Audi A3 vs A5: which is better?
Not sure whether to buy the Audi A3 or A5? Read our comparison guide to see which is better for you.
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Trying to decide the winner of Audi A3 vs. A5 is a nice place to be. Either way, you’re getting an impressive luxury car.
They’re both seriously enjoyable to live with and a treat for anyone who gets to ride alongside you, but how do you pick?
Despite being related, there are a few things that set these Audi models apart that might help you make the right call.
Take a look at the similarities and differences in our A3 vs. A5 review below.
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A3 vs A5
Our guide will answer:
Is the A5 or A3 better to drive?
Does the A3 or A5 have better tech?
Which Audi car has the better styling?
Is the A5 or A3 more reliable?
What are the A3 vs A5 dimensions?
A3 vs. A5: styling
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There’s no denying these are two very attractive cars. Audi has a distinctive style that pairs smooth shapes and sharp angles to look aggressive but still elegant – and it’s done perfectly in both these saloons.
The A5 is the bigger boy. You can get it as a sportback, cabriolet or coupé model, all with a massive front grille and squinting headlights. It’s a head-turner without being too flashy.
The A3 does feel sportier to us. This one comes as a sportback or saloon and is more compact than the A5. It could be the better first step into a premium car than the A5.
If you want to crank up the performance, there’s the S3 and S5 with sporty body kits and more power, or the RS3 and RS5 if you fancy the crème de la crème.
A3 vs. A5: what are they like to drive?
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No surprises here, both the A3 and A5 are superb to drive – they feel comfortable and planted. And there’s enough engine options to keep things exciting as well as efficient, including a plug-in hybrid A3.
While the S3/RS3 and S5/RS5 models are where you want to be for the best performance, you can still get a peppy drive from the standard A3 and A5.
The 1.5-litre 35 TFSI A3, with 148hp, gets from 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds. The same engine can also achieve up to 47.6mpg, so it’s ideal for daily driving that’s practical but not boring.
All of the A5 engines are based on the same 2.0-litre model. For daily drivers, we think the 35 TDI is an ideal pick that’ll get you 160hp and from 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds.
A3 vs. A5: interior and technology
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You can never be unhappy inside an Audi – that's a fact. The interior in the A3 and A5 is just a lovely place to be: plush, luxurious, and classically modern.
Soft-touch finishes are the norm across both cabins, so you get to skip scratchy plastics that don’t feel premium.
Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which replaces analogue dials with a 12.3-inch digital instrument screen, is one of the best set-ups on the market and both models get it as standard.
Of course, you also get a touchscreen for infotainment with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and sat nav built in.
A3 vs. A5: boot space and practicality
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Boot space in both the A3 and A5 depend on the model you’re going for, as they vary with body style.
The A3 Sportback gets a 380-litre boot, while the saloon gets 425 litres, and you get just 280 litres in the plug-in hybrid.
The A5 is slightly bigger, with a 480-litre boot in the sportback, 450 litres in the coupé, and a smaller, 370-litre boot for the convertible cabriolet.
Despite the A5 having a slightly larger footprint, they both feel pretty on-par for interior space. Both cars are spacious and comfortable and will easily work as a family car.
A3 vs. A5: safety and reliability
That Audi build quality we mentioned also translates to strong reliability and great safety kit.
Both the A3 and A5 place well on reliability surveys and get positive reviews and come with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty from new.
The A3 was awarded the full five-star Euro NCAP safety rating in 2020, with the A5 getting a now-expired five-star rating when it was most recently tested in 2015.
And the safety tech in each model, such as parking cameras, adaptive cruise control, lane departure assist, and rear cross-traffic alerts play a big part in those Euro NCAP scores.
Audi A3 vs. A5: dimensions
A3 Sportback
Height: 1,430mm
Width: 1,816mm
Length: 4,757mm
Boot: 380 litres
A5 Sportback
Height: 1,386mm
Width: 1,843mm
Length: 4,757mm
Boot: 480 litres
Verdict: Audi A3 vs. A5, which should you buy?
The Audi A3 vs. A5 play-off is an exciting one. It’s two premium cars that are both impressive in their own ways, so how do you pick?
The A3 is slightly smaller than the A5 and doesn’t come with quite as many feisty engines, but you can buy a plug-in hybrid A3 e model.
The A5 is chunkier and has a few more body styles to pick from, so it’s perfect if you’re not sold on the iconic sportback styling.
You may also want to consider the S3/RS3 or S5/RS5 options if you’re all about performance.
Take a look at our used A3 and used A5 cars for sale to find your perfect match.