Compare 2012 Audi A3 vs 2012 BMW 1-Series vs 2012 Porsche Boxster

2012 Audi A3
X
2012 BMW 1-Series
X
2012 Porsche Boxster
X
Select style
4-Door HB Manual FrontTrak 2.0T Premium
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
A3 4-Door HB Manual FrontTrak 2.0T Premium 21 30 $25,361 $27,270
A3 4-Door HB Manual FrontTrak 2.0T Premium Plus 21 30 $25,361 $27,270
A3 4-Door HB Manual FrontTrak PZEV 2.0T Premium 21 30 $25,361 $27,270
A3 4-Door HB Manual FrontTrak PZEV 2.0T Premium Plus 21 30 $25,361 $27,270
A3 4-Door HB S tronic FrontTrak 2.0 TDI Premium 30 42 $28,133 $30,250
A3 4-Door HB S tronic FrontTrak 2.0 TDI Premium Plus 30 42 $28,133 $30,250
A3 4-Door HB S tronic FrontTrak 2.0T Premium 22 28 $26,737 $28,750
A3 4-Door HB S tronic FrontTrak 2.0T Premium Plus 22 28 $26,737 $28,750
A3 4-Door HB S tronic FrontTrak PZEV 2.0T Premium 22 28 $26,737 $28,750
A3 4-Door HB S tronic FrontTrak PZEV 2.0T Premium Plus 22 28 $26,737 $28,750
A3 4-Door HB S tronic quattro 2.0T Premium 21 28 $28,691 $30,850
A3 4-Door HB S tronic quattro 2.0T Premium Plus 21 28 $28,691 $30,850
Select style
2-Door Conv 128i
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
1 Series 2-Door Conv 128i 18 28 $33,950 $36,900
1 Series 2-Door Conv 128i SULEV 18 28 $33,950 $36,900
1 Series 2-Door Conv 135i 19 28 $40,570 $44,100
1 Series 2-Door Coupe 128i 18 28 $28,705 $31,200
1 Series 2-Door Coupe 128i SULEV 18 28 $28,705 $31,200
1 Series 2-Door Coupe 135i 20 28 $36,155 $39,300
Select style
2-Door Roadster
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Boxster 2-Door Roadster 19 27 $43,110 $48,100
Boxster 2-Door Roadster S 19 26 $52,560 $58,600
Boxster 2-Door Roadster S Black Edition 19 26 $58,500 $65,200
Boxster 2-Door Roadster Spyder 19 26 $55,440 $61,800
Pricing
Invoice Price
$25,361
$33,950
$43,110
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$27,270
$36,900
$48,100
Monthly Payment Estimate
$455 / month
$615 / month
$802 / month
The Car Connection's Take
TCC Rating
8.0
8.0
9.0
TCC’s Bottom Line
The fashionable, versatile 2012 Audi A3 is as deft for the city commute as it is at ease on the highway. If you can get past the often-confusing iDrive system, the 2012 BMW 1-Series offers a great blend of style, power, handling, and luxury at a sometimes reasonable, sometimes objectionable price. Stylish, fun, and capable, the 2012 Porsche Boxster is one of the best roadsters around.
