Compare the2023 Audi A3VS 2022 Mazda 3

The A3’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the A3 and Mazda 3 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The A3 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 Mazda 3’s 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 A3 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 Mazda 3 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.

Both the A3 and the Mazda 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The A3 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 3’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The A3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Mazda 3’s (12 vs. 5 years).

The Audi A3’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Mazda 3’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The A3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 46 more horsepower (201 vs. 155) and 71 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 150) than the Mazda 3’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The A3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 15 more horsepower (201 vs. 186) and 35 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 186) than the Mazda 3’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Audi A3 is faster than the Mazda 3 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the A3 gets better mileage than the Mazda 3 Sedan:

On the EPA test cycle the A3 gets better mileage than the Mazda 3 Hatchback:

Regenerative brakes improve the A3’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The A3 Quattro’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Mazda 3 FWD’s standard fuel tank (14.5 vs. 13.2 gallons).

A seven-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Audi A3, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Mazda 3.

The A3 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer an SMG.

For better stopping power the A3’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Mazda 3:

The A3 stops shorter than the Mazda 3:

For better traction, the A3 has larger tires than the Mazda 3 (225/45R17 vs. 205/60R16). The A3’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Mazda 3 (225/45R17 vs. 215/45R18).

The A3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mazda 3 2.0/2.5 S’ standard 60 series tires. The A3’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Mazda 3 Hatchback/Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the A3 has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Mazda 3 2.0/2.5 S.

For superior ride and handling, the Audi A3 has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda 3 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The A3 offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Mazda 3’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The A3 has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the A3’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The Mazda 3’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge (except wagon).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the A3. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the A3 has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a power trunk.

The A3 has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The Mazda 3 has no towing capacity.

The A3 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Mazda 3 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Mazda. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 9% lower rating, Mazda is ranked 11th.

The power windows standard on both the A3 and the Mazda 3 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the A3 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Mazda 3 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the A3 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Mazda 3 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the A3’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the Mazda 3’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The A3 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The A3’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the Mazda 3 Carbon/Turbo.

The A3 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Mazda 3 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo.

Both the A3 and the Mazda 3 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the A3 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The A3’s optional Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Audi A3 and the Mazda 3, based on reliability, safety and performance.