Audi A3 vs. Chevrolet Cruze
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Audi A3 and Chevrolet Cruze contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Audi A3 and the Chevrolet Cruze.
When we compare the Audi A3's and the Chevrolet Cruze's specifications and ratings, the Audi A3 has the advantage in the area of base engine power. The Chevrolet Cruze has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency, resale value and interior volume. Based on this comparison of the Audi A3's and the Chevrolet Cruze's specifications and ratings, the Chevrolet Cruze is a better car than the Audi A3.
Pricing: A used 2019 Audi A3 ranges from $17,990 to $25,993 while a used 2019 Chevrolet Cruze is priced between $9,993 to $18,995.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Audi A3 loses 48.3 percent of its value and the Chevrolet Cruze loses 40 percent of its value. This means the Chevrolet Cruze retains 8.3 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Audi A3.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Audi A3’s base engine makes 184 horsepower, and the Chevrolet Cruze base engine makes 153 horsepower. The A3 is rated to deliver an average of 29 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 462 miles. The Cruze is rated to deliver an average of 32 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 521 miles. This gives the Chevrolet Cruze the fuel efficiency and maximum range advantage over the Audi A3. Both models use regular unleaded.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Chevrolet Cruze has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, front leg room, rear head room, rear shoulder room, rear leg room, and cargo space.
Safety Ratings: When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, the Audi A3 has higher safety ratings than the Chevrolet Cruze, with an average rating of 5 out of 5 Stars compared to 4.51 out of 5 Stars.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$32,500
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$42,984
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$25,900 - $74,200
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$17,995
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact Cars)
$21,340
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact Cars)
$14,795 - $40,395
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$22,086
Price Range:
$17,990 - $25,993
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$29,968
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$21,546 - $52,107
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
50
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
54,933
# Good or Great Deals:
14
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$14,669
Price Range:
$9,993 - $18,995
Category Avg Price:
(Compact Cars)
$19,292
Category Avg Price Range:
(Compact Cars)
$11,224 - $33,439
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
212
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
85,377
# Good or Great Deals:
80
Audi A3 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.2 / 10
Reliability:
7.1 / 10
Retained Value:
7.5 / 10
Safety:
10.0 / 10
Chevrolet Cruze Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
8.0 / 10
Safety:
9.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Audi A3
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
6.1
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
5.8
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
3.1 - 9.4
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
3.6%
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Chevrolet Cruze
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
4.1
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Compact Cars)
6.3
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Compact Cars)
4.1 - 9.5
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
3.1%
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
3.5
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
3.5
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
0.9 - 22.4
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.1
Typical Category Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
4.5
Category Range for Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
0.5 - 15.5
Audi A3 Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 5Ranking
3 out of / 31Ranking
7 out of / 36Ranking
8 out of / 36Ranking
9 out of / 36Ranking
15 out of / 36Ranking
26 out of / 36Ranking
31 out of / 36Ranking
33 out of / 36Ranking
35 out of / 36Chevrolet Cruze Rankings
Ranking
22 out of / 43Ranking
25 out of / 43Ranking
25 out of / 43Ranking
42 out of / 43Available Body Styles
Convertible, Sedan
Available Body Styles
Hatchback, Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Diesel, Gasoline
Audi A3 Trim Levels
Not yet available
Chevrolet Cruze Trim Levels
Not yet available
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
5 years / 60000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
4.51 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
184 hp @ 4400 rpm
Torque:
221 foot-lbs @ 1600 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.058 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
153 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque:
177 foot-lbs @ 2000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.053 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
26 / 35 / 29
Range (city/hwy):
343 / 462 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
1.4 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
28 / 38 / 32
Range (city/hwy):
384 / 521 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Automatic Parking:
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Roadside assistance:
Available
Wifi:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Available
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Available
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Power outlet:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Navigation System:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Internet Radio:
Standard
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Lane Departure Warning:
Available
Lane Keeping Assist:
Available
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Available
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
36.5 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.2 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
54.8 inches
Rear Head Room:
36.1 inches
Rear Leg Room:
35.1 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
53 inches
Cargo Space:
12.3 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
86.0 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.9 inches
Front Leg Room:
42 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
54.9 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.3 inches
Rear Leg Room:
36.1 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
53.2 inches
Cargo Space:
14.8 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
94.0 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3197 lbs
Width:
77.2 inches
Height:
55.7 inches
Length:
175.5 inches
Wheelbase:
103.8 inches
Ground Clearance:
4.3 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
2870 lbs
Width:
70.5 inches
Height:
57.4 inches
Length:
183.7 inches
Wheelbase:
106.3 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/45R17
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
15.0 x 6.0 inches
Wheel Type:
steel
Tire Size:
195/65R15
Exterior Colors
Black
Brilliant Black / Mythos Black Metallic
Blue
Cosmos Blue Metallic
Gray
Monsoon Gray Metallic / Nano Gray Metallic
Red
Tango Red Metallic
Silver
Florett Silver Metallic
White
Glacier White Metallic / Ibis White
Exterior Colors
Black
Not available
Blue
Not available
Gray
Not available
Red
Not available
Silver
Silver Ice Metallic
White
Summit White
Interior Colors
Black
Black
Brown
Chestnut Brown
Gray
Rock Gray/Gray
Interior Colors
Black
Jet Black
Brown
Not available
Gray
Not available
