Audi S3 vs. Ford Mustang
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Audi S3 and Ford Mustang 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 S3 and the Ford Mustang.
When we compare the Audi S3's and the Ford Mustang's specifications and ratings, the Audi S3 has the advantage in the area of base engine power. The Ford Mustang has the advantage in the areas of resale value and interior volume. Based on this comparison of the Audi S3's and the Ford Mustang's specifications and ratings, the Ford Mustang is a better car than the Audi S3.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Audi S3 loses 48.3 percent of its value and the Ford Mustang loses 28.7 percent of its value. This means the Ford Mustang retains 19.6 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Audi S3.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Audi S3’s base engine makes 328 horsepower, and the Ford Mustang base engine makes 315 horsepower.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Ford Mustang, a sports car, has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, front leg room, and cargo space. The Audi S3, a subcompact car, has the advantage in the areas of rear head room, rear shoulder room and rear leg room.
Safety Ratings: When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, both the Audi S3 and the Ford Mustang have the same average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
52000
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Subcompact Cars)
60930
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Subcompact Cars)
41700 - 102100
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
32613 - 73938
Starting MSRP:
31920
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Sports Cars)
35186
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Sports Cars)
29830 - 42970
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
Price Range:
-
Category Avg Price:
N/A
Category Avg Price Range:
N/A
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
46286
Price Range:
30562 - 67997
Category Avg Price:
(Sports Cars)
40382
Category Avg Price Range:
(Sports Cars)
33746 - 50310
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
25354
Depreciation %:
0.48756813
Resale Value $:
26646
Residual Value %:
0.51243187
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Subcompact Cars)
0.47202712
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Subcompact Cars)
0.43382734 - 0.48756813
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
9257
Depreciation %:
0.29001719
Resale Value $:
22663
Residual Value %:
0.7099828100000001
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Sports Cars)
0.33757779
Category Depreciation Range:
(Sports Cars)
0.24794219 - 0.47768027
Audi S3 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
7.9 / 10
Safety:
8.0 / 10
Ford Mustang Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.7 / 10
Reliability:
8.1 / 10
Retained Value:
9.2 / 10
Safety:
8.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Audi S3
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Subcompact Cars)
13.6
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Subcompact Cars)
13.4 - 13.9
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Ford Mustang
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
16.8
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Sports Cars)
15.4
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Sports Cars)
9.4 - 24.6
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.165
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
3.9775495552409716
Typical Category Recalls:
(Sports Cars)
4.0
Category Range for Recalls:
(Sports Cars)
1.6 - 5.1
Audi S3 Rankings
Ranking
12 out of / 36Ranking
18 out of / 36Ranking
18 out of / 36Ranking
20 out of / 32Ranking
34 out of / 36Ranking
34 out of / 36Ford Mustang Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 14Ranking
1 out of / 7Ranking
1 out of / 7Ranking
2 out of / 14Ranking
2 out of / 14Ranking
2 out of / 14Ranking
3 out of / 14Ranking
3 out of / 14Ranking
3 out of / 9Ranking
4 out of / 14Ranking
4 out of / 14Ranking
4 out of / 9Ranking
7 out of / 14Ranking
8 out of / 14Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Body Styles
Convertible, Coupe
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Audi S3 Trim Levels
2.0T quattro Premium
Ford Mustang Trim Levels
Dark Horse, EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT, GT Premium
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:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 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:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
328 hp @ 5850 rpm
Torque:
295 foot-lbs @ 2000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.092 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
315 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque:
350 foot-lbs @ 3000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.088 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
Not yet available
Range (city/hwy):
Not yet available
Recommended Fuel Type:
Not yet available
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.3 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
22 / 33 / 26
Range (city/hwy):
352 / 528 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Automatic Parking:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Roof Rack:
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
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Available
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Paddle Shifters:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Satellite radio:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
N/A
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Roof Rack:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
36.8 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.2 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
54.8 inches
Rear Head Room:
36.6 inches
Rear Leg Room:
35.2 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
53 inches
Cargo Space:
8.3 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
87.0 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
37.6 inches
Front Leg Room:
44.5 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
56.3 inches
Rear Head Room:
34.8 inches
Rear Leg Room:
29 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
52.2 inches
Cargo Space:
13.3 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
96.2 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3549 lbs
Width:
78.1 inches
Height:
55.7 inches
Length:
177.4 inches
Wheelbase:
103.6 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3588 lbs
Width:
81.9 inches
Height:
55 inches
Length:
189.4 inches
Wheelbase:
107 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 8.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/40R18XL
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 8.0 inches
Wheel Type:
painted aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
235/50R18
Exterior Colors
Black
Mythos Black Metallic
Blue
Ascari Blue Metallic / Navarra Blue Metallic
Gray
Daytona Gray Pearl Effect
Green
District Green Metallic
Red
Progressive Red Metallic
White
Arkona White / Glacier White Metallic
Yellow
Python Yellow Metallic
Silver
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Shadow Black
Blue
Grabber Blue / Vapor Blue
Gray
Carbonized Gray
Green
Not available
Red
Molten Magenta Metallic Tri-Coat / Race Red
White
Oxford White
Yellow
Intense Lime Yellow
Silver
Iconic Silver
Interior Colors
Black
Black w/ Express Red Stitching / Black w/ Rock Gray Stitching
Gray
Not available
Interior Colors
Black
Black Onyx
Gray
Space Gray
