2026 Audi A3 vs 2026 Volkswagen Jetta
The Volkswagen Jetta wins clearly, 93.7 to 78.2, on price, fuel & range, tech & comfort. The Audi A3 is ahead on performance and safety.
2026 Audi A3
The 2026 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 …
2026 Volkswagen Jetta
The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact sedan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Jetta, is EPA-rated at 34 …
2026 Volkswagen Jetta
Clear winThe Volkswagen Jetta wins clearly, 93.7 to 78.2, on price, fuel & range, tech & comfort. The Audi A3 is ahead on performance and safety.
| Category · weight | 2026 Volkswagen Jettaoverall 93.7 | 2026 Audi A3overall 78.2 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 59.8 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 71.5 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 77.7 | 82.4 | ||||||||||||
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 & cargow 2 | 100 | 72.6 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 81.5 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 78.6 | ||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | ||||||||||||||
| Warrantyw 2 | 100 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Basic and powertrain coverage in years and miles. | ||||||||||||||
| Overall | 93.7 | 78.2 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · all 7 categories compared
Volkswagen Jetta: base trim S FWD · Audi A3: base trim A3 quattro AWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta wins
- It lists 17 standard driver-assist features against 2.
- It starts $16,105 lower ($23,995 against $40,100 base MSRP).
- It costs $1,000 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,950 against $2,950).
Where the 2026 Audi A3 answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 6 filed with NHTSA).
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 85).
What they share
- 5 seats.
- A 4-year basic warranty.
- 50,000-mile basic coverage.
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.
Specifications side by side
53 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $23,995 | $40,100 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 1,498 cc | 1,984 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 1.5L inline four cylinder, 16V, turbocharged/intercooled, TSI | 2.0L TFSI 4 cyl |
| Fuel injection system | TSI | — |
| Valve configuration | DOHC | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 158 hp | 201 hp |
| Torque | 184 lb-ft | 236 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 29 mpg | 24 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 34 mpg | 28 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 40 mpg | 34 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.24 | 4.167 / 3.125 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 7 |
| Transmission type | automatic hybrid | S-tronic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.5 in | — |
| Overall height | 57.7 in | 56.2 in |
| Overall length | 187 in | 177 in |
| Overall width | 70.8 in | 71.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 106 in | 104 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 51.2 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 14.1 cu-ft | 8.3 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 94.7 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38.5 in | 36.8 in |
| Second-row headroom | 37.2 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | — | 36.6 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.1 in | 41.2 in |
| Second-row legroom | 37.4 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | — | 35.2 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 2,998 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 2,998 lbs | 3,461 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,167 lbs | — |
| Payload capacity | 915 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | strut-type with lower control arms, coil springs, telescopic dampers, anti-roll bar | Mcpherson strut front axle |
| Rear suspension type | torsion beam, coil springs, telescopic dampers | Four-link rear suspension |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | rack and pinion, electric power assist | Electromechanical steering with speed-dependent power assistance |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 35.8 ft | 36.5 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 287 mm | 306 mm |
| Front brake type | vented disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | electro-mechanical | Electro-mechanical |
| Rear brake diameter | 272 mm | 272 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | 17 in |
| Wheel material | alloy | — |
| Wheel width | 6.5 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 205/60 R16 92H | 225/45 R17 91H all-season |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 12.8 gal | 14.5 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Volkswagen Car-Net | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 55.9 in | 54.8 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 54 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
95 features · differences first, then sharedSafety15 differ · 17 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go | std | — |
| Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning & Automatic Emergency Braking w/ Pedestrian & Cyclist Monitoring) | std | — |
| Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning & Automatic Emergency Braking w/ Pedestrian & Cyclist Monitoring) | std | — |
| Rear Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Dual front & side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags | std | — |
| Dual front & side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags | std | — |
| Dual front & side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags | std | — |
| Lane Assist (Lane Keeping System) | std | — |
| 3-point seatbelts with tensioner height adjust | std | — |
| Active Side Assist (Blind Spot Monitor) | std | — |
| Automatic Post-Collision Braking System | std | — |
| Intelligent Crash Response System | std | — |
| IQ.DRIVE (Travel Assist, Front Assist, Active Side Assist, Rear Traffic Alert, ACC Stop & Go, Lane Assist, Emergency Assist) | std | — |
| Rearview Camera | std | — |
| Tire pressure monitoring system | std | — |
