Audi A3 Saloon vs BMW 3 Series Saloon

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

A3 Saloon compared with 3 Series Saloon

	AudiA3 Saloon	BMW3 Series Saloon
Overview
Released
Released	April 2020	March 2019
Performance
Powertrain
Powertrain	Petrol, Mild hybrid, Diesel	Petrol, Plug-in hybrid, Mild hybrid
Power
Power	114–395 bhp (better)	181–386 bhp
0–62 mph
0–62 mph	3.8–9.9 s (better)	4.3–7.4 s
Top speed
Top speed	130–174 mph (better)	143–155 mph
Engine or motors
Engine or motors	1.5-litre four-cylinder TFSI (116 or 150 PS; 48V mild hybrid with S tronic), 2.0-litre TDI diesel (150 PS), 2.0-litre TFSI (333 PS, S3), 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI (400 PS, RS 3); bhp converted from Audi's PS figures	320i: 1,998 cc four-cylinder turbo petrol, 135 kW (184 hp); 330e: same engine plus an 80 kW (109 hp) motor, 215 kW (292 hp) system output; M340i xDrive and Black Edition: 2,998 cc six-cylinder turbo petrol with 48 V mild hybrid, 288 kW (392 hp) system output; bhp converted from BMW's kW figures
Torque
Torque	220 Nm (116 PS), 250 Nm (150 PS TFSI), 360 Nm (TDI), 420 Nm (S3), 500 Nm (RS 3)	300 Nm (320i), 420 Nm system (330e), 540 Nm (M340i xDrive)
Gearbox
Gearbox	6-speed manual or 7-speed S tronic	8-speed Steptronic automatic
Drive
Drive	Front-wheel drive; quattro four-wheel drive on S3 and RS 3	Rear-wheel drive (320i, 330e) or xDrive all-wheel drive (M340i)
Range and charging
Zero-emission range (WLTP)
Zero-emission range (WLTP)	–	61–63 miles
Battery
Battery	–	19.5 kWh
Economy (WLTP)
Economy (WLTP)	30.7–59.3 mpg	40.4–353.1 mpg (better)
Range detail
Range detail	–	330e WLTP electric range 59–63 miles depending on trim and equipment
Charging
Charging	–	330e: 19.5 kWh battery; 11 kW AC, 0–100% in 2 hours 15 minutes
Efficiency
Efficiency	WLTP combined: 48.4–52.6 mpg (116 PS manual), 51.9–55.2 mpg (116 PS S tronic), 47.4–51.8 mpg (150 PS manual), 50.8–55.3 mpg (150 PS S tronic), 54.4–59.3 mpg (TDI), 34.6–35.0 mpg (S3), 30.3–30.7 mpg (RS 3); depends on trim	WLTP combined: 41.5–43.5 mpg (320i), 313.9–353.1 mpg (330e, GB figures; BMW also lists 104.6–117.7 mpg for Northern Ireland), 37.7–40.4 mpg (M340i xDrive)
CO2 emissions
CO2 emissions	116–136 g/km (TFSI and TDI), 184–186 g/km (S3), 209–212 g/km (RS 3), WLTP combined	147–154 g/km (320i), 19–21 g/km (330e), 159–172 g/km (M340i xDrive), WLTP combined
Practicality
Body
Body	Saloon	Saloon
Seats
Seats	5	5
Boot
Boot	425 litres	–
Length
Length	4,506 mm	4,713 mm
Width
Width	1,816 mm	1,827 mm
Weight
Weight	From 1,345 kg	–
Boot
Boot	425 litres; 325 litres (S3), 321 litres (RS 3)	480 litres (320i, M340i); 375 litres (330e)
Towing
Towing	Up to 1,300 kg braked (116 PS), 1,500 kg (150 PS), 1,600 kg (TDI)	Up to 1,600 kg braked (320i), 1,500 kg (330e), 1,800 kg (M340i)
Size
Size	4,506 mm long, 1,816 mm wide, 1,433 mm high (RS 3 4,533 x 1,851 x 1,416 mm); weight is Audi UK's unladen figure, 1,345 kg (116 PS manual) to 1,640 kg (RS 3); RS 3 top speed is 155 mph, 174 mph on Carbon Vorsprung	4,713 mm long (4,714 mm M340i), 1,827 mm wide (2,068 mm with mirrors), 1,440 mm high (1,446 mm 330e); 2,851 mm wheelbase; EC unladen weight including a 75 kg driver is 1,590 kg (320i), 1,910 kg (330e), 1,835 kg (M340i xDrive)
Tech and safety
Infotainment
Infotainment	Audi virtual cockpit plus as standard; Audi announced a curved panel with an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit and 12.8-inch MMI touch display for the A3 range in June 2026	–