

As for electric range, the Audi A3 Sportback offers noticeably more range – reaching up to 141 km, about 53 km more than the Mercedes A Class Saloon.

A Class Saloon

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration say a lot about how a car feels on the road. This is where you see which model delivers more driving dynamics.

When it comes to engine power, the Audi A3 Sportback offers slightly more power – delivering 400 HP compared to 320 HP. That’s roughly 80 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Audi A3 Sportback is markedly quicker – completing the sprint in 3.8 s, while the Mercedes A Class Saloon takes 4.8 s. That’s about 1 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Audi A3 Sportback delivers barely more torque with 500 Nm compared to 450 Nm. That’s about 50 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 marginally lighter – 1,360 kg compared to 1,450 kg. The difference is around 90 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Mercedes A Class Saloon offers very slightly more boot space – 395 L compared to 380 L. That’s a difference of about 15 L.

When it comes to payload, the Mercedes A Class Saloon carries very slightly more – 490 kg compared to 480 kg. That’s a difference of about 10 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Audi A3 Sportback is decisively ahead 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
Mercedes A Class Saloon

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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Mercedes A Class Saloon

The Mercedes A‑Class Saloon blends compact practicality with premium flair, wrapping a surprisingly spacious interior in a slick, modern package that feels more grown-up than its hatchback sibling. It’s an ideal choice for city drivers who want Mercedes polish and cutting-edge tech without the ostentation of a larger saloon, and it even manages to make the daily commute feel a little bit special.

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Audi A3 Sportback
Mercedes A Class Saloon

Costs and Consumption

Price
27,000 - 92,900 £
Price
32,700 - 55,900 £
Consumption L/100km
1.1 - 9.3 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
0.7 - 8.1 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
134 - 141 km
Electric Range
88 km
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
12.9 kWh
co2
25 - 211 g/km
co2
16 - 184 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
35 - 51 L

Dimensions and Body

Body Type
Hatchback
Body Type
Sedan
Seats
5
Seats
5
Doors
-
Doors
4
Curb weight
1,360 - 1,685 kg
Curb weight
1,450 - 1,705 kg
Trunk capacity
280 - 380 L
Trunk capacity
345 - 395 L
Length
-
Length
4,558 - 4,570 mm
Width
1,816 - 1,851 mm
Width
1,796 mm
Height
-
Height
1,413 - 1,429 mm
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
410 - 480 kg
Payload
475 - 490 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Diesel, Plugin Hybrid
Engine Type
Plugin Hybrid, Petrol MHEV, Diesel
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
116 - 320 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
3.8 - 10.1 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
4.8 - 9.9 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
206 - 250 km/h
Torque
220 - 500 Nm
Torque
200 - 450 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4 - 5
Number of Cylinders
4
Power kW
85 - 294 kW
Power kW
85 - 235 kW
Engine capacity
1,498 - 2,480 cm3
Engine capacity
1,332 - 1,991 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
B, D, G, E
Brand
Audi
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
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.