| Anti-Lock Braking System Standard, All Four Wheels, with Electronic Brake Force Distribution | std | std |
| Standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | std | std |
Infotainment6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Hotspot | std | — |
| 4-speaker sound system | std | — |
| Bluetooth connectivity | std | — |
| MIB3 Composition Media 8-in touchscreen, USB-C (2 data & charge ports) | std | — |
| Volkswagen Digital Cockpit (8-inch display) | std | — |
| Wireless App-Connect (CarPlay, AndroidAuto, MirrorLink) w/ multi-phone pairing capability | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Climatronic Touch dual-zone automatic climate control | std | — |
Seating3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front comfort seats | std | — |
| Manually adjustable driver's seat | std | — |
| Rhombus cloth seating surfaces | std | — |
Interior15 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-dimming interior rearview mirror | std | — |
| Base MSRP (USD) | — | std |
| Center & door armrest stitching | std | — |
| Comprehensive Warranty: 4 year / 50,000 mi whichever occurs first | — | std |
| Destination and Delivery (USD): $1,395 | — | std |
| EPA Class: Midsize Car AWD | — | std |
| Headroom, Front (in.) | — | std |
| Headroom, Rear (in.) | — | std |
| Leather gearshift knob/handle | std | — |
| Leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel | std | — |
| Legroom, Front (in.) | — | std |
| Legroom, Rear (in.) | — | std |
| Seating: 5 | — | std |
| Shoulder Room, Front (in.) | — | std |
| Shoulder Room, Rear (in.) | — | std |
Exterior19 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 16-inch two-tone machined aluminum-alloy wheels | std | — |
| Body-colored bumpers | std | — |
| Curb Weight (lbs.) | — | std |
| Drag Coefficient (Cd.) | — | std |
| Heated side mirrors | std | — |
| Height (in.) | — | std |
| LED headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) | std | — |
| LED taillights | std | — |
| Length (in.) | — | std |
| Overall Width with Mirrors (in.) | — | std |
| Overall Width without Mirrors (in.) | — | std |
| Power-adjustable, manual folding, side mirrors | std | — |
| Rain-sensing wipers | std | — |
| Tires (Optional) | — | opt |
| Tires (Standard) | — | std |
| Wheelbase (in.) | — | std |
| Wheels (Optional) | — | opt |
| Wheels (Standard) | — | std |
| Automatic headlights | std | — |
Powertrain24 differ · 24 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD |
|---|---|---|
| quattro® all-wheel drive | — | std |
| Front-wheel drive | std | — |
| 0-100 km/h (secs.) Est. | — | std |
| 0-60 mph (secs.) Est. | — | std |
| Bore (mm): 82.5 | — | std |
| Compression Ratio :1 | — | std |
| Cylinder Head: Aluminum alloy | — | std |
| Drivetrain Configuration: Transverse | — | std |
| Engine Type: 2.0L TFSI 4 cyl / 2.5L TFSI 5 cyl | — | std |
| EPA Estimated MPG (City) | — | std |
| EPA Estimated MPG (Combined) | — | std |
| EPA Estimated MPG (Highway) | — | std |
| Fuel Capacity (gal.): 14.5 | — | std |
| Gear Ratios :1 | — | std |
| Peak Power (HP) | — | std |
| Peak Torque (lb.-ft) | — | std |
| Powertrain Warranty: 4 year / 50,000 mi whichever occurs first | — | std |
| Recommended Fuel: Premium | — | std |
| Stroke (mm): 92.8 | — | std |
| Top Track Speed (km/h) | — | std |
| Top Track Speed (mph) | — | std |
| Total Displacement (cc) | — | std |
| Transmission: 7-speed S-tronic® transmission | — | std |
| Valvetrain: 16-valve DOHC with Audi valvelift and variable timing | — | std |
Chassis9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Body Construction: Unitary steel | — | std |
| Front Brakes | — | std |
| Front Suspension: Mcpherson strut front axle | — | std |
| Parking Brake: Electro-mechanical | — | std |
| Rear Brakes | — | std |
| Rear Suspension: Four-link rear suspension | — | std |
| Steering Ratio :1 | — | std |
| Steering Type: Electromechanical steering with speed-dependent power assistance | — | std |
| Turning Circle (ft. Curb-to-Curb) | — | std |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo Volume, with seatbacks fixed (cu. ft.): 8.3 | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPVolkswagen Jetta
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V138000 · 48,165 vehicles
Audi A3
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Volkswagen JettaS FWD | Audi A3A3 quattro AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $23,995 (base trim) | $40,100 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $23,995 – $33,745 5 trims | $40,100 – $66,100 3 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Jetta | A3 quattro |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 34 | 28 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,950 | $2,950 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 4 yr / 50,000 mi | 4 yr / 50,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | — | 4 yr / 50,000 mi |
| Roadside assistance | 3 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta or the 2026 Audi A3?
The Volkswagen Jetta wins clearly, 93.7 to 78.2, on price, fuel & range, tech & comfort. The Audi A3 is ahead on performance and safety. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta scores 93.7 and the 2026 Audi A3 78.2. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta or the 2026 Audi A3?
The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta starts lower — $23,995 against $40,100, a gap of $16,105 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta or the 2026 Audi A3?
2026 Volkswagen Jetta: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 1 recall. 2026 Audi A3: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 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 2026 Volkswagen Jetta and the 2026 Audi A3?
Where the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta wins: it lists 17 standard driver-assist features against 2, starts $16,105 lower ($23,995 against $40,100 base MSRP), and costs $1,000 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,950 against $2,950). Where the 2026 Audi A3 answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 6 filed with NHTSA) and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 85). What they share: 5 seats, a 4-year basic warranty, and 50,000-mile basic coverage.