Comparison: Boot space Audi A3 vs. competitors 2025

Since the original A3 8L first graced us with its presence back when we were partying like it was 1999, which, to be fair, it was - the boot space hasn't exactly skyrocketed. Remaining static at a dignified 350 liters across the first and second generations, only to receive a paltry 15 liters more with the introduction of the 8V in 2012. It's with the latest A3 8Y, however, that Audi decided a little more could be a lot better, stretching out to a sensible 380 liters. With the rear seats folded, we've gone from 1100 liters in the old school to a slightly roomier 1200 liters today – not enough to merit a game-changer title, but progress nonetheless.

In the great hall of Audi's beloved boot spaces, the A3 stands quite firmly in the middle. It's more spacious than the city-savvy A1's 335 liters, yet it looks up in slightly envious awe at the cavernous Q7, which boasts an immense 865 liters before you've so much as looked at a rear seat. Within the A3 range, if you opt for the ever-so-slightly bigger Sportback version, you're looking at the same 380 liters, or if you let your life be dictated by a lust for speed, the RS3 Limousine offers 321 liters, because who needs luggage when you've got horsepower?

Glance beyond the four rings, and you're met with an array of adversaries, eager to show off their pragmatic prowess. The Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse stands proud with its 390 liters – a statement that functionality can indeed come with a silver star. BMW's 1er-Reihe brings a respectable 330 liters to the contest. But let’s not forget the Volvo C30's pert 278 liters, confirming that Swedish design sometimes prioritizes form over function, a choice as perplexing as their national obsession with pickled herring. With length and wheelbase considered, the A3's rivals often stretch out further, but as is the case with many a childhood fairy tale, being longer doesn't always equal more space in the boot.