Audi A3 cars

If you're looking at Audi A3 cars for sale and would like more information, take a look at our handy buying guide below.

The style of the car

The A3 is a stylish, classy- looking car. It’s interior is brilliantly user-friendly, too.  Older models come in Sportback, saloon,  three-door hatchback or drop-top Cabriolet models. S Line models have a sportier look, while the high-performance S3 and RS3 models are sportier still. A new version was launched in 2020 that has more angular styling. It’s available as a five-door Sportback hatchback or a four-door saloon.

How it drives

From behind the steering wheel, the A3 feels solid and reassuring for what’s quite a compact car. It’s quiet and comfortable, too, so it’s great on a long journey. Town driving and manoeuvring is easy because you get a good view out and all models have parking sensors. Both the newest and older versions of the A3 are available with a wide range of petrol and diesel engines, plus hybrids. Automatic gearboxes and four-wheel drive are available on most models. Even the least powerful models give perfectly good acceleration, while the more powerful ones are pretty rapid. The S3 and RS3 are seriously fast.

The interior

The A3 is a compact family car that’s the same size as the BMW 1 Series or Mercedes A-Class. Audis always have beautifully made, user-friendly interiors and the A3 lives up to that standard. The older model’s infotainment display rises out of the top of the dashboard, while the latest version’s (much larger) screen is integrated into the dashboard. It has fewer buttons and dials, too - most of the car’s functions and features are controlled through the screen. Both versions have ample space for four adults and a boot that can hold four medium suitcases. Hatchbacks have back seats that fold down for more space. All models have air con, cruise control and smartphone connectivity. Top spec models can be lavishly equipped.

Running costs and reliability

Whether you go for the latest version or the older car, the A3 is available with a huge choice of engines covering a wide fuel-efficiency range. As a rule of thumb, petrol models should give real-world fuel economy of 35-45mpg, while diesels should give 50mpg or more. Hybrid models give similar economy to the diesels. Road tax and insurance costs are generally low, but can be steep for the S3 and RS3. Safety organisation Euro NCAP awarded both versions a full five-star safety rating.

How the Audi A3 compares with similar cars

The A3’s premium-brand compact hatchback rivals are the BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A-Class. The A3 is more practical than the BMW and has a higher-quality feel than the Mercedes. It’s a great all-rounder.