The Audi A3 has, since its launch back in 1996, been Audi’s biggest selling model. That underlines that the company’s decision to introduce its own upmarket alternative to the Volkswagen Golf was an astute one. The A3 has remained a strong seller, even though it’s since been joined by the smaller A1, as well as myriad Audi crossovers and SUVs that inevitably impact sales.
The premium compact family hatchback marketplace has boomed since the A3 kick-started the segment; BMW has offered everything from the 3 Series Compact through to the BMW 1-Series and 2 Series to rival it. Mercedes-Benz offers the A-Class, and there are plenty of other alternatives like the Volvo V40, the ubiquitous VW Golf and a host of mainstream rivals like the Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Vauxhall Astra and countless others.
The A3, by virtue of the badge it wears on its neatly styled grille, has always been a favourite among buyers, though, even if it’s not quite as exciting to drive as many of its alternatives. Stunning interior materials, fit and finish make up for that, as does a wide range of models, trims and very strong resale values. This all makes the Audi A3 a surprisingly inexpensive car to own and run, which also explains its continued allure. The fourth, most recent incarnation arrived in 2020.
Generations: 4
Audi A3 mk4 (2020-)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
- Four-door saloon
Notable features and facelifts of Audi A3 mk4:
- Known to enthusiasts by the internal code 8Y
- Launched online due to the Covid pandemic
- More daring styling both inside and out, mild-hybrid power
Introduced online in 2020 because of the global Covid pandemic, Audi replaced its popular A3 with a bigger, more dramatically styled fourth-generation model. At launch the new A3 is offered in five-door Sportback guise, or four-door saloon, with no three-door model available.
Trim levels included Technik, Sport, S line, Edition 1 (for the launch cars) and Vorsprung, with the engine line-up a familiar mix of turbcharged TFSI and TDI petrol and diesel choices. However, this was the point in time where Audi changed the naming structure of its engine range, so the nomenclature wasn’t as familiar as the engines themselves: for instance, the 2.0 TDI 150 became the 35 TDI, not that you’d know it. Many of the engines now featured mild-hybrid technology to improve fuel economy. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) offering was badged TFSI e, and made it possible to travel up to 40 miles on battery power alone. The sporty S3, also in saloon or Sportback form, used a 306bhp version of the 2.0 TFSI. The RS3 returned in 2022 with the same 395bhp 2.5-litre turbocharged engine as before, but clever chassis technology meant it was much more fun to drive.
Plentiful connectivity, touchscreens in all and various digital and online services, allied to ample provision of driver assistance systems, make the current A3 the most technical to date. It's bigger than its predecessors, too, with a longer wheelbase allowing more practicality and interior space for passengers and luggage.
Audi A3 mk4 Review
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Audi A3 mk3 (2013-2020)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
- Three-door hatchback
- Four-door saloon
- Two-door convertible
Notable features and facelifts of Audi A3 mk3:
- Known by the code 8V
- Wide choice of models, bodystyles and engine options
- Facelifted in 2017
Audi replaced the second-generation A3 late in 2012 in Europe, and it arrived in the UK early in 2013. Audi evidently thought 'it’s not broken, don’t fix it'; because the new A3 didn’t look radically different from the car it replaced, but it was, in fact, all-new. As before, it used a VW Group modular platform - this time the MQB - as its base, meaning it shared mechanical bits with group compatriots like the Volkswagen Golf, Seat Leon and Skoda Octavia.
Like its predecessor, the A3 was offered in three-door and five-door Sportback hatchbacks, as well as the convertible A3 cabriolet. It also gained an Audi A3 saloon model, which was introduced due to the popularity of the saloon bodystyle in China. The hot S3 model and super-hot RS 3 Sportback were also offered, with the RS 3 also available in saloon form.
In keeping with the times, the 2013 A3 had a revised engine line-up, with the focus on fuel economy and emissions, Audi adding regenerative braking systems to all models, which channel otherwise wasted energy into the battery, lessening the load on the alternator and resulting in an MPG fuel saving of up to 3%. Audi also introduced a gear shift indicator in the instruments to tell drivers the optimum gear for any given speed.
The engine line-up at launch included a 1.4 TFSI petrol with 120bhp, a 1.8 TFSI with 177bhp and a pair of diesels: the 1.6 TDI with 103bhp and the 2.0 TDI with 148bhp. A choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed or seven-speed S tronic automatic were available, depending on engine specification. All but one engine at launch used front-wheel drive, with buyers of the 1.8 TFSI able to have Quattro four-wheel drive. Trim choices followed the familiar Audi norm, with SE, Sport and S Line.
