Compare cars
Pick up to 3 cars to see how they stack up on score, price and specs.
Audi A3Mazda Axela
Mandai score
8/10
8.5/10
Typical price
KSh 2,800,000
KSh 1,650,000
Years
2017-2023
2017-2023
Fuel
Petrol, Hybrid
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid
Transmission
Automatic
Automatic
Doors
5
5
Most popular trim
A3 1.4 TFSI / 30 TFSI S Line
Axela 15S / 15XD L-Package
Dealer listings
None listed
None listed
Fuel and running cost
Trim
1.4L / 1.5L TFSI Turbo Petrol
Fuel consumption
17.5 km/L5.7 L/100km combined · about 875 km a tank
21.6 km/L4.6 L/100km combined · about 1102 km a tank
Running cost
KSh 1,297 / 100 kmKSh 13 a km · KSh 12,969 for 1,000 km · petrol
KSh 1,054 / 100 kmKSh 11 a km · KSh 10,544 for 1,000 km · diesel
Dimensions
Length
4,343 mm (Sportback) / 4,495 mm (Saloon)
4,460 mm (Hatch) / 4,580 mm (Saloon)
Width
1,816 mm
1,795 mm
Height
1,430 mm
1,440 mm
Wheelbase
2,636 mm
2,700 mm
Ground clearance
140 mm
145 mm
Boot space
380 L (Sportback) / 425 L (Saloon)
358 L
Kerb weight
1,280 kg
1,280 kg
Seats
5
5
Specifications
Engine
1.4L TFSI Turbo Petrol (30 TFSI)
1.5L Skyactiv-D Turbo Diesel (15XD)
Power
150 hp @ 5,000 rpm
105 hp @ 4,000 rpm
Torque
250 Nm @ 1,500–3,500 rpm
270 Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Front-Wheel Drive / i-ACTIV AWD
0–100 km/h
8.2 sec
9.8 sec
Top speed
224 km/h
188 km/h
Fuel economy
Combined
17.5 km/L (1.4T) / 18.5 km/L (1.5T MHEV)
21.6 km/L (1.5L Diesel) / 17.2 km/L (1.5L Petrol)
City
14.5 km/L (1.4T) / 15.5 km/L (1.5T MHEV)
18.0 km/L (1.5L Diesel) / 14.5 km/L (1.5L Petrol)
Highway
20.5 km/L (1.4T) / 21.5 km/L (1.5T MHEV)
24.5 km/L (1.5L Diesel) / 19.5 km/L (1.5L Petrol)
Tank size
50 L
51 L
CO₂ emissions
119 g/km
114 g/km
At a glance
Model
Audi A3 (8V Facelift / 8Y Series)
Mazda Axela / Mazda3 (BM / BP Series)
Production years
2017–2023
2017–2023
Body type
5-Door Sportback / 4-Door Saloon
5-Door Hatchback / 4-Door Saloon
Seating capacity
5 seats
5 seats
Fuel types
Petrol (TFSI), Mild Hybrid (MHEV)
Petrol, Clean Diesel, Mild Hybrid
Engine sizes
1,395 cc / 1,498 cc / 1,984 cc
1,496 cc / 1,758 cc / 1,997 cc
Transmission
7-speed S tronic Dual-Clutch Automatic
6-speed Skyactiv-Drive Automatic
Drivetrain
FWD or Quattro AWD
FWD or i-ACTIV AWD
Ground clearance
140 mm
145 mm
Source market
Japan / UK (RHD)
Japan (RHD)
Pros and cons
What’s good
- Sub-1,500 cc customs tax advantage: 1.4L and 1.5L engines qualify for lowest KRA tax bracket.
- Premium Virtual Cockpit interior: 12.3-inch digital display with MMI touch navigation.
- Excellent 17.5+ km/L fuel economy: Frugal turbo petrol technology with Cylinder on Demand.
- Elegant Saloon & Sportback options: High executive style and strong local market demand.
- Sub-1,500 cc customs duty advantage: 1.5L petrol and diesel models qualify for KRA's lowest excise tax bracket.
- High-torque 1.5L diesel engine: 15XD turbo diesel delivers 270 Nm torque while achieving 21.6 km/L fuel economy.
- Upscale cabin craftsmanship: Soft-touch interior materials, MZD Connect infotainment, and heads-up HUD display.
- Excellent high-speed stability: Rigid SkyActiv chassis and 2,700 mm wheelbase provide planted highway handling.
What’s not so good
- 140 mm ground clearance: Requires cautious driving over tall estate speed bumps.
- S tronic dual-clutch maintenance: Demands regular transmission fluid changes every 60,000 km.
- 145 mm ground clearance: Requires cautious driving over tall estate speed bumps and ramps.
- Compact rear passenger headroom: Sloping roofline reduces rear headroom for tall adults over 6 feet.
- Costly i-Stop AGM battery replacement: Start-stop system requires specialized Q-85 (petrol) or S-95 (diesel) batteries.

