Audi A3 (2012-2020) Review

If you’re looking for a hatchback that’s a bit posh, has a top-quality interior and gets oodles of standard equipment, the Audi A3 could be the car for you. Yet it’s still cheap to run, with a good range of petrol and diesel engines, so you can have economy, performance or a bit of both.

It may be bigger than its predecessor, but the three-door body layout means it’s not exactly practical - for that you want the five-door A3 Sportback. However, if you rarely need the back seats and want something that’s refined and with an upmarket image, we reckon this will suit you perfectly.

The Audi A3’s diesel engines suit it well, with the 2.0-litre being a particularly good combination of performance and economy. It’s extremely refined (you’d struggle to tell it’s a diesel at speed), and its low-down torque means it’s easy to drive. 

But if you don’t cover many miles, you’d be best looking for a petrol - the 1.4-litre remains one of our favourite Volkswagen Group petrol engines, despite being replaced by the 1.5-litre in 2017.

In terms of trim levels, all are comprehensively equipped, with mid-range Audi A3 Sport models providing a few nice-to-have features without breaking the bank. These include 17-inch alloy wheels and Audi’s sports suspension, lowered by 15mm. Of course if you need more practicality (and doors) look at the Audi A3 Sportback.

The Audi A3’s main competitor is the BMW 1 Series - a car that’s arguably more rewarding to drive than the A3, but has a dated interior compared to the Audi (and less generous standard equipment levels). 

Then there’s the Mercedes-Benz A-Class which never really hit the spot but sold in large numbers thanks to its premium badge. Leftfield alternatives include the Volvo V40 and Lexus CT - the latter used a hybrid engine set-up, but it lacks the performance of the A3. We’d also add in things like the Volkswagen Golf and Honda Civic at a push.

That thing about the Audi A3 feeling like the bigger (and pricier) A8 applies here. It feels like a much more expensive car, with high-quality materials everywhere.

One exception is the seats which, on entry-level Audi A3 SE and SE Technik models, are just simple cloth trim. It’s worth looking for an S line for the part-leather seats alone, although full Nappa seats are the preserve of hot S3 models. A few buyers of standard A3s ticked the option box for full leather seats and they’re a desirable extra in used examples - though finding one isn't always easy.

The Audi A3 S line models also come with extras such as a perforated leather gear lever, brushed aluminium inlays and door sill trims as well as a bespoke sports steering wheel.

No matter which A3 you opt for, it’s well-made. All the buttons operate with a pleasing tactility - from the radio controls to the temperature dials and electric window switches. There’s something satisfyingly premium about it all.

The infotainment system was one of the A3’s party pieces when it first came out in 2012. An ultra-thin (well what was ultra-thin back then) colour display electrically slides out of the dash, controlled via a dial between the seats rather than a touchscreen. 

This actually works very well - as anyone who’s been frustrated with trying to tap a touchscreen display in a moving car will attest.

There are one or two specification quirks. Navigation wasn’t standard on the base-level model when the Audi A3 came out, but was introduced with the SE Technik (which eventually replaced the entry-level SE).

Audi’s smartphone interface came as standard following the A3’s facelift in 2016, adding Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. These effectively mirror apps from your phone onto the pop-up infotainment display, meaning you can access your Spotify playlists or use apps like Waze or Google Maps.

At the same time, Audi’s Virtual Cockpit was also launched as part of the Technology Pack. It’s worth looking for cars with this feature as it makes the Audi A3’s cabin look ultra-modern, even today. There’s a high-res 12.3-inch screen in place of the standard instrument dials which you can customise, so prioritising the navigation or speedometer for instance.

For this third-generation A3, Audi moved the front and rear wheels further apart, so there’s a significantly more spacious interior.

There’s plenty of room in the front, with plenty of shoulder room for real size adults and headroom is reasonable, too - even for those giant people over six feet tall. As you’ll have gathered by now, the Audi A3 does a commendable job of mimicking a much bigger car.

Things aren’t quite so positive for those in the back. The standard A3 is a three-door (look for a Sportback model if you want rear doors). Which means getting in the back requires an element of flexibility. 

Once there, it’s a little claustrophobic but there’s enough room for adults on a short journey. You just may not want a four-hour stint back there. If you’re planning to regularly carry people you actually like, they may prefer a BMW 1 Series or Mercedes-Benz A-Class - both of which are slightly more spacious for rear-seat passengers.

You can squeeze a pair of child seats in the back, though - if you have to. Again, if it’s something you’re planning to do regularly, the five-door Audi A3 Sportback will make your life much easier.

With 365 litres, the Audi A3's boot compares well against rivals, although you should avoid quattro models if this is important - the four-wheel-drive system eats into boot space. There’s a bit of a lip for hoisting bulky items over too. If you do need to occasionally carry bigger items, the A3’s rear seats fold down almost entirely flat.

In terms of external dimensions, the Audi A3 measures 4237mm in length, 1966mm wide and 1421mm tall.

