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BMW 3 Series Saloon vs Audi A3 Sportback comparison

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

BMW 3 Series Saloon vs Audi A3 Sportback: Key differences

BMW 3 Series Saloon

  • markedly more power
  • barely quicker 0–100 km/h
  • clearly more trunk space

Audi A3 Sportback

3.9 (1 Reviews)
rate
  • considerably cheaper
  • substantially more efficient
  • markedly more electric range
  • slightly lighter

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

3 Series Saloon

Costs and Efficiency:

Price and efficiency are often the first things buyers look at. Here it becomes clear which model has the long-term edge – whether at the pump, the plug, or in purchase price.

Audi A3 Sportback is considerably 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 substantially 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.

A3 Sportback

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 BMW 3 Series Saloon offers markedly 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 barely quicker – completing the sprint in 3.5 s, while the Audi A3 Sportback takes 3.8 s. That’s about 0.3 s quicker.

Looking at top speed, the BMW 3 Series Saloon is very 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 BMW 3 Series Saloon delivers noticeably more torque with 700 Nm compared to 500 Nm. That’s about 200 Nm more.

3 Series Saloon

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 slightly 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 very slightly 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 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
details

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Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

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

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 3 Series Saloon
Audi A3 Sportback

Costs and Consumption
Price
39,900 - 91,000 £
Price
27,000 - 56,600 £
Consumption L/100km
2.4 - 10.1 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
1.1 - 9.3 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
96 - 101 km
Electric Range
134 - 141 km
Battery Capacity
19.5 kWh
Battery Capacity
19.7 kWh
co2
54 - 227 g/km
co2
25 - 211 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
40 - 59 L
Fuel tank capacity
40 L

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
Sedan
Body Type
Hatchback
Seats
5
Seats
5
Doors
4
Doors
5
Curb weight
1,575 - 1,960 kg
Curb weight
1,360 - 1,685 kg
Trunk capacity
375 - 480 L
Trunk capacity
280 - 380 L
Length
4,713 mm
Length
4,352 - 4,353 mm
Width
1,827 - 1,903 mm
Width
1,816 - 1,851 mm
Height
1,440 - 1,446 mm
Height
1,441 - 1,470 mm
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
1,100 L
Payload
405 - 495 kg
Payload
410 - 480 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Diesel MHEV, Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid
Engine Type
Petrol, Petrol MHEV, Diesel, Plugin Hybrid
Transmission
Automatic, Manuel
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox, Manual Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
150 - 530 HP
Power HP
116 - 400 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
3.5 - 8.6 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
3.8 - 10.1 s
Max Speed
218 - 250 km/h
Max Speed
225 - 237 km/h
Torque
250 - 700 Nm
Torque
220 - 500 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4 - 6
Number of Cylinders
4 - 5
Power kW
110 - 390 kW
Power kW
85 - 294 kW
Engine capacity
1,995 - 2,998 cm3
Engine capacity
1,498 - 2,480 cm3

General
Model Year
2,024 - 2,025
Model Year
2,025
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, E, F, G, B
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, F, E, G, B
Brand
BMW
Brand
Audi
Is the BMW 3 Series Saloon offered with different drivetrains?

The BMW 3 Series Saloon is available as Rear-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.