Audi A3 vs Golf: Which is better?
Take a look at our comparison of the Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf to see which suits you
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Audi A3 vs Golf: which should you choose?
When it comes to the current VW Golf vs. Audi A3 Sportback – it's stiff competition. Both are incredibly popular and good at many of the same things, so how could you possibly choose?
To make things even trickier, they share many of the same parts since they’re built on the same platform and with some of the same engines.
A big part of picking the right one for you is, essentially, deciding which one you think looks better, both inside and out. Of course, there are some slight differences in driving dynamics, but we’ll get onto those shortly.
Read our Audi A3 vs. Golf review below to see which suits you better.
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Audi A3 vs. Golf
Our guide will answer:
Which car has the better styling?
Is the Golf or Audi A3 better to drive?
Does the Audi A3 or Golf have better tech?Is the Golf or Audi A3 more reliable?
What are the Audi A3 vs Golf dimensions?
Which should you buy?
Audi A3 vs. Golf: styling
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We can’t lie – they do look pretty similar. They are related after all.
Once your eyes have adjusted, you’ll definitely be able to notice the differences and decide which one’s styling you prefer.
The A3 gets that proper chunky Audi grille at the front, while the Volkswagen has a longer and thinner grille that feels a little more youthful to us.
Audi does have a reputation as the slightly more premium brand, compared to VW, and its models tend to be more expensive. The A3 does feel like the more grown-up car, so might appeal to an older than the Golf.
Differences aside, there’s no denying they’re both great looking cars.
Audi A3 vs. Golf: what are they like to drive?
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The A3 and the Golf feel very similar on the road. They’re both easy to drive – pros at handling tight corners and nippy even with the smaller engines.
Golfs come with a choice of petrol and diesel set-ups, including the 1.0-litre eTSI mild hybrid to take the edge of running costs. A3 engines include a choice of two petrols – the 1.5-litre 35 TFSI and the 2.0 35 TDI.
You can also get both the Golf (GTE) and the A3 (TFSI e) as plug-in hybrids, which get combined mpg figures of up to 246 and 256 respectively, according to WLTP.
Like with the styling, what sets these two apart is the refinement. It’s not chalk and cheese, but the A3 does get slightly improved suspension over the standard Golf (you need to pay extra for the same setup in the VW).
Of course, there are more driving differences to talk about with the sporty versions of both the Golf (GTI, GTD, GTE, R) and the A3 (S3, RS3). But that's a whole other can of worms.
Audi A3 vs. Golf: interior and technology
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Neither car is lacking in interior or tech, with a quality feel across both models. None of the plastics feel cheapy or scratchy, and the layout for both is nice and easy to use.
The Audi A3 does have the edge for prestige – it feels a bit fancier but not by miles. The Golf is still very much premium but just doesn’t feel quite as posh.
With a 10.25-inch landscape infotainment screen in the centre of the dash, the A3’s infotainment is smooth and very usable.
The Golf can have a slightly larger 12.9-inch infotainment screen that’s backlit so easy to see at night but the touch-only controls can be a bit fiddly.
Audi A3 vs. Golf: boot space and practicality
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You won’t be squished in either car as neither is stingy on space. There’s plenty of head and legroom, and adult passengers will be comfortable in the back.
Boot space is also similar, with both five-door options getting the same 380 litres.
Fold the seats down in the A3 and you’ll have a 1,200-litre loading space, or a 1,237-litre space in the Golf. So, again, very similar in size.
It’s worth noting that plug-in hybrid models lose some boot space. The A3 PHEV gets a 280-litre boot, while the plug-in Golf offers 273 litres.
Don’t forget, there’s also the saloon version of the A3 if you want a different body shape.
Audi A3 vs. Golf: safety and reliability
Again, with the similarities – both the A3 and the Golf received a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating on their last test.
The Golf has plenty of features to keep you secure on the roads, like adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, autonomous emergency braking and a lane keep system.
You’ll get plenty of those features in the A3 as well, plus traffic sign recognition and lane departure warning as standard.
They’ve also both received positive reviews for reliability.
Audi A3 vs. Golf: dimensions
Audi A3 Sportback
Height: 1,430mm
Length: 4,757mm
Width: 1,816mm
Boot space: 380 litres
VW Golf
Height: 1,491mm
Length: 4,284mm
Width: 1,789mm
Boot space: 380 litres
Verdict: Audi A3 vs. Golf: which should you buy?
Picked your favourite yet? These two iconic hatchbacks have a lot going for them and it’s a tough choice when it comes to the Audi A3 vs. Golf.
In our opinion, the Audi A3 is more suited to motorists after something a bit more serious but still premium and fun. The Golf has a youthful feel to it that that’s more laidback.
They’re both packed with tech and safety features, are easy to drive, and are obviously easy on the eye.
Take a look at our full range of used Audi A3 and used VW Golf models to find your favourite.