Head-to-head
2025 Audi A3 vs 2025 BMW i4
The BMW i4 wins clearly, 87.7 to 63.3, on fuel & range, tech & comfort. The Audi A3 is ahead on safety.
A
2025 Audi A3
The 2025 Audi A3 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact sedan. The most efficient version, the A3 quattro, is EPA-rated at 28 mpg combined. NHTSA lists no recall …
vs
B2025 BMW i4
The 2025 BMW i4 is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact hatchback with 8 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18 …
Verdict · default weights
2025 BMW i4
Clear winThe BMW i4 wins clearly, 87.7 to 63.3, on fuel & range, tech & comfort. The Audi A3 is ahead on safety.
Fuel & range 2025 BMW i4 leads by 77.3
Tech & comfort 2025 BMW i4 leads by 45
Safety 2025 Audi A3 leads by 30.7
| Category · weight | 2025 Audi A3overall 63.3 | 2025 BMW i4overall 87.7 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 22.7 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 69.3 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 55 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | ||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 63.3 | 87.7 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 3 of 7 categories compared
Audi A3: base trim A3 quattro AWD · BMW i4: base trim i4 eDrive35 RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2025 BMW i4 wins
- It costs $2,300 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($650 against $2,950).
- It is rated 116 combined against 28 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (20 points against 11 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2025 Audi A3 answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (5 against 12 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists 2 standard driver-assist features against 1.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
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Specifications side by side
41 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $38,200 | — |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine displacement | 1,984 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.0L TFSI 4 cyl | — |
| Fuel injection system | TFSI | — |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 201 hp | — |
| Torque | 236 lb-ft | — |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 24 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 28 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 34 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 4.167 / 3.125 | — |
| Transmission speeds | 7 | — |
| Transmission type | S-tronic dual-clutch | — |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Overall height | 56.2 in | — |
| Overall length | 177 in | — |
| Overall width | 71.5 in | — |
| Wheelbase | 104 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 8.3 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 36.8 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | 36.6 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.2 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | 35.2 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,461 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,461 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | McPherson strut | — |
| Rear suspension type | four-link | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | electromechanical with speed-dependent power assistance | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 36.5 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 306 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Parking brake type | electro-mechanical | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 272 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 225/45 R17 91H | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 14.5 gal | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 54.8 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | 53 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
93 features · differences first, then sharedSafety4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Lock Braking System Standard, All Four Wheels, with Electronic Brake Force Distribution | std | — |
| High Beam Assist | — | std |
| Remote 3D View and Remote Inside View via My BMW App (with Parking Assistant Plus) | — | opt |
| Standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | std | — |
Infotainment16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| BMW Head-Up Display (full-color, with BMW Live Cockpit Professional) | — | opt |
| BMW Maps cloud-based navigation system | — | std |
| Remote door lock/unlock via My BMW App | — | std |
| Smartphone Digital Key | — | std |
| Wi-Fi Hotspot | — | std |
| Vehicle location via My BMW App | — | std |
| Augmented View for BMW Maps navigation (with BMW Live Cockpit Professional) | — | opt |
| Base MSRP (USD): $38,200 / $48,700 / $63,400 | std | — |
| BMW Curved Display (12.3-inch instrument cluster + 14.9-inch control display) | — | std |
| BMW iDrive with QuickSelect based on BMW Operating System 8.5 | — | std |
| BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant voice control | — | std |
| Comprehensive Warranty: 4 year / 50,000 mi whichever occurs first | std | — |
| Destination and Delivery (USD): $1,295 | std | — |
| Personal eSIM with 5G mobile communications standard | — | std |
| Steering wheel paddle shifters | — | std |
| Wireless Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates | — | std |
Seating4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated front seats | — | std |
| Seating: 5 | std | — |
| Sport seats in perforated Sensatec (standard) | — | std |
| Vernasca leather trim with decorative quilting (optional, five colors including Black with Red Highlight) | — | opt |
Interior15 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | — | std |
| EPA Class: Midsize Car AWD | std | — |
| Fineline Light open-pored fine wood trim | — | opt |
| Galvanic finish for gear selector, BMW iDrive Controller, and Start/Stop button | — | opt |
| Grey Blue Ash open-pored fine wood trim | — | opt |
| Headroom, Front (in.): 36.8 | std | — |
| Headroom, Rear (in.): 36.6 | std | — |
| Leather steering wheel | — | std |
| Legroom, Front (in.): 41.2 | std | — |
| Legroom, Rear (in.): 35.2 | std | — |
| M Fine Brushed Aluminum interior trim | — | opt |
| M leather steering wheel, three-spoke, flat-bottomed rim with black center stripe (M Sport Package) | — | opt |
| Shoulder Room, Front (in.): 54.8 | std | — |
