BMW 3 Series vs Audi A3 

With a mix of luxury and athleticism, the BMW 3 Series and Audi A3 have a lot in common. Although, there are some key differences between the BMW 3 Series vs. Audi A3.

When taking a closer look both inside the cabin and under the hood of each model, our BMW of Montgomery team discovered a few of these differences that might factor into which ride you'd ultimately like to get for your commutes around Montgomery, Auburn, and Prattville. Just keep reading to learn more about these luxury cars.

Which Car Offers a More Comfortable Drive?

There is no mistaking these two cars are indeed luxurious. Their interior designs feature the use of high-quality upholstery, premium accents, and the latest in modern innovations. Even enjoy the luxury having a moonroof standard in either car.

Your comfort behind the wheel of the BMW 3 Series is next level. Not only will you have 38.7 inches of headroom and 42 inches of legroom in the front row of the 2021 3 Series, but it also comes with the 10-way power front sport seats. They include 2-way power side bolsters, thigh support, and memory feature.

The Audi A3 doesn't offer that same level of standard personalization and support while driving. It also only has 36.5 inches of headroom and 41.2 inches of legroom in its front row.

Be sure to check out our BMW 3 Series vs. Mercedes-Benz CLA comparison to learn more about your luxury sedan options!

The Performance of the 3 Series vs A3

The 2021 BMW 3 Series is a car that provides great agility, spirited driving, and race-like handling. It all starts with its sophisticated powertrain, too. Standard is a 2.0L turbo inline 4-cylinder engine. With this, the 3 Series creates 255 horsepower and 294 lb-ft of torque, and that's just the start of its power capabilities.

Taking things up a notch is the available 3.0L BMW M TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine. Producing 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque, this takes the BMW 3 Series from a stop to 60 MPH in only 4.4 seconds.

How does the Audi A3 match up to that? It does perform very admirably, but it just can't reach the same heights as the 3 Series. That is because its 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine delivers 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. You can opt for a more powerful configuration of the A3, but it only gives you a maximum output of 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. With this available powertrain, the Audi A3 can go from 0 to 60 MPH in as quick as 5.4 seconds.

Enjoy a Safer Commute

Both of these cars also have standard and available technology that helps make each drive a safer one. The 2021 BMW 3 Series though has a few more advanced systems that you can't get with the Audi A3.

That includes the available Head-up Display. With this, you can see who is calling, what turn you need to make next, and the speed you are driving at without having to take your eyes away from the road. That is because this display projects all of that and other key driving information right in front on you on the windshield.

Also, while the A3 offers the available Audi adaptive cruise control and Audi active lane assist, the BMW 3 Series combines this and more helpful features into one system with its available Active Driving Assistant Pro. With it comes Traffic Jam Assist, Steering and Lane Control Assistant, Emergency Stop Assistant, and Evasion Aid. Altogether, this system helps you in countless scenarios, so you can safely travel along the highways.

Explore our other BMW vs. Audi comparisons to see what else these two brands offer!