Would You Take The 2021 Audi A3 Sedan Over Its Rivals From Mercedes And BMW?

It almost seems at this point that carmakers are competing with smartphone manufacturers over who can now offer the widest range of products.

Are there too many automobile segments (and niches) out there? It’s a fair question once you begin feeling confused regarding which product goes where and who competes with who. The confusing dynamic between the Mercedes A-Class Sedan and the CLA Coupe is a perfect example of that.

Of course, the hottest name in the sub-compact premium four door segment right now is the Audi A3 Sedan, which only recently broke cover looking much like a tiny A6. It can be described as both elegant and sporty, and it will cost you less than an A4, which is the whole point of these models. But first things first.

Audi A3 Sedan ($33,000 est)

The four-door version of the latest A3 Sportback looks very dynamic and modern, adopting the same design and tech as its 5-door hatchback sibling. It measures 4,500 mm (177.1 in) in length, with the same 2,636 mm (103.8 in) long wheelbase, 1,816 mm (71.5 in) in width and 1,430 mm (56.3 in) in height.

While no U.S. prices are currently available, we expect a debut sometime later this year, with a standard 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged four-pot. The current model (priced from $33,300 MSRP) can be had in either 40 TFSI (184 HP) or 45 TFSI (228 HP) specs, as well as an S3 and RS3 – but we’re not talking about flagship variants just yet.

BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe ($37,500)

You can argue that the 2-Series GC is more of a direct Mercedes CLA rival, as it too is characterized as a four-door coupe and it costs more than your entry-level A-Class Sedan or A3 Sedan (currently).

BMW is asking for at least $37,500 for the 2 GC in the United States, in return for which you get the entry-level 228i xDrive Gran Coupe variant with its 228 HP 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 and all-wheel drive. It needs just 6 seconds to make its way to 60 mph (96 km/h). Of course, for more of a thrill, you can get the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe, which should serve as a direct rival for the new S3 Sedan.

As for dimensions, the 2 GC has a 2,670 mm (105.1 in) long wheelbase, and is 4,526 mm (178.2 in) long, 1,800 mm (70.9 in) wide and 1,420 mm (55.9 in) tall.

Mercedes A-Class Sedan ($32,800)

The four-door version of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is 4,549 mm (179.1 in) long, 1,796 mm (70.7 in) wide, 1,440 mm (56.7 in) tall and has a 2,729 mm (107.4 in) long wheelbase. You can buy it from $32,800 in A 220 Sedan spec, but if you want all-wheel drive, go for the 4MATIC variant, at an extra $2,000.

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It is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4, good for 188 HP – a similar output to the current 2020 A3 Sedan 40 TFSI variant with its 184 HP. The Mercedes needs 7.1 seconds to hit 60 mph (96 km/h), which is 0.5 seconds slower than the 2020 A3 Sedan, so it will probably be slower than the new 2021 model too.

Mercedes CLA Coupe ($36,650)

The CLA Coupe follows the same recipe as the 2-Series Gran Coupe. It looks sleeker than the A-Class Sedan, its entry-level variant is more powerful and if you go into the specs sheet, you’ll see that its standard features list is more substantial too.

Power comes from the same 2.0-liter inline-4 unit as previously discussed, but with 221 HP right off the bat. You can also get the CLA with all-wheel drive (4MATIC) for an extra $2,000, but the 0-60 time remains the same at 6.1 seconds. At $36,650, it is the second most expensive car here and arguably the least sporty from a visual standpoint – this segment is mostly for younger buyers, so we should factor that in.

With both the CLA and the 2 GC, you begin to get dangerously close to C-Class and 3-Series territory in terms of pricing. However, you can avoid that simply by opting for the A-Class Coupe or the all-new 2021 Audi A3 Sedan, once order books open in the U.S.

BMW 1-Series Sedan (Not Available In U.S.)

We threw this one only because it exists, as BMW offers the 1-Series Sedan exclusively in China where it’s built and Mexico, with no plans to sell it in any other markets around the world.

It’s based on the Bavarian carmaker’s front-wheel drive UKL platform and has a far more conventional appearance than its 2-Series Gran Coupe sibling building on the looks of the 1-Series hatchback. For reference, in Mexico, the 2020MY 118iA Sedan M Sport is priced from $600,000 MXN which comes to around US$24,000. Surprisingly, it’s only $79,000 MXN or just US$3,165 cheaper than the entry 320iA Sedan in Mexico.

The i118A sedan is powered by a a 1.5-liter TwinPower Turbo three-cylinder engine churning out 136 hp (101 kW / 138 PS) and 162 lb-ft (220 Nm) of torque, paired to a 6sp automatic driving the front wheels only. It hits 62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 9.4 seconds before topping out at 131 mph (212 km/h).

Time To Vote

Time to let us know which of these four small premium saloons is your favorite and why.