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Audi A3 vs Audi A1

What's the difference?

VS
Audi A3
Audi A3

$34,977 - $57,288

2022 price

Audi A1
Audi A1

$29,880 - $42,988

2020 price

Summary

2022 Audi A3
2020 Audi A1
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 1.5L

Turbo 4, 1.8L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
4.9L/100km (combined)

5.9L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

4
Dislikes
  • Mild-hybrid interesting, but not a game-changer
  • Active cruise extra cost in premium version. Should be standard
  • Sportback looks don’t flatter the car

  • Fuel use a bit high
  • Expensive
  • Back seat lacks amenities
2022 Audi A3 Summary

If it was the original BMW 3-Series that invented the compact luxury car market segment all those years ago, then it’s probably fair to claim it was Audi’s A3 franchise that gave rise to the luxury small-hatch category.

On that basis, any new Audi A3 is news but, in the face of the SUV onslaught (including its own stablemate the Q3) the new small Audi has its work cut out for it.

With this update, there’s refreshed styling, a new interior layout and, for the launch of the new cars, two body styles, a conventionally styled sedan and what Audi calls the Sportback; fundamentally a five-door hatchback but with the German brand’s own flair plastered all over it.

As well as new connectivity and safety tech, the big news is the availability of a mild-hybrid driveline as well as a second powertrain option with more performance from a more conventional layout.

Interestingly, it’s that (mild) hybrid version of the A3 that represents the entry-level variant of the A3. A sign of the times? Perhaps.

As well as the two powertrains, there are two distinct chassis layouts, starting with a front-drive set-up and extending to the option of Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD) system.

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2020 Audi A1 Summary

The Audi A1 2020 range offers something for everyone, and in the case of this particular variant, it’s the one you buy if you want as much grunt and gear as you can get.

It’s the top-of-the-range Audi A1 40 TFSI model, which gets the zestiest engine, the lengthiest equipment list, and offers performance to match some hot-hatches out there. It’s essentially an Audi-ised version of a VW Polo GTI

This test wasn’t so much about the wow-factor, though. We put it through its paces as an urban runabout to see how it coped as a real-world city car. 

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Deep dive comparison

2022 Audi A3 2020 Audi A1

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