Rear wheel drive (RWD) / All wheel drive (AWD, 4x4)
Front wheel drive (FWD) / All wheel drive (AWD, 4x4)
BMW 3 series is available with rear wheel drive and four wheel (4x4) drive, while Audi A3 can be equipped with front wheel drive and four wheel (4x4) drive. All-wheel drive models tend to consume more fuel, so if you don't need off road capabilities, BMW 3 series also offers 2-wheel drive versions for fuel economy. 2WD versions also have lower maintenance costs.
BMW 3 series petrol engines consumes on average 1 litres more fuel per 100 km than Audi A3. On average, BMW 3 series equipped with diesel engines consume 0.5 litres more fuel per 100 km than the Audi A3. This comparison does not take engine capacity into account, so to compare the fuel consumption of specific engines, select the car version!
Ground clearance:
140 - 141 mm (5.5 - 5.6 inches)
110 mm (4.3 inches)
Because of the higher ground clearance, BMW 3 series can perform better on bad roads - it can go over higher obstacles and bumps. At the same time, the higher ground clearance can reduce stability and handling on paved roads, especially at higher speeds.
Dimensions
Length:
4.53 m
4.29 m
Width:
1.82 m
1.76 m
Height:
1.44 m
1.42 m
BMW 3 series is larger. BMW 3 series is 24 cm longer than the Audi A3, 6 cm wider, while the height of BMW 3 series is 2 cm higher.
Trunk capacity:
460 litres
370 litres
Trunk max capacity: with rear seats folded down
1385 litres
1120 litres
BMW 3 series has more luggage capacity. BMW 3 series has 90 litres more trunk space than the Audi A3. The maximum boot capacity (with all rear seats folded down) is larger in BMW 3 series (by 265 litres).
Turning diameter:
11.8 meters
10.7 meters
The turning circle of the BMW 3 series is 1.1 metres more than that of the Audi A3, which means BMW 3 series can be harder to manoeuvre in tight streets and parking spaces.
