If it’s a showdown you’re after it doesn’t get much fiercer than the premium heavyweights of the compact executive segment – the BMW 1 Series and the Audi A3.
We’ve pitted them against each other to see which you should spend your money on.
Pick of the range
To start things off we need a level playing field, so we’ve chosen an engine and trim level for both cars that represents the best value for money while still offering plenty of equipment and performance.
Both are available in three- or five-door (Audi calls this a Sportback) body styles, and while we like the three-door look, we think the five-door models offer much more practicality.
That just leaves the spec, and we’ve chosen two diesels, the BMW 116d EfficientDynamics Plus and the Audi A3 1.6 TDI Ultra SE Technik.
Practicality
The Audi A3 offers plenty of space for passengers and you could conceivably get three adults in the back, although it would be more comfortable for all involved if you stuck to two.
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Standard boot space is plentiful too, with 380 litres, and this can be expanded to 1,220 litres by collapsing the rear seats, making it one of the most practical cars in the sector.
Supplementing this space are plenty of cubbies dotted around the cabin to keep items in alongside good-sized door pockets and glove box.
The BMW offers less space and you’ll have to squeeze up if you want to get three adults in the back. Although things are better in this generation of car than the last, they still lag behind the Audi.
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An extra 30 litres of bootspace means you get 360 litres now, more than a Volkswagen Golf but less than its direct competition, the A3. Fold the seats down to unlock 1,200 litres of space.
You do get a lot of cubbies though so you should be able to live with the slightly smaller boot.
Performance
Although BMW prides itself on building the ultimate driving machine this 116d is more tuned towards economy, so don’t expect it to deliver huge amounts of speed.
That said, it produces 114bhp which is enough to propel it from 0-60 in 10.1 seconds and 270Nm of torque means good in-gear acceleration.
It’s also the only rear-wheel drive car in the segment and this makes it more rewarding to drive on a windy road. An inline engine layout means excellent weight distribution so the 1 Series always feels balanced.
Audi’s fleet-focussed A3 is powered by a 108bhp engine which produces a slightly slower 0-60mph sprint, taking 10.4 seconds.
The wheelbase of the A3 was lengthened to make the Sportback version but this hasn’t detracted from the way it drives, B-road blasts are still fun thanks to high levels of grip and minimal body roll and it’s steering is well-weighted and accurate. Still, the BMW is the driver’s choice.
Kit
Although neither car is bristling with kit, you get all the essentials you need for business use thanks to a fleet focussed specification. This means you can keep monthly bills down by avoiding costly options.
Buy the Audi if you want air-con, alloy wheels, cloth seat trim, cruise control, parking sensors and sat nav.
The BMW offers largely the same line up but does offer a slightly larger screen and keyless ignition start on top.
Tax
| BMW | Audi | |
| P11D Value | £22,505 | £22,180 |
| 2015/16 Monthly tax* | £60 | £59 |
| 2016/17 Monthly tax* | £56 | £55 |
| 2017/18 Monthly tax* | £64 | £63 |
Winner – Audi A3
It’s a tightly run thing, with both cars scoring 4.5 stars in our individual tests. If we were picking a performance version then the BMW would have it, but based entirely on practicality, running costs and outright boot space, the Audi A3 Sportback is the one to have.
*based on a 20 per cent tax payer using our Company Car Tax calculator