The first decision you need to make when buying an Audi A3 is whether a petrol or diesel engine is what you need. The split on the used market is roughly 50/50, with petrol engines generally a little cheaper to buy than their equivalent diesels.

If you cover more than 12,000 miles a year and spend a lot of time on the motorway, a diesel A3 will fit the bill. The 1.6-litre diesel (badged the 30 TDI in later years) is the most economical, making it popular with company car drivers.

But unless economy is the be-all and end-all, we’d go for a 2.0-litre diesel (badged the 35 or 40 TDI depending on power). This is a more flexible engine with lots of low-down pulling power, making motorway driving effortless. It’s also not considerably thirstier than the 1.6 TDI (we’ll come onto that).

If you’re not planning on covering tens of thousands of motorway miles, you’d be better with a petrol. The Audi A3 initially had a 1.8-litre turbo petrol, but this was expensive when new and even more expensive to run, so there aren’t many second-hand ones around. It was replaced by a 2.0-litre which, although fun, was equally pointless.

The 1.4 TFSI petrol was the big seller, later replaced by the 1.5 TFSI in 2017. These four-cylinder turbo petrols suit the A3 very well indeed, providing a decent blend of performance and economy. 

They’re generally reliable, although the 1.5-litre has more problems than the 1.4-litre, with a lot of owners finding it hesitates when cold. Audi has since issued an update to fix this.

There’s also an entry-level 1.0 TFSI three-cylinder petrol which might sound small for a car of this size, but it’s actually a brilliant little engine. Sure, a 1.4 or 1.5 will be a better choice if you live in a hilly area or regularly drive out of town, but the 1.0-litre is very eager and frugal, too.

We’d suggest sticking with the six-speed manual transmission, which combines a light clutch with a nice, direct gear change. The S tronic automatic has proved to be pretty problematic at times and it can be an expensive fix.

With tried-and-tested engines combined with lots of cabin insulation, the Audi A3 is extremely refined, no matter what’s under the bonnet.

Sure, you’ll notice a bit of clatter from the diesels on start-up (especially when cold), but no more so than with other diesels. And once warm, you’ll find there next to no significant noise from the engine bay.

While most small, three-cylinder petrol engines produce quite a distinctive (and characterful) noise, the little 1.0-litre petrol is surprisingly muted on the move.

The best engines for refinement, though, are the 1.4-litre and 1.5-litre petrols. These just do the job with little in the way of noise. They use cylinder-on-demand technology, meaning they can run on two cylinders alone under light loads, although you’re unlikely to notice the third and fourth cylinders kicking into action.

You’ll be pleased to know a used Audi A3 isn’t all fur coat and no knickers. When it was crash tested by independent body Euro NCAP in 2012, it was awarded a maximum five-star safety rating.

That includes a very impressive 95 per cent rating for adult occupants and 87 per cent for children. In tests, the Audi A3’s cabin retained its shape, with the organisation praising its ability to cope with side barrier impacts in particular, while the front seats and head restraints provide good protection against whiplash injury in the event of a rear-end collision.

Trick active safety systems range from Audi’s side assist (which warns you if there’s a car in your blindspot when changing lanes) to radar-assisted adaptive cruise control and traffic sign detection. Audi’s pre-sense safety system was ahead of its time when the A3 was new, preparing the car and reducing injuries in the event of a crash.

If you get a puncture, the Audi A3 came as standard with a space-saver spare wheel so you won’t be left stranded at the side of the road.

The Audi A3 scored a reasonable 9.22 out of 10 for reliability in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Survey, a score which is better than some Audi models but worse than others. Some problems have been raised by owners, such as cold starting of the 1.5-litre TFSI engine and also the automatic S tronic gearbox.

As a brand Audi performed less well than you might expect, placing 21st out of 30 manufacturers for overall satisfaction.

Insurance groups for the Audi A3 range from group 14 up to 39, with the 1.0-litre petrol in basic SE Technik trim being the cheapest to insure. 

Some insurers will use the Audi’s premium badge as an excuse to hike up premiums, especially for new drivers - but it’s worth shopping around. For most people, the A3 shouldn’t cost anything more to insure than a Volkswagen Golf.

Any Audi A3 registered before the 31 March 2017 will be subject to the old CO2-based vehicle tax system. The A3’s popularity with company car drivers is a reflection on how low its emissions were - most models will cost £30 a year or less to tax. Petrol and diesel A3 models registered from 1 April 2017 onwards will cost a flat £165 a year.

Don’t overlook the entry-level Audi A3 SE or SE Technik models. They might lack flashy exterior detailing or the bigger alloy wheels, but they’re actually comprehensively equipped - with things like that retractable infotainment display, rear parking sensors and cruise control as standard.

Audi A3 Sport models add a few more niceties such as bigger wheels, Audi’s Drive Select system and sports seats, but nothing essential. The desirable S line takes this a stage further, with 18-inch wheels, sports suspension (a no-cost option when new) and a flat-bottomed steering wheel.

Audi A3 Black Edition cars make the strongest prices on the second-hand market, thanks to a premium sound system, black styling pack and 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.