Compare the2023 Volkswagen Jetta GLIVS 2022 Audi S3

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Jetta GLI has a standard backup collision prevention system that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The S3 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Jetta GLI has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the S3’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Jetta GLI has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the S3.

Both the Jetta GLI and the S3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Jetta GLI for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the S3.

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Jetta GLI’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 15 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

On the EPA test cycle the Jetta GLI gets better mileage than the S3:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Jetta GLI higher (7 out of 10) than the Audi S3 (5). This means the Jetta GLI produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the S3 every 15,000 miles.

The Jetta GLI has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the S3; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the S3 don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Jetta GLI’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the S3 (105.6 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

The Volkswagen Jetta GLI may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 250 pounds less than the Audi S3.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Jetta GLI a Compact car, while the S3 is rated a Subcompact.

The Jetta GLI has 7.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S3 (93.9 vs. 86).

The Jetta GLI has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the S3.

The Jetta GLI has a much larger trunk than the S3 (14.1 vs. 8.3 cubic feet).

The Jetta GLI Automatic has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The S3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Jetta GLI has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The S3 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Jetta GLI’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The S3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Jetta GLI keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The S3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the S3 Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The Jetta GLI was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2 of the last 3 years. The S3 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Volkswagen Jetta outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by almost 17 to one during the 2021 model year.