Depreciation head-to-head
Volkswagen Golf vs Audi A3: Which Holds Its Value Better?
By Juan Pedro Nguema · Updated
Quick verdict
The Golf holds its value better with age (−3.9% a year against −6.0%), so the A3's premium badge mostly disappears after three or four years.
Volkswagen Golf
- Cars analysed
- 362
- Median asking price
- £20,074
- Value lost per year
- 3.9%
- Value lost per 10,000 miles
- 5.9%
- Automatic premium
- +20.2%
Fuel mix: petrol 78%, plug-in hybrid 11%, diesel 9% and electric 1%.
Audi A3
- Cars analysed
- 333
- Median asking price
- £19,299
- Value lost per year
- 6%
- Value lost per 10,000 miles
- 5.1%
- Automatic premium
- +17.7%
Fuel mix: petrol 75%, plug-in hybrid 21% and diesel 5%.
| Year | Volkswagen Golf median price | Cars | Median miles | Audi A3 median price | Cars | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | £17,299 | 25 | 32,771 | £16,899 | 25 | 35,129 |
| 2022 | £16,299 | 44 | 34,175 | £17,499 | 66 | 29,882 |
| 2023 | £19,274 | 54 | 25,024 | £19,299 | 77 | 24,147 |
| 2024 | £21,174 | 32 | 15,369 | £21,399 | 43 | 20,517 |
| 2025 | £22,699 | 48 | 12,481 | £26,999 | 43 | 6,686 |
| 2026 | £25,999 | 77 | 3,758 | £28,699 | 29 | 5,341 |
What the numbers mean
The Golf and A3 share most of their engineering. When nearly new, the A3 sells for more (about £2,700-£4,300 more on 2025-2026 cars). By the time they are three years old, the two cost almost exactly the same: the 2023 medians are £19,274 and £19,299 at similar mileages. Only the Polo loses value more slowly among the 15 popular models we analysed. The A3 is a little less sensitive to mileage (−5.1% v −5.9% per 10,000 miles). If you want the Audi badge, buying one at three or more years old means you are not paying extra for it.
Buying one? Check its history first
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