Audi S3 vs. Volkswagen Golf GTI
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Highlights
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$52,000
Starting MSRP
|
$34,590
Starting MSRP
|
-
Starting MSRP
|
|
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Intercooled Turbo Premium Gasoline I-4
Engine Type
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Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4
Engine Type
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-
Engine Type
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|
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23 City / 31 Hwy
MPG
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24 City / 32 Hwy
MPG
|
-
MPG
|
|
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328 hp
Horsepower
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241 hp
Horsepower
|
-
Horsepower
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|
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All Wheel Drive
Drive Type
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Front Wheel Drive
Drive Type
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-
Drive Type
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|
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5
Seating Capacity
|
5
Seating Capacity
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-
Seating Capacity
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|
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4 yr / 50,000 mi
Basic Warranty
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4 yr / 50,000 mi
Basic Warranty
|
-
Basic Warranty
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Engine
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Intercooled Turbo Premium Gasoline I-4
Engine Type
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Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4
Engine Type
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-
Engine Type
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|
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2.0 L/121
Displacement
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2.0 L/121
Displacement
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-
Displacement
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|
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328 @ 5450
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
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241 @ 5000
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
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-
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
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|
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310 @ 2000
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
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273 @ 1750
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
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-
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
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|
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7-Speed A/T
A/T Transmission w/Dual Shift Mode Transmission Options
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7-Speed A/T
A/T Transmission w/Dual Shift Mode Transmission Options
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-
Transmission Options
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|
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23 City / 31 Hwy
MPG
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24 City / 32 Hwy
MPG
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-
MPG
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|
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N/A
Total Cooling System Capacity
|
N/A
Total Cooling System Capacity
|
-
Total Cooling System Capacity
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Tires & Wheels
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P225/40HR18
Front Tire Size
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P225/40HR18
Front Tire Size
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-
Front Tire Size
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|
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P225/40HR18
Rear Tire Size
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P225/40HR18
Rear Tire Size
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-
Rear Tire Size
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|
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N/A
Spare Tire Size
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Compact
Spare Tire Size
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-
Spare Tire Size
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|
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18 X 8 in
Front Wheel Size
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18 X 7.5 in
Front Wheel Size
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-
Front Wheel Size
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|
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18 X 8 in
Rear Wheel Size
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18 X 7.5 in
Rear Wheel Size
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-
Rear Wheel Size
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|
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N/A
Spare Wheel Size
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Compact in
Spare Wheel Size
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-
Spare Wheel Size
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|
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Aluminum
Front Wheel Material
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Aluminum
Front Wheel Material
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-
Front Wheel Material
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|
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Aluminum
Rear Wheel Material
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Aluminum
Rear Wheel Material
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-
Rear Wheel Material
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|
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N/A
Spare Wheel Material
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Steel
Spare Wheel Material
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-
Spare Wheel Material
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Suspension
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Strut
Suspension Type - Front
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Strut
Suspension Type - Front
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-
Suspension Type - Front
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|
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Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Rear
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Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Rear
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-
Suspension Type - Rear
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|
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Strut
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
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Strut
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
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-
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
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|
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Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
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Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
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-
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
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Steering
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Rack-Pinion
Steering Type
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Rack-Pinion
Steering Type
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-
Steering Type
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|
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N/A
Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
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N/A
Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
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-
Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
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|
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N/A
Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
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N/A
Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
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-
Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
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|
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36 ft
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb
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36 ft
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb
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-
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb
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|
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N/A
Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall
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N/A
Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall
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-
Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall
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Measurements
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5
Passenger Capacity
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5
Passenger Capacity
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-
Passenger Capacity
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|
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N/A
Passenger Volume
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92 ft³
Passenger Volume
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-
Passenger Volume
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|
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37 in
Front Head Room
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39 in
Front Head Room
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-
Front Head Room
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|
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41 in
Front Leg Room
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41 in
Front Leg Room
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-
Front Leg Room
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|
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55 in
Front Shoulder Room
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56 in
Front Shoulder Room
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-
Front Shoulder Room
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|
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N/A
Front Hip Room
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53 in
Front Hip Room
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-
Front Hip Room
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|
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36 in
Second Head Room
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38 in
Second Head Room
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-
Second Head Room
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|
