Compare the2023 Mazda 3VS 2023 Audi A3

The Mazda 3 has standard Whiplash Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The A3 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Mazda 3 Turbo Premium Plus has standard Smart Brake Support that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The A3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Mazda 3 Turbo Premium Plus has a standard 360-Degree Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The A3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Mazda 3’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Mazda 3 and the A3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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 and rear cross-path warning.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Mazda 3 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A3 has not been fully tested, yet.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the 3 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the A3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 78 percent more Mazda dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 3’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 59 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda 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 Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 6th.

The Mazda 3’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 49 more horsepower (250 vs. 201) and 99 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 221) than the A3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda 3 turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Audi A3 (automatics tested):

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Mazda 3 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The A3 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Mazda 3 stops much shorter than the A3:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mazda 3’s wheelbase is 3.8 inches longer than on the A3 (107.3 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Mazda 3 is 1 inch wider in the front and 2.6 inches wider in the rear than on the A3.

For better maneuverability, the Mazda 3’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the A3’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.4 feet).

The Mazda 3 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 250 pounds less than the Audi A3.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Mazda 3 a Compact car, while the A3 is rated a Subcompact.

The Mazda 3 Sedan has 5.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A3 (92.8 vs. 87).

The Mazda 3 Sedan has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the A3.

The Mazda 3 Sedan has a much larger trunk than the A3 (13.2 vs. 10.9 cubic feet).

The Mazda 3 Auto offers a 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 A3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Mazda 3 Premium/Turbo has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The A3 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Mazda 3 Premium/Turbo has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The A3 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Mazda 3’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The A3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

On extremely cold winter days, the Mazda 3 Turbo’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The A3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Mazda 3 comes in sedan and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Audi A3 isn’t available as a four door hatchback.

Insurance will cost less for the Mazda 3 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Mazda 3 will cost $80 to $2755 less than the A3 over a five-year period.

The Mazda 3 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Mazda 3 will retain 49.31% to 50.91% of its original price after five years, while the A3 only retains 46.21% to 47.4%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mazda 3 will be $9420 to $14161 less than for the Audi A3.

The Mazda 3 has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Mazda 3 outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by almost three to one during 2022.