Compare the2024 Mazda 3VS 2024 Audi A3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Mazda 3 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 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.

With its standard Smart Brake Support, the Mazda 3 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Audi A3, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Mazda 3	A3
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	-11 MPH
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-19 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-11 MPH
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-21 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-11 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-4 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-8 MPH
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-14 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.4 sec	1.5 sec
37 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-1 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.7 sec	.3 sec

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 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the A3’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Mazda 3 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking on the Turbo Premium Plus automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the A3.

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 and available all wheel drive.

The Mazda 3 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The A3 is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Warranty

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

Reliability

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 Mazda 3’s reliability 17 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 Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 18 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 2024 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 12 places higher in reliability than Audi.

Engine

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):

	3	A3
Zero to 60 MPH	5.6 sec	6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	14.3 sec	16.1 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.4 sec	6.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	14.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99 MPH	95 MPH
Top Speed	134 MPH	127 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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.

Brakes and Stopping

The Mazda 3 stops much shorter than the A3:

	Mazda 3	A3
70 to 0 MPH	164 feet	181 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	119 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

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).

Chassis

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

Passenger Space

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.

Cargo Capacity

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

Ergonomics

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 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 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 Premium Plus’ 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.

Model Availability

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

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Mazda 3 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Mazda 3 will cost $460 to $3555 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 51.44% to 55.76% of its original price after five years, while the A3 only retains 48.11% to 50.83%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mazda 3 will be $7342 to $12709 less than for the Audi A3.

Recommendations

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

	Mazda 3	A3
Consumer Reports® Recommends	Top Pick	TRUE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	n/a

The Mazda 3 outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by over two to one during 2023.