Front wheel drive (FWD) / All wheel drive (AWD, 4x4)
Rear wheel drive (RWD) / All wheel drive (AWD, 4x4)
Audi A3 is available with front wheel drive and four wheel (4x4) drive, while BMW 3 series can be equipped with rear 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, Audi A3 also offers 2-wheel drive versions for fuel economy. 2WD versions also have lower maintenance costs.
Audi A3 petrol engines consumes on average 1 litres less fuel per 100 km than BMW 3 series. On average, Audi A3 equipped with diesel engines consume 0.5 litres less fuel per 100 km than the BMW 3 series. This comparison does not take engine capacity into account, so to compare the fuel consumption of specific engines, select the car version!
Ground clearance:
110 mm (4.3 inches)
140 - 141 mm (5.5 - 5.6 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:
4.29 m
4.53 m
Width:
1.76 m
1.82 m
Height:
1.42 m
1.44 m
Audi A3 is smaller. Audi A3 is 24 cm shorter than the BMW 3 series, 6 cm narrower, while the height of Audi A3 is 2 cm lower.
Trunk capacity:
370 litres
460 litres
Trunk max capacity: with rear seats folded down
1120 litres
1385 litres
BMW 3 series has more luggage space. Audi A3 has 90 litres less trunk space than the BMW 3 series. The maximum boot capacity (with all rear seats folded down) is larger in BMW 3 series (by 265 litres).
Turning diameter:
10.7 meters
11.8 meters
The turning circle of the Audi A3 is 1.1 metres less than that of the BMW 3 series, which means Audi A3 can be easier to manoeuvre in tight streets and parking spaces.
