Audi A3 vs Jaguar XF: 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 $2,300 for the Jaguar XF. That $400 yearly gap compounds to roughly $2,000 over five years and $3,200 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 Jaguar XF pulls ahead on the interstate at 42 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 Jaguar XF with 3 (SIDI, 2.0, SIDI; FFV). Across 36 recorded Audi A3 configurations and 45 for the Jaguar XF, 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 Jaguar XF 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 Midsize 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 289 g/mile for the Jaguar XF. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.