Verdict
The A5 Sportback is 25% more powerful, the A3 Sedan is about 23% cheaper, while the A3 Sedan uses 13% less fuel. Weigh that against the equipment each side gives you in the table below.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM338,990✓ | RM440,990 |
| Body type | Sedan | Hatchback |
| Segment | C-Segment | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, turbocharged with variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, turbocharged with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,984 cc | 1,984 cc |
| Horsepower | 187 hp | 249 hp✓ |
| Torque | 320 Nm | 370 Nm✓ |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 82.5 mm | 82.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | 9.6 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 6 hp |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | 7-speed S tronic Transmission | 7-speed S tronic |
| Gears | 7 | 7 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | BorgWarner | BorgWarner |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.3 seconds | 5.6 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | 6.2 L/100 km✓ | 7.1 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 240 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | — | 163 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,495 mm | 4,757 mm |
| Width | 1,816 mm | 1,843 mm |
| Height | 1,425 mm | 1,386 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,636 mm | 2,831 mm |
| Weight | 1,535 kg | 1,605 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 51 litres | 58 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 425 litres | 480 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/45R17 | 255/35R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/45R17 | 255/35R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Turanza T005 | Bridgestone Potenza S001 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-Link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 17" 5-Parallel-Spoke Style Alloy | 19" Multi-spoke Two-tone Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 17" 5-Parallel-Spoke Style Alloy | 19" Multi-spoke Two-tone Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Comfort Suspension | Passive Sports Suspension |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars — Equivalent to A4 |
| ANCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side and Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | — |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on front passenger seat and two outer rear passenger seats | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Lane Departure Warning, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors | Adaptive LED Projector with Matrix High Beam and Sequential Indicators |
| Taillamps | Full LED with Sequential Indicators | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | 12-way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 2 Front USB | Front 1x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 1x 12V, Rear 1x 12V |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 10.1" MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch, Audi connect, Audi smartphone interface and Audi sound system | 10.1" Touchscreen MMI navigation plus with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 10-speaker, 180W Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | — | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Audi Virtual Cockpit | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 2 years |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM372 | RM372 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.