Audi A3 vs GWM Cannon Alpha

The Audi A3 starts from $54,800 before on-road costs, while the GWM Cannon Alpha opens at $52,990. That makes the GWM Cannon Alpha the more affordable entry point by $1,810.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $60,280 and $58,289 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Audi A3 by roughly $5,560 in fuel alone.

Both the Audi A3 and GWM Cannon Alpha hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the Audi A3 and 84% for the GWM Cannon Alpha.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Audi A3 packs more ADAS features with 7 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 6 in the GWM Cannon Alpha.

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 GWM Cannon Alpha.

The Audi A3 features a 10.1-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the GWM Cannon Alpha 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 heated front seats and ambient lighting that you will not find on the GWM Cannon Alpha. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Audi A3 gets leather upholstery while the GWM Cannon Alpha offers synthetic leather.

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 8.4 seconds.

The GWM Cannon Alpha responds with a 2.4L 4-cylinder Turbo Diesel making 135kW and 480Nm, paired to a 9-speed automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 10.5 seconds.

The GWM Cannon Alpha has the clear power advantage at 135kW vs 110kW. In the real-world sprint, the Audi A3 is 2.1s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Audi A3 measures 4,352mm long on a 2,635mm wheelbase, 1093mm shorter than the GWM Cannon Alpha at 5,445mm (3,350mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the GWM Cannon Alpha generally means more rear legroom.

For towing, the GWM Cannon Alpha leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 1,200kg. That 2,300kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,425/year for the Audi A3 and $2,537/year for the GWM Cannon Alpha. That is a $1,112 annual difference in favour of the Audi A3.

Estimated annual total: $1,425 (Audi A3) vs $2,537 (GWM Cannon Alpha). The Audi A3 saves you roughly $1,112 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Audi A3) vs 7 years / 999,999km (GWM Cannon Alpha). The GWM Cannon Alpha has longer coverage.