2018 Audi A3 vs 2018 Buick Cascada vs 2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata

2018 Audi A3

2018 Buick Cascada

2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Select style

2.0 TFSI Premium FWD

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
A3 Convertible 2.0 TFSI Premium FWD	25	33	$35,666	$38,350
A3 Convertible 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus FWD	25	33	$35,666	$38,350
A3 Convertible 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro AWD	22	30	$38,178	$41,050
A3 Convertible 2.0 TFSI Premium quattro AWD	22	30	$38,178	$41,050
A3 Convertible 2.0 TFSI Prestige FWD	25	33	$35,666	$38,350
A3 Convertible 2.0 TFSI Prestige quattro AWD	22	30	$38,178	$41,050
A3 Convertible 2.0 TFSI Tech Premium FWD	25	33	$37,248	$40,050
A3 Convertible 2.0 TFSI Tech Premium Plus FWD	25	33	$37,248	$40,050
A3 Convertible 2.0 TFSI Tech Premium Plus quattro AWD	22	30	$39,758	$42,750
A3 Convertible 2.0 TFSI Tech Premium quattro AWD	22	30	$39,758	$42,750
A3 Sedan 2.0 TFSI Premium FWD	26	35	$29,714	$31,950
A3 Sedan 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus FWD	26	35	$29,714	$31,950
A3 Sedan 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro AWD	24	31	$32,504	$34,950
A3 Sedan 2.0 TFSI Premium quattro AWD	24	31	$32,504	$34,950
A3 Sedan 2.0 TFSI Prestige FWD	26	35	$29,714	$31,950
A3 Sedan 2.0 TFSI Prestige quattro AWD	24	31	$32,504	$34,950
A3 Sedan 2.0 TFSI Tech Premium FWD	26	35	$31,296	$33,650
A3 Sedan 2.0 TFSI Tech Premium Plus FWD	26	35	$31,296	$33,650
A3 Sedan 2.0 TFSI Tech Premium Plus quattro AWD	24	31	$34,086	$36,650
A3 Sedan 2.0 TFSI Tech Premium quattro AWD	24	31	$34,086	$36,650
A3 Sportback e-tron 1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium	N/A	N/A	$36,736	$39,500
A3 Sportback e-tron 1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium Plus	N/A	N/A	$36,736	$39,500
A3 Sportback e-tron 1.4 TFSI PHEV Prestige	N/A	N/A	$36,736	$39,500
A3 Sportback e-tron 1.4 TFSI PHEV Tech Premium	N/A	N/A	$37,806	$40,650
A3 Sportback e-tron 1.4 TFSI PHEV Tech Premium Plus	N/A	N/A	$37,806	$40,650
RS 3 2.5 TFSI S Tronic	19	28	$51,058	$54,900
S3 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus	22	28	$40,596	$43,650
S3 2.0 TFSI Prestige	22	28	$40,596	$43,650
S3 2.0 TFSI Tech Premium Plus	22	28	$42,362	$45,550
S3 2.0 TFSI Tech Prestige	22	28	$42,362	$45,550

Select style

2-Door Conv

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Cascada 2-Door Conv	21	29	$32,899	$33,065
Cascada 2-Door Conv Premium	21	29	$34,627	$36,070
Cascada 2-Door Conv Sport Touring	21	29	$35,587	$37,070

Select style

Club Automatic

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
MX-5 Miata Club Automatic	26	35	$28,134	$29,755
MX-5 Miata Club Manual	26	33	$27,568	$29,155
MX-5 Miata Grand Touring Automatic	26	35	$29,564	$31,270
MX-5 Miata Grand Touring Manual	26	33	$28,548	$30,195
MX-5 Miata Sport Automatic	26	35	$25,195	$26,645
MX-5 Miata Sport Manual	26	33	$23,921	$25,295
MX-5 Miata RF Club Automatic	26	35	$30,737	$32,510
MX-5 Miata RF Club Manual	26	33	$30,169	$31,910
MX-5 Miata RF Grand Touring Automatic	26	35	$31,977	$33,825
MX-5 Miata RF Grand Touring Manual	26	33	$30,964	$32,750

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$35,666

$32,899

$28,134

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$38,350

$33,065

$29,755

Monthly Payment Estimate

$639 / month

$551 / month

$496 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

7.2

Read Our Full Review

5.6

Read Our Full Review

6.4

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2018 Audi S3 is a blast to drive, but it suffers from a tiny rear seat and the Volkswagen Golf R offers the same performance with more room for less.

