If you are looking for a classy family hatchback, you need look no further than Germany. German manufacturers, like Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi, have become some of the most popular hatchback in the industry. From the VW Golf to the BMW 1 Series, the Germans seem to be experts in crafting some of the best executive family hatchbacks out there.
As we have a great deal out currently on Audi A3 Sportback leases, we decided to compare the premium Audi A3 against the executive Mercedes A-Class.
The Audi A3 Sportback
The Audi A3 Sportback was first designed in 1995 by David Caffrey and production on the car began in 1996. The model has spanned four generations and the latest model was only just released in 2020.
The 2020 Audi A3 Sportback is assembled in two places: the main Audi Headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany and in the new production site in Qingdao, China. It started production in May 2020 and in October was the tenth most registered car in the UK with 2,523 vehicles registered.
The Audi A3 Sportback is shorter in length and height and wider than the Mercedes A-Class. It has also won 8 awards in its lifetime.
The brand advertises that the Audi A3 Sportback is fully digitalised, from its cockpit to its light signature and infotainment system. They say that the car has progressive steering, adaptive suspension and a selection of power engines. It looks sporty but is also a dynamic presence on the road. The Audi A3 Sportback is also highly efficient thanks to electrified drives which are supported from innovative assist systems.
The Mercedes-Benz A Class
The Mercedes A-Class began its life as an ‘unusual’ looking compact car in 1994 by Steve Mattin. It began production in 1997 and has spanned four generations. For the third generation the Mercedes A-Class had a complete design change. This redesign was done so that the Mercedes A-Class could compete directly with BMW 1-Series and Audi A3. This new design was created by Mark Fetherson in 2009 and has been carried through to the latest generation.
The latest 2018 model of the Mercedes A-Class is built in six different factories around the world: the Rastatt factory in Germany, the Beijing factory in China, the Uusikaupunki factory in Finland, the Kecskemét factory in Hungary, the Aguascalientes factory in Mexico and the Samut Prakan factory in Thailand. It began production in April 2018. In the UK, it was the eighth most registered car in 2018 (with 43,527) and the fifth most registered car in 2019 (with 53,724) and so far in 2020 it is the fifth most registered car with 31,604. It was also the most registered car in October 2020 with 4,149.
The Mercedes A Class is thinner and longer than the Audi A3 Sportback. The latest generation of A-Class Hatchback has won four awards in its life span.
The brand advertises that “the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is as youthful and dynamic as ever” and it also claims that it is even more grown-up and comfortable than its predecessor. It has a ‘purist and surface-accentuating’ exterior design, and its interior has been refined to give it a modern look and feel.
Comparing The Cars
These two have certainly been rivals since 2013 and they compete very effectively with each other. When comparing the two’s popularity, especially using the evidence of the overall car registrations, the A3 does seem to be lacking especially when compared with the A-Class. I went back and looked at last five years (2016-2019) and the Audi A3 was not mentioned at all in 2017, 2018 or 2019. It’s third generation model was 10th most registered in 2016 though with 43,808 while the Mercedes A-Class was not within the top 10 at all.
This lack of popularity does not mean that the Audi A3 lacks in its overall specifications. The Audi A3 striking figure and less common appearance on British roads, does give you the opportunity to stand out in a premium brand family hatchback. It is a car that can stand up to similar models in the class and with our current selection of Audi A3 lease deals, you could lease a new Audi A3 at a great price and be driving within no time.
To get started check out our latest deals on Audi A3 Sportback or explore our selection of Mercedes A-Class deals.