Compare the2026 Nissan AltimaVS 2026 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 Altima 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.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Nissan Altima achieved an “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Audi A3 has not been tested.

The Altima’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 Altima 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, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

Nissan’s powertrain warranty covers the Altima 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 3 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Altima’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Altima first among midsize cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The A3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 100 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 30th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 58 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Audi.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Altima uses regular unleaded gasoline. The A3 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Altima AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the A3 (16 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Altima FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the A3 (16.2 vs. 14.5 gallons).

The Altima 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.

The Altima stops much shorter than the A3:

For better traction, the Altima SR’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the A3 (235/40R19 vs. 225/45R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Altima SR has standard 19-inch wheels. The A3’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Altima has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The A3 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Altima’s wheelbase is 7.7 inches longer than on the A3 (111.2 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Altima is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 3.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A3.

The Altima handles at .91 G’s, while the A3 Premium Plus pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The design of the Nissan Altima amounts to more than styling. The Altima has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .26 Cd. That is lower than the A3 (.29) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Altima get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the Altima uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The A3 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Altima a Mid-size car, while the A3 is rated a Subcompact.

The Altima has 13.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A3 (100.6 vs. 87).

The Altima has 2.3 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front legroom, 3.4 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom and 4.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the A3.

The Altima has a much larger trunk than the A3 (15.4 vs. 10.9 cubic feet).

The Altima 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 climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior, with the optional automatic climate control feature. The A3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Altima’s standard Intelligent Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Engine Start/Stop standard on the A3 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

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

The Altima’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 Altima SR’s optional 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.

Compared to traditional radio, the Nissan Altima’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio costs extra on the A3.

The Altima is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Nissan Altima retains 52.18% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 48.42% resale value of the 2025 Audi A3 after five years, which can save the Nissan’s owner up to $6790 in depreciation.

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

The Nissan Altima outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by over 11 to one during 2025.