Compare the2023 Toyota CorollaVS 2023 Audi A3

The Corolla has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The A3 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Corolla’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Corolla and the A3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Corolla the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A3 has not been fully tested, yet.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Corolla 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the A3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Corolla for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the A3.

There are over 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Corolla’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Corolla’s reliability 31 points higher than the A3.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Corolla second among compact cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The A3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 67 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 6th.

On the EPA test cycle the Corolla gets better mileage than the A3:

The Corolla has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The A3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Corolla stops much shorter than the A3:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Corolla’s wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer than on the A3 (106.3 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Corolla is 1.4 inches wider in the rear than on the A3.

For better maneuverability, the Corolla’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the A3’s (35.6 feet vs. 36.4 feet).

The Toyota Corolla may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 pounds less than the Audi A3.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Corolla a Compact car, while the A3 is rated a Subcompact.

The Corolla has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more rear headroom than the A3.

The Corolla has a much larger trunk than the A3 (13.2 vs. 10.9 cubic feet).

The Corolla offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Corolla XLE/XSE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The A3 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Corolla’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The A3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

The Toyota Corolla comes in sedan, four door hatchback and four door bodystyles; the Audi A3 isn’t available as a four door hatchback or wagon.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Corolla and the Audi A3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Corolla outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by over 28 to one during 2022.