Key new technology in the 2013 A3 included handwriting recognition within the MMI infotainment system, via a touchpad rather than on the pop-up screen. It also had 4G broadband internet capability, while later on down the line Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were added. Audi also added a lot of safety equipment (although some of it was via options packs), including Adaptive Cruise Control, Audi Pre-Sense, Active Lane Assist, Side Assist and an active bonnet that pops up slightly to reduce injuries should you strike a pedestrian.
The S3 would join the line up the following year, with a 296bhp version of the 2.0-litre TFSI engine mated to a quattro four-wheel-drive system, and either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox. The manual S3 managed the 0-62mph sprint in 5.2 seconds and the S tronic automatic in 4.8 seconds. The S3 was available as a three-door hatchback, the S3 Sportback five-door and, later on in its life, as the S3 saloon.
With growing push for cleaner, greener cars, Audi introduced a couple of models aimed at a more environmentally conscious audience. The TDI Ultra used lower suspension, low rolling resistance tyres, and a longer final drive ratio, and removed weight by omitting some equipment options. A tyre inflation kit was also fitted instead of a spare wheel. These changes allowed Audi to claim an impressive MPG figure of 83.1.
The second economy model was the A3 e-tron Sportback plug-in hybrid. It combined a 1.4 TFSI petrol engine with a small battery and electric motor for a combined 201bhp output. It had the potential for battery-only running for up to 31 miles (more likely 20 in reality), before needing the petrol engine. An expensive model to buy, Audi offered it with a comprehensive specification, and the promise of low running costs made it attractive to customers, particularly those paying company car tax.
Every A3 got a slick, 5.8-inch infotainment screen that pops out from the top of the dashboard. To get the most from it, many buyers specified the Technology Pack, which added 3D MMI satnav. The audio equipment is decent as standard, but an optional Bang & Olufsen system is worth seeking out on a used A3, as it sounds superb.
The RS 3 blasted back into the line up in 2015 with a 362bhp version of Audi’s turbocharged five-cylinder engine. Like its predecessor, it was based on the five-door A3 Sportback. Its combination of all that power and quattro four-wheel drive allowed it to reach 62mph in 4.3 seconds, and onto a potential 174mph, provided that you’d paid Audi extra to remove the 155mph electronic speed limiter.
The A3 was given a refresh 2017, with a slightly revised look and some interior enhancements. More standard equipment was added, much of it safety related, while Audi also started to offer its Virtual Cockpit as an option in the A3, replacing the conventional instruments with a 12.3-inch configurable screen. SE Technik, a new trim level with emphasis on technology, was also added to the line-up, while some models could be had in Black Edition guise, which brough black detailing inside and out where there would usually be aluminium or chrome.
The RS 3 would again be offered from 2017, this time with its output increased to 394bhp, and it was available in saloon form for the first time.
The engine line-up through the A3’s later years included a three-cylinder 1.0 TFSI turbocharged petrol with 114bhp, a 148bhp, four-cylinder 1.5 TFSI and 187bhp TFSI 2.0-litre petrol choices. There were also 1.6 and 2.0 TDI diesels with 114bhp and 148bhp, respectively, as well as a sole 181bhp version, which came with the 2.0 TDI quattro model. Later S3 models produced 306bhp from a higher performance version of the 2.0 TFSI turbocharged petrol engine.
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Audi A3 mk2 (2003-2013)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
- Three-door hatchback
- Two-door convertible
Notable features and facelifts of Audi A3 mk2:
- Known by the model code 8P
- Three-door model was followed by a five-door Sportback and a two-door convertible
- Facelifted in 2008, when S3 was introduced
- Powerful RS 3 followed in 2011
The success of the original A3 saw Audi replace it with an all-new model in 2003. Based on a new platform (PQ35, if detail’s your thing), the new car was debuted at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show and reached showrooms later that year.
Like its predecessor, Audi initially offered it as a three-door, although a five-door version was quickly added. That five-door arrived in 2004 and was dubbed the Sportback. It became the most popular version, and remains so today. The Sportback debuted a new look for the A3 - and Audi as a whole, for that matter - introducing a large singleframe front grille, giving it a distinct look over its three-door relation. The Sportback’s grille would later be adopted across the entire A3 range, and was also applied to other models.
Audi looked to improve on the MK1 A3. It addressed some complaints about the lack of interior space by lengthening the wheelbase by 65mm, increasing passenger room and comfort. All models came with dual-zone climate control as standard, too.
The all-new platform allowed a wider range of engines, with the four-cylinder choices joined by a five-cylinder in-line and a six-cylinder V6. The new A3 also featured more sophisticated suspension, with a four-link rear suspension promising more dynamism, even though the A3 had always been a car that was less engaging to drive compared to its direct rivals.
