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

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

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
5.6
6.4

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

TCC Dislikes

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

Number of Passenger Doors
- 2 -

EPA Air Pollution Score
- - TBD - -

Interior Dimensions

Front Shoulder Room (in)
54.8 54.6 52.2

Second Leg Room (in)
31.9 32.8 -

Passenger Capacity
4 4 2

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

Passenger Volume (ft³)
- 82 -

Second Hip Room (in)
- - TBD - -

Front Hip Room (in)
- - TBD - 52

Exterior Dimensions

Length, Overall (in)
174.1 184.9 154.1

Height, Overall (in)
55.5 56.8 48.8

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

Min Ground Clearance (in)
- - TBD - 5.3

Liftover Height (in)
- - TBD - -

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)
9.9 9.8 4.6

Brakes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
12.3 12.6 x - TBD - 11

Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA - TBD - NA

Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel 4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
10.7 11.5 x - TBD - 11

Brake Type
4-Wheel Disc Pwr 4-Wheel Disc

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA - TBD - NA

Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
13.2 14.3 11.9

Steering

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
36.1 38.7 30.8

Steering Type
Rack-Pinion Electric Rack & Pinion Rack-Pinion

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)
- NA -

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
- 15.3 -

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
- - TBD - -

Tires

Front Tire Size
P225/45HR17 P245/40R20 P205/45WR17

Spare Tire Size
Compact RUA NA

Front Tire Order Code
NA RAL NA

Spare Tire Order Code
NA RUA NA

Rear Tire Size
P225/45HR17 P245/40R20 P205/45WR17

Rear Tire Order Code
NA RAL NA

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)
3428 3979 2381

Wheels

Spare Wheel Size (in)
Compact 17 x - TBD - NA

Rear Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)
17 X 7.5 20 x - TBD - 17 X 7

Front Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material
Steel Steel NA

Front Wheel Size (in)
17 X 7.5 20 x - TBD - 17 X 7

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
320 - TBD - -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
140 140 100

Engine

Engine Type
Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 Gas I4 Premium Unleaded I-4

Fuel System
Gasoline Direct Injection Direct Injection Gasoline Direct Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM
221 @ 1600 207 @ 1800-4500 148 @ 4600

Engine Order Code
NA LWC NA

Displacement
2.0 L/121 1.6L 2.0 L/122

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
186 @ 4400 200 @ 5500 155 @ 6000

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
25 21 26

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
28 24 29

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
33 29 35

Transmission

Second Gear Ratio (:1)
2.75 2.96 2.06

Trans Order Code
NA MH7 NA

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.93 1.45 1.00

Trans Description Cont.
Auto-Shift Manual w/OD Automatic w/OD Automatic w/OD

Drivetrain
Front Wheel Drive 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

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
4.77 3.53 3.45

Third Gear Ratio (:1)
1.77 1.91 1.40

Trans Type
7 6 6

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)
0.64 - -

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.70 1.00 0.71

Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA NA

Reverse Ratio (:1)
2.90 2.94 3.17

Clutch Size (in)
- NA -

Summary

Vehicle Name
Audi A3 Cabriolet Buick Cascada Mazda MX-5 Miata

Body Style
Cabriolet Convertible Convertible

Suspension

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Strut NA Double Wishbone

Suspension Type - Rear
Multi-Link Compound Crank Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
Multi-Link NA Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Front
Strut HiPer Strut Double Wishbone

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)
- - TBD - -

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)
- - TBD - -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)
- - TBD - -

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)
- - TBD - -

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
6.3 7.4 6.1

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score
- 5 -

Trailering

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
- - TBD - -

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
- - TBD - -

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
- - TBD - -

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
- - TBD - -

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)
- NA -

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
-

Get FREE Dealer Quotes

From dealers near you
Go!