Compare the2024 Subaru ImprezaVS 2024 Audi A3

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Impreza are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The A3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Impreza has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The A3 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

With its standard EyeSight, the Subaru Impreza is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Audi A3, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Impreza. But it costs extra on the A3.

Both the Impreza and the A3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Subaru Impreza achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The A3 is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Impreza 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 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Impreza’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Impreza’s reliability 14 points higher than the A3.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 36 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 6 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Audi.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 13 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Impreza lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The A3 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Impreza uses regular unleaded gasoline. The A3 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Impreza has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the A3 FWD’s standard fuel tank (16.6 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Impreza has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the A3 Quattro’s standard fuel tank (16.6 vs. 14.5 gallons).

The Impreza has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The A3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Impreza Sport/RS’ brake rotors are larger than those on the A3:

The Impreza’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the A3 are solid, not vented.

The Impreza stops shorter than the A3:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Impreza’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the A3 (105.1 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Impreza is 1.2 inches wider in the rear than on the A3.

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

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

The Impreza has 13.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A3 (100.5 vs. 87).

The Impreza has 3 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear legroom and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the A3.

The engine in the Impreza is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the A3. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Impreza 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 climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Impreza has a standard rear wiper. The A3 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Impreza 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 Impreza’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The A3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

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

The Subaru Impreza outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by almost three to one during 2023.