Compare the2022 Audi S3VS 2021 Mercedes AMG A-Class

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Audi S3 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Mercedes AMG A-Class doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the S3 and AMG A-Class have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S3 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The AMG A-Class’ child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The S3 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The AMG A-Class doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The S3’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG A-Class.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the S3’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The AMG A-Class doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the S3 and the AMG A-Class have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.

The S3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG A-Class’ (12 vs. 5 years).

The Audi S3’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the AMG A-Class’ engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 6 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The S3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 4 more horsepower (306 vs. 302) than the AMG A-Class’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the S3 gets better fuel mileage than the AMG A 35 (23 city/32 hwy vs. 22 city/29 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi S3 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The AMG A-Class requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The S3 has a gallon more fuel capacity than the AMG A-Class (14.5 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the S3’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG A-Class:

The S3 has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The AMG A-Class has no towing capacity.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The S3 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The AMG A-Class doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield, the S3 has standard extendable sun visors. The AMG A-Class doesn’t offer extendable visors.