Audi A1 vs Mazda CX-3

Price and cost per week

Safety Rundown

ANCAP's published record does not give the Audi A1 a rating. ANCAP's published record does not give the Mazda CX-3 a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.

Recalls on our record

A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.

Feature Showdown

The Audi A1 features a 8.8-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Mazda CX-3 gets a 8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Audi A1 stands out with heated front seats, power tailgate, Bang & Olufsen audio and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the Mazda CX-3. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Audi A1 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Mazda CX-3 offers black cloth. Climate control is 2-zone in the Audi A1 and 1-zone in the Mazda CX-3.

Drivetrain

The Audi A1 uses a Petrol producing 152kW and 320Nm of torque, sent through a s tronic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.5 seconds.

The Mazda CX-3 responds with a 2.0 litre in-line 4 cylinder 16 valve DOHC S-VT petrol (Skyactiv-G) with i-stop making 110kW and 195Nm, paired to a 6-speed automatic (skyactiv-drive) driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 10.9 seconds.

The Audi A1 has the clear power advantage at 152kW vs 110kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Audi A1 is 4.4s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Space & Comfort

The Audi A1 measures 4,029mm long on a 2,563mm wheelbase, 246mm shorter than the Mazda CX-3 at 4,275mm (2,570mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mazda CX-3 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 335L in the Audi A1 and 264L in the Mazda CX-3, giving the Audi A1 a 71L advantage.

For towing, the Mazda CX-3 leads with a 1,200kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 450kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); both turn in a 10.6 m circle, kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.

Cost to own

At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Audi A1 costs about $1,682 a year (5.9 L/100km) and fuel for the Mazda CX-3 about $1,796 a year (6.3 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $114 a year less for the Audi A1.

Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Audi A1) and 5 years / Unlimited (Mazda CX-3).

Where each one leads

The Audi A1: more power (152kW against 110kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (335L against 264L) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($1,682 a year against $1,796).

The Mazda CX-3: the lower starting price ($27,800 against $51,500) and the higher braked towing limit (1,200kg against 750kg).

The Verdict

Audi A1 scores higher, 70 vs 66

The Audi A1 scores 70 to the Mazda CX-3's 66 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 4 of the 6 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: technology (Audi A1 ahead by 33 points), performance (Audi A1 ahead by 28 points), reliability (Mazda CX-3 ahead by 8 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Audi A1 costs about $114 less (5.9 L/100km against 6.3 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre). Boot space with the seats up: 335L in the Audi A1, 264L in the Mazda CX-3.

Common questions