| Shoulder Room, Rear (in.): 53 | std | — |
| Two-spoke steering wheel with polygonal rim and illuminated multifunction buttons (standard) | — | std |
Exterior22 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power-folding outside mirrors | — | std |
| 19-inch M Aero bi-color wheels (with M Sport Package) | — | opt |
| 20-inch BMW Individual Aero bi-color wheels in double-spoke design | — | opt |
| Adaptive Full LED Headlights | — | std |
| Curb Weight (lbs.): 3,461 / 3,549 / 3,627 | std | — |
| Drag Coefficient (Cd.): 0.29 / 0.3 / 0.32 | std | — |
| Headlight Welcome Light animation | — | std |
| Heated outside mirrors | — | std |
| Height (in.): 56.2 / 55.7 / 54.8 | std | — |
| Laserlight taillights (with Adaptive Full LED Headlights) | — | std |
| LED daytime running lights | — | std |
| Length (in.): 177.3 / 177.4 / 178.5 | std | — |
| M high-gloss Shadowline with extended elements (optional) | — | opt |
| M Sport Package (includes M leather steering wheel, M front apron with large side air intakes, diffuser element in Black high-gloss, 19-inch M Aero bi-color wheels) | — | opt |
| Overall Width with Mirrors (in.): 78.1 / 78.1 / 78.1 | std | — |
| Overall Width without Mirrors (in.): 71.5 / 71.5 / 72.9 | std | — |
| Rain-sensing windshield wipers | — | std |
| Tires (Optional): 225/40 R18 92H XL all-season tires / 225/40 R18 92H XL all-season tires / 265/30 R19 93Y XL front 245/35 R19 93Y XL rear ultra high performance tires | opt | — |
| Tires (Standard): 225/45 R17 91H all-season tires / 225/40 R18 92Y run-flat summer tires / 265/30 R19 93Y XL front 245/35 R19 93Y XL rear summer tires | std | — |
| Wheelbase (in.): 103.7 / 103.6 / 103.6 | std | — |
| Wheels (Optional): 18" 5-double-spoke design wheels, bicolor finish / 19" Multispoke-S design wheels, bicolor finish / 19" 10-cross-spoke design wheels, dark gray matte finish | opt | — |
| Wheels (Standard): 17" 10-V-spoke design wheels / 18" 10-spoke star design wheels / 19" 10-cross-spoke design wheels, bicolor finish | std | — |
Powertrain22 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive | std | — |
| 0-60 mph (secs.) Est.: 6 / 4.4 / 3.6 | std | — |
| Bore (mm): 82.5 | std | — |
| Compression Ratio :1: 12.2 / 9.3 / 10 | std | — |
| Cylinder Head: Aluminum alloy | std | — |
| Drive mode select | — | std |
| Driven Wheels: quattro® all-wheel drive / quattro® all-wheel drive with torque splitter / quattro® all-wheel drive with torque splitter | std | — |
| Drivetrain Configuration: Transverse | std | — |
| EPA Estimated MPG (City): 24 / 23 / 20 | std | — |
| EPA Estimated MPG (Combined): 28 / 26 / 23 | std | — |
| EPA Estimated MPG (Highway): 34 / 31 / 29 | std | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal.): 14.5 | std | — |
| Peak Power (HP): 201 / 328 / 394 | std | — |
| Peak Torque (lb.-ft): 236 / 295 / 369 | std | — |
| Powertrain Warranty: 4 year / 50,000 mi whichever occurs first | std | — |
| Recommended Fuel: Premium | std | — |
| Stroke (mm): 92.8 | std | — |
| Top Track Speed (mph): 130 / 155 / 155/180 (standard / optional Dynamic plus package) | std | — |
| Total Displacement (cc): 1,984 / 1,984 / 2.48 | std | — |
| Transmission: 7-speed S-tronic® transmission | std | — |
| Type: 2.0L TFSI 4 cyl / 2.5L TFSI 5 cyl | std | — |
| Valvetrain: 16-valve DOHC with Audi valvelift and variable timing | std | — |
Chassis9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Body Construction: Unitary steel | std | — |
| Front Brakes: 306mm (12.0") x 26mm ventilated / 375mm (14.1") x 34mm cross drilled/ventilated / 375mm (14.8") cross drilled/ventilated; Optional 380 mm (15.0") Ceramic discs | std | — |
| Front Suspension: Mcpherson strut front axle | std | — |
| Parking Brake: Electro-mechanical | std | — |
| Rear Brakes: 272mm (10.7") x 10mm solid / 310mm (12.2") x 22mm ventilated / 310mm (12.2") x 22mm ventilated | std | — |
| Rear Suspension: Four-link rear suspension | std | — |
| Steering Ratio :1: 14.9 / 14.5 / 14.5 | std | — |
| Steering Type: Electromechanical steering with speed-dependent power assistance | std | — |
| Turning Circle (ft. Curb-to-Curb): 36.5 / 36.5 / 39.4 | std | — |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo Volume, with seatbacks fixed (cu. ft.): 8.3 | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPAudi A3
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 5 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (3), Electrical System (1), Vehicle Speed Control (1)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
BMW i4
Safety Signal 85 B
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 2
Owner complaints 12 · 3 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Power Train (2), Forward Collision Avoidance (2), Steering (2)
Top recalls
- high Electrical System 25V906000 · 1 vehicles
- high Electrical System 25V395000 · 71,286 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Audi A3A3 quattro AWD | BMW i4i4 eDrive35 RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $38,200 (base trim) | — (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $38,200 – $63,400 3 trims | — 6 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | A3 quattro | i4 eDrive35 Gran Coupe (18 inch Wheels) |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 28 | 116 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,950 | $650 |
| EV range | — | 266 mi |
| Basic warranty | 4 yr / 50,000 mi | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 4 yr / 50,000 mi | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2025 Audi A3 or the 2025 BMW i4?
The BMW i4 wins clearly, 87.7 to 63.3, on fuel & range, tech & comfort. The Audi A3 is ahead on safety. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 BMW i4 scores 87.7 and the 2025 Audi A3 63.3. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 Audi A3 or the 2025 BMW i4?
2025 Audi A3: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2025 BMW i4: no NHTSA rating yet, grade B, 2 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2025 Audi A3 and the 2025 BMW i4?
Where the 2025 BMW i4 wins: it costs $2,300 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($650 against $2,950), is rated 116 combined against 28 (EPA mpg or MPGe), and lists more comfort and tech equipment (20 points against 11 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2025 Audi A3 answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (5 against 12 filed with NHTSA) and lists 2 standard driver-assist features against 1.