Audi A5 vs Mazda CX-3
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular cars compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Audi A5 scores higher, 67 vs 66
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 29 Oct 2026, price 4 Nov 2026
Audi A5
19 of 27 standard · 3 optional · 5 no dataFrom
$89,900
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- Sedan
- Fuel type
- Plug-in Hybrid
- Engine
- 4-cylinder inline petrol with turbocharging and plug-in hybrid technology
- Power
- 270kW
- Economy
- 2.6 L/100km with a full battery
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2024
- Boot (seats up)
- 331L
Top CarSorted Score, 67 vs 66, but the Mazda CX-3 is $62,100 cheaper
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Mazda CX-3
14 of 27 standard · no option data · 6 not offered · 7 no dataFrom
$27,800
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- 2.0 litre in-line 4 cylinder 16 valve DOHC S-VT petrol (Skyactiv-G) with i-stop
- Power
- 110kW
- Economy
- 6.3 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 264L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Audi A5: we're still completing kerb weight, braked towing and energy consumption.
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.
$89,900RRP
- with the Mazda CX-3's standard kit: at least $89,900 (1 option priced only inside packages; 3 with no data, not charged)
1 added option
- Head-Up Display: priced only inside the Premium package
$27,800RRP
- cannot be matched: 360-Degree Camera, Keyless Entry, Heated Front Seats and 1 more not offered
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.
A plug-in hybrid is compared on its fuel use as a hybrid (battery depleted), the figure that is like for like with the other car; its certified combined figure, which assumes every trip starts with a full battery, is printed under it. Electric range is how far it goes before the petrol engine is needed.
Price and cost per week
Audi A5 e-hybrid quattro 270 kW Sedan
$89,900
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $393 a week in repayments ($89,900 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Mazda CX-3 G20 Pure
$27,800
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 4 Nov 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $105 a week in repayments ($27,800 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Mazda CX-3 starts $62,100 lower on RRP.
Matching the Mazda CX-3's standard equipment means adding extra-cost options to the Audi A5, and one is priced only inside a package whose price the manufacturer doesn't publish, so the true gap is larger than the sticker difference suggests.
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 ≈$105/wk(≈$457/mo)
Estimate on the Mazda CX-3 at $27,800 RRP, before on-road costs; 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
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Audi A5Driva 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'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.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 7 of 10 key systems on the Audi A5 and 4 on the Mazda CX-3.
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 A5
- REC-005841 · published 30 Nov 2023Due to a manufacturing defect, the outer backrest frame of the front seats may have been incorrectly welded.Year range on the notice: 2023
- REC-001665 · published 3 Sep 2021Some nuts fitted to the rear axle assembly did not meet manufacturing specifications and may break.Year range on the notice: 2019 - 2021
- REC-001650 · published 23 Jul 2021The seatbelt warning (acoustic warning tone and visual display) may occasionally operate rather than continuously, in circumstances such as a seatbelt not fastened or unfastened while the vehicle is moving.Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2021
- 10 more on the model page.
Mazda CX-3
- REC-005733 · published 1 Aug 2023Due to a manufacturing defect, the rear-view camera wiring harness may become damaged and could cause the rear-view image to become distorted or flicker.Year range on the notice: 2013 - 2020
- REC-005009 · published 2 Dec 2021The low pressure fuel pump impeller may become deformed and cause the fuel pump to stop working.Year range on the notice: 2017 - 2019
- REC-000882 · published 15 May 2018If the engine is operated at high revs in an unloaded condition (either Park or Neutral) residual oil that may accumulate in the engine intake system may be drawn into the engine and result in an engine over run condition.Year range on the notice: 2015 - 2017
- 3 more on the model page.
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
20.7kWh usableEstimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7.4kW AC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Audi A5 features a 14.5-inch touchscreen paired with a 11.9-inch digital dash, while the Mazda CX-3 gets a 8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Audi A5 stands out with Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, heated front seats and power tailgate — features our data doesn't list for the Mazda CX-3. The Mazda CX-3 counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and head-up display. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Audi A5 gets leather upholstery while the Mazda CX-3 offers black cloth. Climate control is 3-zone in the Audi A5 and 1-zone in the Mazda CX-3.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Audi A5 uses a 4-cylinder inline petrol with turbocharging and plug-in hybrid technology producing 270kW and 500Nm of torque, sent through a 7-speed s tronic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.1 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 A5 has the clear power advantage at 270kW vs 110kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Audi A5 is 5.8s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Audi A5 measures 4,829mm long on a 2,900mm wheelbase, 554mm longer than the Mazda CX-3 at 4,275mm (2,570mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Audi A5 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 331L in the Audi A5 and 264L in the Mazda CX-3, giving the Audi A5 a 67L advantage.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Mazda CX-3's turning circle is 1.6 m tighter, 10.6 m against 12.2 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
We do not hold a like-for-like fuel or energy figure for both cars, so we do not cost them against each other.
Warranty: 5 years / unlimited km (Audi A5) and 5 years / unlimited km (Mazda CX-3). Capped-price servicing: 5 years (Audi A5), no data (Mazda CX-3).
Where each one leads
The Audi A5: more power (270kW against 110kW) and the bigger boot with the seats up (331L against 264L).
The Mazda CX-3: the lower starting price ($27,800 against $89,900).
The Verdict
Audi A5 scores higher, 67 vs 66
The Audi A5 scores 67 to the Mazda CX-3's 66 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 3 of the 4 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: performance (Audi A5 ahead by 50 points), value (Mazda CX-3 ahead by 25 points), technology (Audi A5 ahead by 24 points). Boot space with the seats up: 331L in the Audi A5, 264L in the Mazda CX-3.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$105/wk(≈$457/mo)
Estimate on the Mazda CX-3 at $27,800 RRP, before on-road costs; 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
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Audi A5Driva 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 A5 and Mazda CX-3?
The Mazda CX-3 is the cheapest at $27,800 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Audi A5 by $62,100.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Audi A5 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2024). ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Mazda CX-3, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Audi A5 has the largest boot at 331L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The Mazda CX-3 has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,200kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Audi A5 makes the most power at 270kW. The Audi A5 is quickest to 100km/h in 5.1s.
Track the Audi A5 & Mazda CX-3
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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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