Audi A3 vs BMW 3 Series: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Audi A3 burns about $1,900 of fuel annually against $2,200 for the BMW 3 Series. That $300 yearly gap compounds to roughly $1,500 over five years and $2,400 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City versus highway split: the Audi A3 is the stronger commuter at 37 mpg city, while the BMW 3 Series pulls ahead on the interstate at 43 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Powertrain choice: the Audi A3 is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (SIDI, SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; PHEV), the BMW 3 Series with 4 (SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI, SIDI; PHEV). Across 36 recorded Audi A3 configurations and 105 for the BMW 3 Series, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Audi A3 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, the BMW 3 Series with Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Subcompact Cars and Compact Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Audi A3 emits 138 g/mile of CO2 versus 158 g/mile for the BMW 3 Series. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.