Audi A3 Saloon vs BMW M3 Saloon

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A3 Saloon compared with M3 Saloon

	AudiA3 Saloon	BMWM3 Saloon
Overview
Released
Released	April 2020	March 2021
Performance
Powertrain
Powertrain	Petrol, Mild hybrid, Diesel	Petrol
Power
Power	114–395 bhp	523 bhp (better)
0–62 mph
0–62 mph	3.8–9.9 s	3.5 s (better)
Top speed
Top speed	130–174 mph (better)	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	2,993 cc six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol, 390 kW (530 hp); 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)	650 Nm
Gearbox
Gearbox	6-speed manual or 7-speed S tronic	8-speed automatic
Drive
Drive	Front-wheel drive; quattro four-wheel drive on S3 and RS 3	M xDrive all-wheel drive
Range and charging
Economy (WLTP)
Economy (WLTP)	30.7–59.3 mpg (better)	27.7 mpg
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: 27.4–27.7 mpg
CO2 emissions
CO2 emissions	116–136 g/km (TFSI and TDI), 184–186 g/km (S3), 209–212 g/km (RS 3), WLTP combined	231–235 g/km, WLTP combined
Practicality
Body
Body	Saloon	Saloon
Seats
Seats	5	5
Boot
Boot	425 litres	480 litres (better)
Length
Length	4,506 mm	4,801 mm
Width
Width	1,816 mm	1,903 mm
Weight
Weight	From 1,345 kg	–
Boot
Boot	425 litres; 325 litres (S3), 321 litres (RS 3)	480 litres
Towing
Towing	Up to 1,300 kg braked (116 PS), 1,500 kg (150 PS), 1,600 kg (TDI)	–
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	4,801 mm long, 1,903 mm wide (2,068 mm with mirrors), 1,438 mm high; 2,857 mm wheelbase; EC unladen weight including a 75 kg driver is 1,865 kg
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	–