Audi's A3 practically invented the premium hatch segment back in the 1990s, but now it's been joined by a host of rivals from BMW, Mercedes and Volvo. Thankfully for Audi, the latest generation is still one of the best of the breed, and a facelift in 2016 only added to that.
The Audi A3 sits above the A1 supermini in the firm's extensive range, and remains a shining sales success. With a classy (if understated) exterior, a well crafted interior and the latest safety and efficiency technology, the A3 is the car to beat in its class.
The A3 is based on the advanced MQB platform used widely within the VW Group, but Audi has tuned the chassis specifically to deliver a sportier feel than any other hatchback in the family. However, it still can’t match the level of driving engagement and composure offered by the best cars in the class – namely the sharp and involving BMW 1 Series.
Even so, the engine range is strong and extensive. Buyers can opt for anything from a tiny three-cylinder 1.0litre TFSI to the range-topping S3 and five-cylinder RS 3 Sportback and Saloon. There's a three-door, five-door Sportback and Saloon, as well as a four-seat A3 Convertible. With so much choice on offer, there should be an Audi A3 to suit anyone’s needs.
The Audi A3 sits above the A1 supermini in the firm's extensive range, and remains a shining sales success. With a classy (if understated) exterior, a well crafted interior and the latest safety and efficiency technology, the A3 is the car to beat in its class.
The A3 is based on the advanced MQB platform used widely within the VW Group, but Audi has tuned the chassis specifically to deliver a sportier feel than any other hatchback in the family. However, it still can’t match the level of driving engagement and composure offered by the best cars in the class – namely the sharp and involving BMW 1 Series.
Even so, the engine range is strong and extensive. Buyers can opt for anything from a tiny three-cylinder 1.0litre TFSI to the range-topping S3 and five-cylinder RS 3 Sportback and Saloon. There's a three-door, five-door Sportback and Saloon, as well as a four-seat A3 Convertible. With so much choice on offer, there should be an Audi A3 to suit anyone’s needs.
Our Choice
Audi A3 Sport 1.4 TFSI CoD
The Audi A3 is a handsome premium hatchback that shares its engineering platform, powertrains and technology with the Volkswagen Golf and VW group stablemates the SEAT Leon and Skoda Octavia.
They’re all built on a shared MBQ platform, but the Audi A3 price
premium means it’s generally the most expensive of the bunch.
Other rivals in the premium family hatch sector include the BMW 1 Series, the Mercedes A-Class, Volvo V40 and Lexus CT, meaning buyers have a diverse and interesting choice of styles and characters.
• Best hatchbacks on sale right now
The A3 for sale currently is the third generation of a model first introduced in 1996. The car’s popularity has contributed to that long legacy, and more than half a million examples have been sold in the UK making it the nation’s most popular premium hatch.
The
most recent model arrived at dealers in 2012 and was facelifted in
2016. One of the keys to its success is the extremely wide range of
bodystyles and powertrains available, as there are an impressive 11
models to choose from in the line-up. If you don’t fancy the three-door
hatchback, there’s the five-door A3 Sportback, a four-door A3 Saloon and
the A3 Cabriolet. Performance enthusiasts are catered for with the powerful S3 and RS3, and there’s an Audi e-tron plug-in hybrid too.
The trim levels are carried over from other Audi ranges, but differ according to the A3 model that you’re looking at. The hatch and Sportback trims are SE, Sport, SE Technik, S Line and flagship Black Edition. If you’re considering a saloon the range is limited to Sport, S Line and Black Edition. Cabriolet buyers can pick from Sport and S Line only, while the S3 hot hatch variant comes in either ‘standard’ or Black Edition spec, and there’s only one version of the RS3.
Engine options are varied. In the regular A3 range there are both petrols and diesels, split into a variety of outputs. The 1.0-litre TFSI is the entry-level choice, or there’s a 1.4 TFSI with 148bhp or a new 2.0-litre petrol with 187bhp.
The S3s use a high-performance derivative of the four-cylinder unit found in many Volkswagen Group performance cars, including the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R, SEAT Leon Cupra and Skoda Octavia vRS. Meanwhile, the RS3 uses a 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo in honour of Audi’s rally heritage, making it the most powerful production hot hatch in the world.
All regular A3s get the option of a 1.6-litre TDI diesel
engine, delivering 108bhp, which can also be specced with all-wheel
drive on the A3 Sportback and Saloon. The 2.0 TDI makes either 148bhp or
181bhp and is available across the range.
A six-speed manual gearbox is standard on almost all engines, with an S tronic dual-clutch automatic available as an option. The auto is a seven-speed set-up on the 1.0 TFSI, 1.4 TFSI, 2.0 TFSI and 1.6 TDI, and on the RS3 – where it’s the only gearbox available – while the six-speed S tronic is offered on the 2.0 TDI and S3. The six-speed auto is the only option on the S3 Cabriolet.