TCC Likes
TCC Dislikes
Fuel Economy
City
21 mpg 18 mpg 19 mpg
Highway
30 mpg 28 mpg 27 mpg
Vehicle
EPA Classification
Small Station Wagons Subcompact Two-Seater
Interior Dimensions
Second Hip Room (in)
- TBD - - TBD - -
Front Shoulder Room (in)
54.4 54.0 51.5
Passenger Volume (ft³)
89.0 78.0 - TBD -
Second Head Room (in)
36.9 37.0 -
Second Shoulder Room (in)
52.8 42.2 -
Front Leg Room (in)
41.2 41.2 33.5
Passenger Capacity
5 4 2
Front Hip Room (in)
- TBD - - TBD - 53.4
Second Leg Room (in)
34.8 31.3 -
Front Head Room (in)
39.3 38.6 37.6
Exterior Dimensions
Track Width, Front (in)
60.3 58.3 58.7
Min Ground Clearance (in)
4.3 - TBD - 5.0
Length, Overall (in)
169.0 172.2 172.1
Height, Overall (in)
56.0 55.6 50.9
Track Width, Rear (in)
59.3 59.6 60.4
Wheelbase (in)
101.5 104.7 95.1
Liftover Height (in)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
78.5 68.8 70.9
Cargo Area Dimensions
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up (ft³)
19.5 - -
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down (ft³)
39.0 - -
Trunk Volume (ft³)
- 8.0 9.9
Brakes
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA NA
Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel 4-Wheel
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.0 x - TBD - 11.8 x - TBD - 11.8 x 0.8
Brake Type
Pwr Pwr Pwr
Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA NA NA
Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
12.3 x - TBD - 11.8 x - TBD - 12.5 x 1.1
Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
14.5 14. 16.9
Steering
Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
16.2 16.0 17.1-13.8
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
35.1 35.1 36.4
Steering Type
Pwr Rack & Pinion Pwr Rack & Pinion Pwr Rack & Pinion
Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
- TBD - - TBD - 2.6
Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -
Tires
Rear Tire Order Code
NA NA NA
Front Tire Size
P225/45R17 P205/55017 P205/55ZR17
Spare Tire Size
Compact NA NA
Front Tire Order Code
NA NA NA
Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA NA
Rear Tire Size
P225/45R17 P205/50R17 P235/50ZR17
Trailering
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA - TBD - - TBD -
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA NA - TBD -
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA - TBD - - TBD -
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA NA - TBD -
Weight Information
Base Curb Weight (lbs)
3219 3494 2943
Wheels
Front Wheel Size (in)
17 x 7.5 17 x 7.0 17 x 7.0
Spare Wheel Size (in)
Compact NA NA
Rear Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Rear Wheel Size (in)
17 x 7.5 17 x 7.0 17 x 8.5
Front Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Spare Wheel Material
Steel NA NA
Cooling System
Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)
9.1 - TBD - - TBD -
Electrical
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
- TBD - 70 - TBD -
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
140 180 - TBD -
Engine
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
207 @ 1800-5000 200 @ 2750 214 @ 4400-6000
Engine Order Code
NA NA NA
Displacement
2.0L/121 3.0L/183 2.9L/177
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
200 @ 5100-6000 230 @ 6500 255 @ 6400
Engine Type
Turbocharged Gas I4 Gas I6 Gas Flat-6
Fuel System
Direct Injection Electronic Fuel Injection Electronic Fuel Injection
Mileage
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
30 28 27
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
21 18 19
Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
24 22 22
Transmission
Clutch Size (in)
- TBD - - TBD - 9.4
Third Gear Ratio (:1)
1.47 1.66 1.40
Trans Type
6 6 6
Drivetrain
Front Wheel Drive Rear Wheel Drive Rear-Wheel Drive
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.11 1.00 0.97
Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA NA
Reverse Ratio (:1)
3.99 3.94 3.33
Second Gear Ratio (:1)
2.09 2.46 2.05
Trans Order Code
NA NA 480
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
3.94/3.09 3.23 3.88
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.10 1.23 1.13
Trans Description Cont.
Manual Manual Manual
Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.93 0.85 0.84
First Gear Ratio (:1)
3.36 4.32 3.67
Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)
- - NA
Summary
Vehicle Name
Audi A3 BMW 1 Series Porsche Boxster
Body Style
Hatchback 2 Door Convertible Convertible
Suspension
Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)
NA - TBD - - TBD -
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -
Suspension Type - Rear
Four Link Multi-link MacPherson Strut
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
NA NA w/Coil Springs
Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)
NA - TBD - - TBD -
Suspension Type - Front
MacPherson Strut Double-Pivot MacPherson Strut
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
NA NA w/Coil Springs
Emissions
EPA Greenhouse Gas Score
5 5 5
Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
7.8 8.3 8.5

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