Audi S3 vs Mazda 3: Specs Compared
Also searched as Mazda 3 vs Audi S3 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Mazda 3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 33 mpg combined versus 27 mpg for the Audi S3, a 6 mpg advantage and costs about $950 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Mazda 3 leads in 5. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Audi S3 | Mazda 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 27 mpg | 33 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 23 mpg | 30 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 32 mpg | 40 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,800 | $1,850 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 331 g/mi | 266 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI, SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; | SIDI, SIDI; With Cylinder Deactivation, SIDI; Without Cylinder Deactivation, SIDI; with i-ELOOP Technology Package |
| Transmissions | Automatic (AM-S7), Automatic (AM-S6) | Automatic (S6), Manual 6-spd |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive | 4-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Premium | Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars | Midsize Cars |
| Years covered | 2015–2026 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 11 | 97 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Audi S3 vs Mazda 3: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Mazda 3 burns about $1,850 of fuel annually against $2,800 for the Audi S3. That $950 yearly gap compounds to roughly $4,750 over five years and $7,600 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 and highway economy: the Mazda 3 leads in both cycles — 30 mpg city and 40 mpg highway against 23 and 32 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.
Powertrain choice: the Audi S3 is recorded with 3 distinct engine configurations (SIDI, SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI;), the Mazda 3 with 4 (SIDI, SIDI; With Cylinder Deactivation, SIDI; Without Cylinder Deactivation). Across 11 recorded Audi S3 configurations and 97 for the Mazda 3, 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 S3 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, the Mazda 3 with 4-Wheel Drive, Front-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 Mazda 3 emits 266 g/mile of CO2 versus 331 g/mile for the Audi S3. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
S3 vs 3: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Audi S3 or the Mazda 3?
The Mazda 3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 33 mpg combined versus 27 mpg for the Audi S3, a 6 mpg advantage and costs about $950 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Mazda 3 runs about $1,850 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,800 for the Audi S3 — a difference of roughly $950 per year.
What engines do the S3 and 3 offer?
Audi S3: SIDI, SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI;. Mazda 3: SIDI, SIDI; With Cylinder Deactivation, SIDI; Without Cylinder Deactivation, SIDI; with i-ELOOP Technology Package.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Audi S3 as Subcompact Cars and the Mazda 3 as Midsize Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
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Comparison id: audi-s3-vs-mazda-3