As a sedate, stylish droptop, the Buick Cascada is an excellent choice; it’s also the only choice.

The 2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata is the quintessential modern sports car.

TCC Likes

Tremendous performance bang for buck
Great powertrain
High-end LTE connectivity

Demure demeanor
Reasonably priced
Pretty to look at

Light and lean
A visual knockout
Stays true to its pure driving ethos like few other cars

TCC Dislikes

Tiny rear seat
No manual transmission
Gets pricey with options

Disappointing performance
Clompy ride
Tight back seat

Little room for small and large item storage
Price can climb fast
Challenging infotainment system

Fuel Economy

City

25 mpg

21 mpg

26 mpg

Highway

33 mpg

29 mpg

35 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Subcompact Cars

Compact Car

Two-Seaters

EPA Air Pollution Score

- TBD -

Number of Passenger Doors

Interior Dimensions

Passenger Capacity

Front Leg Room (in)

41.2

42.2

43.1

Second Head Room (in)

36.3

36.1

Second Shoulder Room (in)

45.7

45.8

Front Head Room (in)

37.4

37.8

37.4

Front Shoulder Room (in)

54.8

54.6

52.2

Second Leg Room (in)

31.9

32.8

Front Hip Room (in)

- TBD -

Passenger Volume (ft³)

Second Hip Room (in)

- TBD -

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Rear (in)

60.1

62.5

59.2

Wheelbase (in)

102.2

106.1

90.9

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

70.7

72.4

68.3

Track Width, Front (in)

61.2

62.5

58.9

Length, Overall (in)

174.1

184.9

154.1

Height, Overall (in)

55.5

56.8

48.8

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

Min Ground Clearance (in)

- TBD -

5.3

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)

9.9

9.8

4.6

Brakes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

10.7

11.5 x - TBD -

Brake Type

4-Wheel Disc

Pwr

4-Wheel Disc

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

- TBD -

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

12.3

12.6 x - TBD -

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

- TBD -

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

13.2

14.3

11.9

Steering

Steering Type

Rack-Pinion

Electric Rack & Pinion

Rack-Pinion

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

36.1

38.7

30.8

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

- TBD -

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

15.3

Tires

Spare Tire Order Code

RUA

Rear Tire Size

P225/45HR17

P245/40R20

P205/45WR17

Rear Tire Order Code

RAL

Front Tire Size

P225/45HR17

P245/40R20

P205/45WR17

Spare Tire Size

Compact

RUA

Front Tire Order Code

RAL

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3428

3979

2381

Wheels

Rear Wheel Size (in)

17 X 7.5

20 x - TBD -

17 X 7

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

17 X 7.5

20 x - TBD -

17 X 7

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

17 x - TBD -

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

320

- TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

140

100

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

221 @ 1600

207 @ 1800-4500

148 @ 4600

Engine Order Code

LWC

Displacement

2.0 L/121

1.6L

2.0 L/122

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

186 @ 4400

200 @ 5500

155 @ 6000

Engine Type

Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4

Gas I4

Premium Unleaded I-4

Fuel System

Gasoline Direct Injection

Direct Injection

Gasoline Direct Injection

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Transmission

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

4.77

3.53

3.45

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.77

1.91

1.40

Trans Type

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

0.64

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.70

1.00

0.71

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

2.90

2.94

3.17

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.75

2.96

2.06

Trans Order Code

MH7

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.93

1.45

1.00

Trans Description Cont.

Auto-Shift Manual w/OD

Automatic w/OD

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

Rear Wheel Drive

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.76

0.75

0.58

First Gear Ratio (:1)

3.40

4.58

3.54

Clutch Size (in)

Summary

Body Style

Cabriolet

Convertible

Vehicle Name

Audi A3 Cabriolet

Buick Cascada

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Suspension

Suspension Type - Rear

Multi-Link

Compound Crank

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Front

Strut

HiPer Strut

Double Wishbone

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Strut

Double Wishbone

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

- TBD -

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

- TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

- TBD -

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

- TBD -

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

6.3

7.4

6.1

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

- TBD -

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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