Most A3s are front-wheel drive, but Audi's trademark quattro part-time four-wheel drive system can be specified on some Sport models upwards, usually linked to an S tronic gearbox. The odd A3s out here are the 1.6 TDI quattro and the 148bhp 2.0 TDI quattro - both manuals.
Audi also offers an impressive A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid. This is only available in the Sportback bodystyle and uses a 1.4 TFSI engine supplemented by an electric motor and has a one-off specification that closely resembles an A3 Sport. The e-tron is designed to challenge the BMW i3 electric car (which is available with a range-extending petrol engine), but doesn't feel quite as revolutionary – although the Audi is more conventional and easier to live with.
Other rivals in the premium family hatch sector include the BMW 1 Series, the Mercedes A-Class, Volvo V40 and Lexus CT, meaning buyers have a diverse and interesting choice of styles and characters.
• Best hatchbacks on sale right now
The A3 for sale currently is the third generation of a model first introduced in 1996. The car’s popularity has contributed to that long legacy, and more than half a million examples have been sold in the UK making it the nation’s most popular premium hatch.
The trim levels are carried over from other Audi ranges, but differ according to the A3 model that you’re looking at. The hatch and Sportback trims are SE, Sport, SE Technik, S Line and flagship Black Edition. If you’re considering a saloon the range is limited to Sport, S Line and Black Edition. Cabriolet buyers can pick from Sport and S Line only, while the S3 hot hatch variant comes in either ‘standard’ or Black Edition spec, and there’s only one version of the RS3.
Engine options are varied. In the regular A3 range there are both petrols and diesels, split into a variety of outputs. The 1.0-litre TFSI is the entry-level choice, or there’s a 1.4 TFSI with 148bhp or a new 2.0-litre petrol with 187bhp.
The S3s use a high-performance derivative of the four-cylinder unit found in many Volkswagen Group performance cars, including the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R, SEAT Leon Cupra and Skoda Octavia vRS. Meanwhile, the RS3 uses a 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo in honour of Audi’s rally heritage, making it the most powerful production hot hatch in the world.
A six-speed manual gearbox is standard on almost all engines, with an S tronic dual-clutch automatic available as an option. The auto is a seven-speed set-up on the 1.0 TFSI, 1.4 TFSI, 2.0 TFSI and 1.6 TDI, and on the RS3 – where it’s the only gearbox available – while the six-speed S tronic is offered on the 2.0 TDI and S3. The six-speed auto is the only option on the S3 Cabriolet.
Most A3s are front-wheel drive, but Audi's trademark quattro part-time four-wheel drive system can be specified on some Sport models upwards, usually linked to an S tronic gearbox. The odd A3s out here are the 1.6 TDI quattro and the 148bhp 2.0 TDI quattro - both manuals.
Audi also offers an impressive A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid. This is only available in the Sportback bodystyle and uses a 1.4 TFSI engine supplemented by an electric motor and has a one-off specification that closely resembles an A3 Sport. The e-tron is designed to challenge the BMW i3 electric car (which is available with a range-extending petrol engine), but doesn't feel quite as revolutionary – although the Audi is more conventional and easier to live with.
Engines, performance and drive
Lots of choice on offer for the pragmatic buyer, but there are also some serious performance versions of the A3.
This latest A3 bucks the Audi
trend of using hard suspension to improve the handling – which
ultimately compromised ride comfort in the previous generation model.
The suspension on the current A3 is a vast improvement over the old
car's, with only a dab of firmness present. Yet even though the car is
generally good to drive, the handling is still somewhat uninvolving
compared to rivals like the BMW 1 Series.
This is particularly true on the RS 3 Sportback. Although it serves up ballistic pace and secure quattro four-wheel-drive grip, it’s ultimately found wanting in the fun department. The S3 is better, possibly because your expectations are set lower to begin with, but it can do 90 per cent of what the RS 3 can do for significantly less cash. We'd still opt for a VW Golf R, however.
All
versions of the Audi A3 get a standard suspension setting, but on Sport
and S line models buyers can opt for sportier, stiffer suspension at no
extra cost. Just beware that with this set-up, the ride is
significantly firmer, and road noise is increased enough to make it
quite a bit less refined. We'd avoid it unless cornering is an absolute
priority.
In terms of engine, we’d choose either the 1.6-litre TDI diesel or 1.4-litre TFSI petrol for a good mix of economy, cost and performance. Opt for the 1.0-litre if you don't need outright speed, though it'd be unfair to call it slow. The 2.0-litre petrol is quick, but the performance comes at the expense of economy, while the powerful 2.0-litre TDI offers plenty of pace and efficiency for a more expensive initial outlay.
