Audi A3 vs Volkswagen Polo
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular Hatchbacks compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Audi A3
$36,200 when new
RRP when new — this model is no longer sold new in Australia
Hatchback
Petrol
—
75kW
6.7 L/100km
ANCAP: no data
—
Volkswagen Polo
From $30,790
Hatchback
Petrol
Petrol
85kW
5.4 L/100km
5★ ANCAP
351L
Audi A3: we're still completing length, width, height, wheelbase and kerb weight, plus 5 others.
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.
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Price Breakdown
The Audi A3 starts from $36,200 before on-road costs, while the Volkswagen Polo opens at $30,790. That makes the Volkswagen Polo the more affordable entry point by $5,410.
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 $39,820 and $33,869 respectively.
Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Volkswagen Polo by roughly $1,855 in fuel alone.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.
Feature Showdown
Both come with modern infotainment systems.
The Volkswagen Polo counters with Apple CarPlay and wireless charging that the Audi A3 does not offer. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Drivetrain
The Audi A3 lines up producing 75kW and 148Nm of torque, sent through a 7-speed dual-clutch (s tronic) to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 12 seconds.
The Volkswagen Polo responds with a Petrol making 85kW and 200Nm, paired to a auto driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 10.4 seconds.
The Volkswagen Polo has the clear power advantage at 85kW vs 75kW. In the real-world sprint, the Volkswagen Polo is 1.6s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
10.6m diameter
Good
Based on 10.6m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Interactive simulator: U-turns, parking & towing
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns are easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
Good
Needs a 3-point turn (one reverse)
Needs about 9.4 m to swing round without stopping. Road is 9.0 m.
U-turn on a wide street
≥ 10 m: clears in one
U-turn on a standard street
7 m: 3-point turn
Standard parking bay
1.8 m wide: fits with room
Tight carpark aisle
6 m: swings in
Narrow laneway
3.5 m: no room to turn
Turning circle ratings
Standard widths: AU local streets carry ~5.5–7 m of carriageway; main roads ~9–12 m. AS 2890.1 carpark aisles are ~5.8–6.6 m for 90° bays (2.6 m wide × 5.4 m deep).
Road, aisle, swing and off-tracking figures are indicative estimates from the published turning circle. Verify in person before relying on them.
True Cost to Own
Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,910/year for the Audi A3 and $1,539/year for the Volkswagen Polo. That is a $371 annual difference in favour of the Volkswagen Polo.
Estimated annual total: $1,910 (Audi A3) vs $1,539 (Volkswagen Polo). The Volkswagen Polo saves you roughly $371 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Audi A3 if: You or prefer Audi's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the Volkswagen Polo if: You want the lower entry price, prioritise performance, want lower running costs, or prefer Volkswagen's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
The Volkswagen Polo takes 4 of 4 key spec categories and comes in at a lower price. The Volkswagen Polo will save you roughly $371 a year in fuel. The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Audi A3 and Volkswagen Polo?
The Volkswagen Polo is the cheapest at $30,790 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Audi A3 by $5,410.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Volkswagen Polo uses the least fuel at 5.4L/100km on the combined cycle.
Which is safest?
They are evenly matched — Volkswagen Polo all hold a 5-star ANCAP rating. Compare the active-safety features above to separate them.
Which is the most powerful?
The Volkswagen Polo makes the most power at 85kW. The Volkswagen Polo is quickest to 100km/h in 10.4s.
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Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
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