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BMW 1 Series vs Audi A3 Sportback comparison

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

BMW 1 Series vs Audi A3 Sportback: Key differences

BMW 1 Series

5 (1 Reviews)
rate
details

Audi A3 Sportback

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

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

1 Series

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are key factors when choosing a car – and this is often where the real differences emerge.

Audi A3 Sportback is marginally 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.

A3 Sportback

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 noticeably quicker – completing the sprint in 3.8 s, while the BMW 1 Series takes 4.9 s. That’s about 1.1 s quicker.

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

1 Series

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 barely 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.

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 holds a decisive overall lead 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

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.

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Reviews BMW 1 Series

5 (1 Reviews)
rate

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

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.

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BMW 1 Series
Audi A3 Sportback

Costs and Consumption
Price
28,800 - 51,900 £
Price
27,000 - 92,900 £
Consumption L/100km
4.3 - 7.6 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
1.1 - 9.3 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
134 - 141 km
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
112 - 173 g/km
co2
25 - 211 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
49 L
Fuel tank capacity
-

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

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Diesel, Petrol MHEV, Diesel MHEV, Petrol
Engine Type
Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Diesel, Plugin Hybrid
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission Detail
Dual-Clutch Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
122 - 300 HP
Power HP
116 - 400 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
4.9 - 9.8 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
3.8 - 10.1 s
Max Speed
210 - 226 km/h
Max Speed
-
Torque
230 - 400 Nm
Torque
220 - 500 Nm
Number of Cylinders
3 - 4
Number of Cylinders
4 - 5
Power kW
90 - 221 kW
Power kW
85 - 294 kW
Engine capacity
1,499 - 1,998 cm3
Engine capacity
1,498 - 2,480 cm3

General
Model Year
2024
Model Year
2,025 - 2,026
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, C, F
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, F, E, G, B
Brand
BMW
Brand
Audi
What drive types are available for the BMW 1 Series?

The BMW 1 Series is offered with 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.