The diesels make more financial sense, though, and while the 2.0 TDI has the best power and torque figures, plus reasonable refinement, it’s not as frugal as the 1.6-litre TDI. This makes 108bhp at 3,200-4,000rpm and 250Nm of torque from 1,500-3,000rpm. The 2.0 delivers 148bhp and 340Nm, or 181bhp and 380Nm in its more powerful guise.
The 2.0-litre TFSI engine in the S3 has figures to match the Volkswagen Golf R, with 306bhp and 400Nm of torque. But the RS 3’s 2.5-litre five-cylinder leaves even that in the shade. It serves up 395bhp from 5,850-7,000rpm and a huge 480Nm from 1,700-5,850rpm, making it more powerful than a Mercedes-AMG A 45. The RS 3 has the edge for aural appeal, too, thanks to trick exhausts and that fabled five-cylinder warble.
Performance
is strong across the range, with only a handful of models, mainly 1.6
TDIs, unable to complete the 0-62mph sprint in less than 10 seconds.
Plus, all A3s are capable of at least 120mph. With the twin-clutch
automatic gearbox, the S3 hatchback can do 0-62mph in under 5 seconds,
which isn’t far off the bombastic RS 3’s time of 4.1 seconds.
This is particularly true on the RS 3 Sportback. Although it serves up ballistic pace and secure quattro four-wheel-drive grip, it’s ultimately found wanting in the fun department. The S3 is better, possibly because your expectations are set lower to begin with, but it can do 90 per cent of what the RS 3 can do for significantly less cash. We'd still opt for a VW Golf R, however.
In terms of engine, we’d choose either the 1.6-litre TDI diesel or 1.4-litre TFSI petrol for a good mix of economy, cost and performance. Opt for the 1.0-litre if you don't need outright speed, though it'd be unfair to call it slow. The 2.0-litre petrol is quick, but the performance comes at the expense of economy, while the powerful 2.0-litre TDI offers plenty of pace and efficiency for a more expensive initial outlay.
Engines
All engines in the Audi A3 range are four-cylinder turbocharged units, with the exception of the entry-level 1.0-litre three-cylinder and range-topping 2.5-litre five-cylinder in the RS3. The 1.0-litre TFSI makes 113bhp 200Nm of torque, while the 1.4 delivers 148bhp and the 2.0-litre petrol gets 187bhp.The diesels make more financial sense, though, and while the 2.0 TDI has the best power and torque figures, plus reasonable refinement, it’s not as frugal as the 1.6-litre TDI. This makes 108bhp at 3,200-4,000rpm and 250Nm of torque from 1,500-3,000rpm. The 2.0 delivers 148bhp and 340Nm, or 181bhp and 380Nm in its more powerful guise.
The 2.0-litre TFSI engine in the S3 has figures to match the Volkswagen Golf R, with 306bhp and 400Nm of torque. But the RS 3’s 2.5-litre five-cylinder leaves even that in the shade. It serves up 395bhp from 5,850-7,000rpm and a huge 480Nm from 1,700-5,850rpm, making it more powerful than a Mercedes-AMG A 45. The RS 3 has the edge for aural appeal, too, thanks to trick exhausts and that fabled five-cylinder warble.
MPG, CO2 and running costs
Audi offers plug-in hybrid A3s to keep costs down, but watch out for expensive insurance on some models
Petrol engines are usually a lot less frugal, but the 1.0-litre unit is nearly as economical as the lower-powered diesel and is nicer to drive, too. Plus, the clever 148bhp 1.4 TFSI petrol with cylinder deactivation can return 60.1mpg and emit only 109g/km of CO2.
Of course, the real eco-champion (in terms of official numbers in any case) is the A3 e-tron. Its petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain returns 176.6mpg and emits 37g/km when the car is running on 17-inch wheels; specify 18-inch rims, and it claims 166.2mpg and 39g/km. The e-tron has a fully electric range of 29 miles and a limited top speed of 81mph, takes a minimum of two-and-a-quarter hours to recharge and can go 550 miles on petrol power alone. However it’s not cheap, and even with the Government’s plug-in car grant helping out, buyers will still pay in excess of £30,000.
Our real-world choice, therefore, is the 1.6 TDI, which claims 70.6mpg and 105g/km. It's less refined than the 1.0-litre petrol, but for many the economy figures alone will be enough to make the difference.
Insurance groups
An equivalent BMW 1 Series or VW Golf will be cheaper to insure, as the Audi A3 falls into at least insurance group 16. Surprisingly, though, the RS 3 doesn’t sit in the highest insurance group in the A3 range; that dubious honour goes to the S3 Cabriolet (group 42). The RS 3 sits in insurance group 40.Whether you go for one of the performance models or a lower-spec diesel, Audi offers a wealth of electronic safety assist systems and quattro all-wheel drive on the A3, much of which will help lower insurance premiums.
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