2025 Honda Civic LX e:HEV vs Audi A3 35 TFSI Sportback: Spec battle

A tidal wave of affordable small cars crashing on our shores from new Chinese brands is forcing established small car players to seek higher ground.

Japanese hatchbacks, like the Honda Civic, have long played the role as an entry point to new car ownership. But now they are searching for some sunlight among the premium brands and challenging traditional European luxury carmakers.

The most obvious today is the latest 11th-generation Civic that was refreshed last year with an exclusively hybrid-only model lineup and a starting price just under $50,000.

That’s a long way from its humble origins, but it isn’t alone in asking consumers to drop nearly $50k on a small car with flagship Astina variants of the Mazda 3, the new hybrid Hyundai i30 N-Line Premium and non-GTI versions of Volkswagen Golf also nudging that figure when you take the additional on-road costs into consideration.

The question here is whether the range-topping Civic LX e:HEV is a genuine alternative to the entry-level Audi A3 35 TFSI Sportback. So, let’s find out.

How much?

The 2025 Honda Civic range consists of just two variants, the L and LX, both of which share the same hybrid powertrain, fundamental mechanical components and comprehensive suite of advanced safety systems – all of which we will get stuck into in more detail later.

The differences between the two are all in the standard specifications, with the L costing $49,900 and the LX costing $55,900 (both drive-away).

The Audi A3 has also recently been revised with a facelifted range arriving in local showrooms earlier this year, starting with the 35 TFSI and topping out with the sportier S3.

Unlike the Civic, both variants are offered as either a five-door Sportback hatch or four-door sedan, with the latter commanding a $3000 premium.

Interestingly, the entry-level 35 TFI Sportback runs the flagship Civic close on sticker price, starting at $54,800. But this does not include statutory on-road costs or options, which means it will sap around $60k to land in your driveway.

What do you get?

You’d want a lot from a $50k small car, and thankfully these two live up to expectations with generous levels of standard equipment.

Both the Civic and A3 Sportback ride on 18-inch alloy wheels and feature LED headlights, and they also cover the basic luxuries such as electric adjustment for the heated front seats, plus power windows, keyless entry with push-button start and twin digital displays for the instrument cluster and infotainment system.

The Civic has a 10.2-inch screen in front of the driver that changes themes according to the drive mode, while the A3 has the latest iteration of Audi’s Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster, via a larger 12.3 unit which offers more customisable functionality including a full map display which is handy when using navigation in unfamiliar settings.

As for the infotainment, again the Audi has a larger 10.1-inch screen in the centre stack, compared to the Civic’s dashtop-mounted 9.0-inch display.

But both feature the same level of functionality, including Bluetooth connectivity, DAB+ digital radio, embedded sat-nav, and wireless smartphone mirroring for Apple and Android devices, plus multiple USB power outlets and voice control.

The Civic’s Bose audio system has two extra speakers (for a total of 12) compared to the A3’s standard setup.

In the A3, the standard seats are trimmed in a mix of cloth and synthetic leather (full leather costs an additional $1100) and it has three-zone climate control, whereas the Civic LX’s seats are leather appointed but it only has dual-zone air-conditioning. But it does come standard with a panoramic glass sunroof, which is a $2000 option with the Audi.

Are they safe?

Both the Civic and A3 have been awarded the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, having first been tested in 2020 and 2022 respectively. But the Civic scores higher in individual criteria for Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road Users and Safety Assist.

Both feature an extensive suite of advanced driver aids, as highlighted below.

Honda Civic LX e:HEVstandard safety equipment includes:

• Autonomous Emergency Braking
• Forward Collision Warning
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Keep Assistance
• Traffic Jam Assist
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Traffic Sign Recognition
• Blind Spot Warning
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Driver Attention Monitor
• Nine airbags, including driver and passenger knee and centre
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reverse camera

Audi A3 35 TFSI Sportbackstandard safety equipment includes:

• Autonomous Emergency Braking
• Forward Collision Warning
• Lane Departure Warning
• Active Lane Keeping Assistance
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop&Go function
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Parking Assistance
• Turn Assist
• Exit warning system
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reverse camera
• Six airbags

What are they like inside?

Audi has set the benchmark for interior design and quality for a while now, and the A3 maintains that status with a fashionable yet functional cabin that neatly fuses traditional and digital elements together.

For starters, it has a nice mix of high quality materials and avant garde design elements – such as the high-mounted air vents on either side of the instrument cluster and angular door and grab handles – to look and feel much more modern than the Civic.

The digital elements also feature more trendy graphics, the seats provide more lateral support and the generous door pockets are easier to access.

The Civic’s cabin, on the other hand, feels more spacious and lighter, even if its interior design is slightly more traditional apart from the honeycomb grille stretching across the dash with joysticks to divert the air flow from the climate control. The build quality is exceptional, but the materials do feel a rung lower than in the Audi, such as the plasticky dials for the air-conditioning and audio volume.

However, the Honda is significantly longer than Audi, thanks to additional space between the front and rear axles, which provides more room for rear seat occupants and more cargo carrying capacity in the boot.

What’s under the bonnet?

Here’s where this pair diverges the most.

The Civic is a proper hybrid that combines a lean-burning Atkinson-cycle 2.0-litre petrol engine producing 105kW of power and 186Nm of torque with two electric motors driving the front wheels via a continously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Using a small-capacity 1.05kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the system produces a maximum combined output of 135kW and 315Nm.

While Honda is keen to point out that this makes the e:HEV models the most powerful non-Type R Civics ever produced, the priority is to reduce fuel consumption rather than increase performance. And, on that front, it achieves pretty impressive results with claimed average fuel use of just 4.2L/100km.

By comparison, the A3 has a turbocharged 1.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine under the bonnet, supported by a 48-volt mild hybrid system. It develops 110kW and 250Nm and drives the front wheels through a slick seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Despite its smaller capacity, the Audi delivers a more spirited and engaging driving character, but does use more fuel in doing so, with a claimed average of 5.3L/100km. It also requires more expensive premium unleaded, whereas the Civic can run on the cheapest standard unleaded.

Cost of ownership

There’s not a lot to separate this pair when it comes to the basis of ownership.

Both Honda and Audi provide a five-year warranty with unlimited kilometres. which also includes free roadside assistance.

The Civic’s lithium-ion battery is covered for an additional three years, but its service intervals are more frequent at every 10,000km compared to the A3’s 15,000km.

But while you can drive further between visits to the service centre in the A3, it will cost significantly more to maintain over the same time period. A key part of Honda’s customer-focused strategy is its no-fuss $199 per year service scheme, where Audi offers a pre-purchased five-year package with a total cost of $2520.

CarExpert’s Pick

This is a hard one, and it really depends on your priorities and the message you want to deliver to the rest of the world.

The A3 Sportback is the more emotional choice. It’s stylish, sportier, more engaging to drive and has genuine Euro street cred. But it costs significantly more to purchase, to run, and to maintain.

Which leaves the Civic LX e:HEV as the more rational option.

It might not have the same badge cachet, but it does match the Audi for luxury and beats it in terms of space, efficiency and ownership costs.

Interested in buying a Honda Civic? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

Click the images for the full gallery

MORE: Everything Honda Civic