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35 in
Second Leg Room
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35 in
Second Leg Room
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-
Second Leg Room
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|
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53 in
Second Shoulder Room
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54 in
Second Shoulder Room
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-
Second Shoulder Room
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|
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N/A
Second Hip Room
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46 in
Second Hip Room
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-
Second Hip Room
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|
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104 in
Wheelbase
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104 in
Wheelbase
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-
Wheelbase
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|
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177 in
Length, Overall
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169 in
Length, Overall
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-
Length, Overall
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|
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72 in
Width, Max w/o mirrors
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70 in
Width, Max w/o mirrors
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-
Width, Max w/o mirrors
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|
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56 in
Height, Overall
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58 in
Height, Overall
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-
Height, Overall
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|
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61 in
Track Width, Front
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60 in
Track Width, Front
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-
Track Width, Front
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|
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60 in
Track Width, Rear
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60 in
Track Width, Rear
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-
Track Width, Rear
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|
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N/A
Min Ground Clearance
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5 in
Min Ground Clearance
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-
Min Ground Clearance
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|
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N/A
Liftover Height
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N/A
Liftover Height
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-
Liftover Height
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|
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-
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up
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20 ft³
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up
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-
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up
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|
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-
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down
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35 ft³
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down
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-
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down
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|
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8 ft³
Trunk Volume
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N/A
Trunk Volume
|
-
Trunk Volume
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Weight & Capacity
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3,549 lbs
Base Curb Weight
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3,183 lbs
Base Curb Weight
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-
Base Curb Weight
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|
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N/A
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
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N/A
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
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-
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
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|
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N/A
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.
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N/A
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.
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-
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.
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|
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N/A
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
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N/A
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
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-
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.
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|
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N/A
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.
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N/A
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.
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-
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.
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|
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15 gal
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
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13 gal
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
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-
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
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|
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N/A
Aux Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
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N/A
Aux Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
|
-
Aux Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx
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Safety
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Standard
Automatic Emergency Braking
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Standard
Automatic Emergency Braking
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-
Automatic Emergency Braking
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|
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Standard
Lane Departure Warning
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Standard
Lane Departure Warning
|
-
Lane Departure Warning
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Standard
Backup Camera
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Standard
Backup Camera
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-
Backup Camera
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Standard
Stability Control
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Standard
Stability Control
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-
Stability Control
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|
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Standard
Blind Spot Monitor
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Standard
Blind Spot Monitor
|
-
Blind Spot Monitor
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|
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Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
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-
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
|
-
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
|
Entertainment
|
Standard
Bluetooth®
|
Standard
Bluetooth®
|
-
Bluetooth®
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Electrical
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380
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
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540
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
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-
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
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|
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N/A
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
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140
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
|
-
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
|
Brakes
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4-Wheel Disc
Brake Type
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4-Wheel Disc
Brake Type
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-
Brake Type
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|
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4-Wheel
Brake ABS System
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4-Wheel
Brake ABS System
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-
Brake ABS System
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|
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N/A
Brake ABS System (Second Line)
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N/A
Brake ABS System (Second Line)
|
-
Brake ABS System (Second Line)
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|
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Yes
Disc - Front (Yes or )
|
Yes
Disc - Front (Yes or )
|
-
Disc - Front (Yes or )
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|
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Yes
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
|
Yes
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
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-
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
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14 in
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
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13 in
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
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-
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
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|
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N/A
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
|
12 in
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
|
-
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness
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|
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N/A
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
|
N/A
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
|
-
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
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FAQ
Which is more fuel efficient, the 2026 Audi S3 or the 2026 Volkswagen Golf GTI?
The 2026 Volkswagen Golf GTI is more fuel efficient than the 2026 Audi S3 with 27 MPG combined versus 26 MPG combined.
Which car is cheaper, the 2026 Audi S3 or the 2026 Volkswagen Golf GTI?
The 2026 Volkswagen Golf GTI is cheaper than the 2026 Audi S3 with a $34,590 starting MSRP versus a $52,000 starting MSRP.
Compare the Audi S3
Compare the Volkswagen Golf GTI
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