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Audi A3 vs Mercedes-Benz A45

What's the difference?

VS
Audi A3
Audi A3

$50,600 - $60,200

2025 price

Mercedes-Benz A45
Mercedes-Benz A45

$56,990 - $88,888

2020 price

Summary

2025 Audi A3
2020 Mercedes-Benz A45
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 1.5L

Turbo 4, 2.0L
Fuel Type
-

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
5.3L/100km (combined)

8.9L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Ride is a bit stiff
  • Back seat is tight
  • Lacks some modern features

  • Rear head- and legroom limited
  • Looks a bit too low-key without the aero pack
  • Can be thirsty
2025 Audi A3 Summary

Can a hatchback still be a fun and fashionable way to get around when the SUV has become such a status trend?

The facelifted Audi A3 certainly makes a case for it.

The refreshed 2025 A3 is, as Audi puts it, more competitive than before when it comes to not only value but also, you might agree, style.

Last year, before the update even arrived, the A3 sold almost as well as its Volkswagen Golf corporate sibling. In fact, it’s Audi’s third most popular model behind the Q3 and Q5 SUVs.

It’s also third in its segment of ‘Small cars under $40,000’, behind only the MG4 electric car and, you guessed it, the VW Golf.

As such, it also outsells its actual closest rivals the BMW 1 Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class, both of which are close to the A3 on price.

Now that it’s been given a bit more razzle dazzle, let’s see if the A3 can keep that momentum going.

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2020 Mercedes-Benz A45 Summary

Driving the first-generation Mercedes-AMG A 45 in 2013 was an intense, noisy, brutal experience and I loved every bone-shaking, ear-bleeding moment of it.

But I’m older now, married and have children, and while this is also an intense, noisy, brutal experience I now prefer cars to be less like a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week continuous cage fight. So, I was surprised to find the new-generation A45 S has grown up a bit, too.

So, like me, is the new Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4Matic+ not as quick as it used to be, and does it have a dad bod, now, too? Far from it. If anything, it’s matured into the serious weapon of a hot hatch it was always supposed to be.

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Deep dive comparison

2025 Audi A3 2020 Mercedes-Benz A45

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