As with its predecessor, the mk2 A3 could be had with either front-wheel drive or Quattro four-wheel drive. The new A3 also added the option of a DSG (Dynamic Shift Gearbox) twin-clutch automatic transmission for some models, alongside the more familiar Tiptronic automatic. The DSG promised the benefits of a traditional automatic, but without impacting economy and emissions. This meant lower running costs, which were attractive to the many fleet customers of the time.
The engine line-up at launch included 100bhp 1.6-litre and 148bhp 2.0-litre petrol choices. The 1.6 would later get a power boost to 113bhp. Topping the main A3 petrol engine choices was a 3.2-litre V6 with 247bhp, while the S3 used a more powerful version of the 2.0-litre TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with 261bhp and a 0-62mph time of 5.6 seconds.
The trim lines started with SE and Sport, with the S Line trim introduced from 2005. This proved a very popular trim choice, thanks not just to its comprehensive standard equipment, but its more overtly sporting styling outside; it adopted a more assertive-looking version of the Sportback’s single framed grille for both the three-door and five-door models, and it also had more contoured bumpers and S logos all over the place. It had a more sporting look inside, too, with sports front seats, more S Line badging and trim.
With its lifecycle spanning almost a decade, the 8P version of the A3 would be revised throughout its life to keep it up to date. The styling was refreshed with new head and taillights as well as LED running lights in 2008, while the engine line-up was regularly improved in a bid to keep the A3 competitive for fuel economy and CO2 emissions. Key engine replacements include the non-turbo 2.0-litre FSI dropped in favour of a 158bhp 1.8-litre TFSI four-cylinder, and the 1.6 FSI petrol being replaced by a 104bhp 1.2 TFSI petrol. Interior revisions included the addition of Audi’s MMI infotainment system, with standard equipment improving through the range as the model matured.
Other notable models in the A3 range include a convertible Cabriolet model, which arrived in the UK in the summer of 2008. With a partially automatic folding roof, the A3 could drop its top in around nine seconds.
The other notable model in the A3 range was the RS 3, introduced late in the lifecycle in 2011. The RS 3 borrowed its 335bhp five-cylinder turbocharged engine and quattro drivetrain from the Audi TT RS. That evocative-sounding powerplant allowed the RS 3 to achieve a 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds and reach a limited top speed of 155mph. It got its own unique RS styling inside and out, including lightweight carbonfibre reinforced front wings, while it rode on a lower, stiffer sports suspension. Inside, it sported heavily bolstered bucket sports seats and a cut-off steering wheel.
The RS 3 was initially limited to 500 cars, but popular enough that another run of 250 was offered in the summer of 2012.
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Audi A3 mk1 (1997-2003)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
- Three-door hatchback
Notable features and facelifts of Audi A3 mk1:
- Known by the codename 8L
- Launched as three-door model, five-door introduced in 1999
- Facelifted in 2000, with revisions to engine range
The Audi A3, codenamed 8L, was the first product to be spun off parent company Volkswagen’s PQ34 engineering platform, which was also used under the Volkswagen Golf, Seat Leon, Skoda Octavia and the Audi TT, among others. Introduced at the 1996 Frankfurt Motor Show, the A3 took Audi's clean design style and applied it very successfully to a compact hatchback. Initially, the A3 was only offered in three-door guise, and was pitched as a more sporty model, with Audi not offering a five-door version until midway through the mk1’s lifecycle in March 1999.
Offered with front-wheel drive and quattro four-wheel drive in the more powerful versions, the A3 had a choice of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. The petrol range comprised a 100bhp 1.6-litre, a 123bhp 1.8-litre and a 148bhp 1.8 turbo. A more powerful version of that 1.8-litre turbo was offered in the sporty S3 model, which had quattro four-wheel drive as standard and 207bhp for a 6.8-second 0-62mph time.
The diesel engine choice was a 1.9-litre TDI, which had either 89bhp or 108bhp in the early cars. Audi would revise the engine outputs throughout the A3’s life, with the 1.8 turbo offered in 178bhp form from 1999, the 1.6 gaining 1bhp at the same time. The diesel from 2001 onwards upped entry-level power to 99bhp, and the more powerful diesel boasting 128bhp and four-wheel drive from 2000.
The S3 would see its power increase to 222bhp from 2001. That same year, Audi started offering its five-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission with the 1.8T Sport model and 100bhp version of the turbodiesel.
The A3 came in standard, SE, Sport and the range-topping S3 specification. Standard specification included alloy wheels and central locking, though the base model did without standard air-conditioning (it was a whopping £1300 option back then).
Refreshed in 2000, the A3 gained smarter headlights and taillights and some detailed improvements to the interior trim. The five-door Audi A3 Sportback also joined the line-up around the same time, adding some ease for those needing access to the back seats, though space was still at a premium. The A3 was a huge success; Audi basically invented the premium compact hatchback sector with it, and it remains a big seller to this day.