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Subaru Liberty vs Audi A3

What's the difference?

VS
Subaru Liberty
Subaru Liberty

$17,990 - $33,990

2018 price

Audi A3
Audi A3

$34,977 - $57,288

2022 price

Summary

2018 Subaru Liberty
2022 Audi A3
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Inline 4, 2.5L

Turbo 4, 1.5L
Fuel Type
Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
7.3L/100km (combined)

4.9L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Hoplessly grainy reversing camera
  • Run-of-the-mill warranty and steep servicing
  • No parking sensors

  • 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
2018 Subaru Liberty Summary

Subaru's Liberty is probably one of the most recognised badges in the country. Talk to anyone outside of Australia, though, and unless they know their cars, they haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about. It's a mark of Subaru's respect of the Australian market - the company renamed it from Legacy for local consumption - and the power of a brand that's approaching 30 years old.

Just about every Australian reading these words has been in a Liberty of one age or another. Some even remember it for Colin McRae's heroics at the wheel of the blue-and-yellow machine in the early '90s before the switch to another famous Subaru, the Impreza.

The Liberty is now well into its sixth iteration which means time for a mid-life nip and tuck. Subaru has worked above and below the skin to breathe a bit of life into its mainstay sedan.

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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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Deep dive comparison

2018 Subaru Liberty 2022 Audi A3

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