Audi A3 vs Chery E5
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular cars compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Chery E5 scores higher, 79 vs 75
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 11 Nov 2026, price 4 Oct 2026
Audi A3
20 of 27 standard · 1 not offered · 6 no dataFrom
$54,800
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- Liftback
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol MHEV
- Power
- 110kW
- Economy
- 5.3 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2025
- Boot (seats up)
- 380L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Chery E5
19 of 27 standard · no option data · 8 no dataFrom
$34,550
est. RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Electric
- Engine
- Electric
- Power
- 155kW
- Energy use
- 13.2 kWh/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2022
- Boot (seats up)
- 300L
Top CarSorted Score, 79 vs 75
Chery Australia offer: 0.7% finance, ends 21 Dec 2026. Terms
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Manufacturer offer
Ends 21 Dec 2026
Manufacturer's terms: Offer ends | 21 December 2026
Offer from Chery Australia, checked 9 Nov 2026
T&Cs apply, as the manufacturer prints them. Eligibility, stock and build limits vary, so confirm the offer with the dealer.
WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate.
Finance offers are the manufacturer's or its financier's own, shown as they published them on the date given. CarSorted is not a credit provider, does not hold an Australian Credit Licence, does not arrange finance and gives no credit assistance or advice. A rate shown is the rate the manufacturer advertised, not a rate available to you: approval, fees, charges and the rate you are offered depend on the lender's assessment and its terms and conditions. Read the full offer on the manufacturer's page before relying on it.
Chery E5: we're still completing kerb weight, ground clearance and braked towing.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
$54,800RRP
- with the Chery E5's standard kit: $54,800 (nothing to add; 1 with no data, not charged)
$34,550est. RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Audi A3 35 TFSI S line Sportback
$54,800
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 4 Oct 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $230 a week in repayments ($54,800 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Chery E5 Ultimate
$34,550
Estimated RRP (the brand lists drive-away prices only), before on-road costs. Checked 8 Sept 2026
$37,990 drive-away in VIC, as published by Chery Australia
About $153 a week in repayments ($37,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Chery E5 currently qualifies for the electric-vehicle FBT exemption, which applies to novated leases. The Audi A3 does not: only battery-electric vehicles qualify.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$153/wk(≈$661/mo)
Estimate on the Chery E5 at $37,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Chery E5Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP lists the Audi A3 at 5 stars (2025) and the Chery E5 at 5 stars (2022). ANCAP tested these in different years (2025 vs 2022). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Adult occupant protection scored 86% for the Audi A3 and 87% for the Chery E5, under different test years.
Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 7 of 10 key ADAS systems on the Audi A3, against 5 on the Chery E5.
Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the Audi A3 and 7 in the Chery E5.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 7 of 10 key systems on the Audi A3 and 5 on the Chery E5.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Audi A3
- REC-005771 · published 12 Sep 2023Due to an installation defect, the internal fuse box wiring harness may become loose.Year range on the notice: 2019 - 2023
- REC-000030 · published 5 Nov 2020Due to a production fault, over time a crack in the transmission’s pressure accumulator can occur.Year range on the notice: 2011 - 2012
- REC-000031 · published 6 May 2020Due to a production fault, over time a crack in the transmissions pressure accumulator can occur.Year range on the notice: 2007 - 2016
- 6 more on the model page.
Chery E5
- REC-006696 · published 13 Aug 2026Due to a software issue, the vehicle’s Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) may not activate.Year range on the notice: 2025 - 2026
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.
How long to charge
58.9kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 130kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7.4kW AC, 130kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Audi A3 features a 10.1-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Chery E5 gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Audi A3 stands out with wireless charging and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the Chery E5. The Chery E5 counters with Sony audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Audi A3 gets leather upholstery while the Chery E5 offers synthetic leather.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Audi A3 uses a Petrol MHEV producing 110kW and 250Nm of torque, sent through a 7-speed s tronic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.1 seconds.
The Chery E5 responds with a Electric making 155kW and 288Nm, paired to a auto driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.6 seconds.
The Chery E5 has the clear power advantage at 155kW vs 110kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Chery E5 is 0.5s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Audi A3 measures 4,352mm long on a 2,635mm wheelbase, 72mm shorter than the Chery E5 at 4,424mm (2,610mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Audi A3 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 380L in the Audi A3 and 300L in the Chery E5, giving the Audi A3 a 80L advantage.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Audi A3's turning circle is 0.6 m tighter, 10.6 m against 11.2 m 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 A3 costs about $1,511 a year (5.3 L/100km) and electricity for the Chery E5 about $634 a year (13.2 kWh/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Audi A3) and 7 years / Unlimited (Chery E5). Capped-price servicing: no data (Audi A3), 7 years (Chery E5).
Where each one leads
The Audi A3: the bigger boot with the seats up (380L against 300L).
The Chery E5: more power (155kW against 110kW) and the longer warranty (7 years against 5).
The Verdict
Chery E5 scores higher, 79 vs 75
The Chery E5 scores 79 to the Audi A3's 75 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 3 of the 4 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: value (Chery E5 ahead by 10 points), technology (Chery E5 ahead by 10 points). Boot space with the seats up: 380L in the Audi A3, 300L in the Chery E5. Warranty: 5 years on the Audi A3, 7 on the Chery E5.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$153/wk(≈$661/mo)
Estimate on the Chery E5 at $37,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Chery E5Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Audi A3 and Chery E5?
The Chery E5 is the cheapest at $34,550 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Audi A3 by $20,250.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Audi A3 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2025) and Chery E5 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2022). ANCAP tested these in different years (2025 vs 2022). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Compare the active-safety features above to separate them.
Which has the most boot space?
The Audi A3 has the largest boot at 380L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The Audi A3 has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,200kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The Chery E5 has the longest warranty at 7 years / unlimited km.
Which is the most powerful?
The Chery E5 makes the most power at 155kW. The Chery E5 is quickest to 100km/h in 7.6s.
Track the Audi A3 & Chery E5
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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