Audi A3 Sportback Review & Prices

The Audi A3 is a small, posh family hatchback. It shares most of its mechanical bits with the Volkswagen Golf, but it’s a bit more glamorous, a bit more sporty, and quite a bit more desirable. With a wide range of engines and a really high-quality interior, it’s actually one of the most premium-feeling small hatchbacks you can buy.

The A3 is like buying yourself a posh monitor, keyboard and mouse for your office setup. The core of the thing might be the same old computer you’re used to - but everything you’re actually interacting with feels really nice and upmarket.

The Audi A3’s main alternatives are both fellow Germans - the incredibly popular BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A-Class. But it’s also a close call next to top-end versions of the Volkswagen Golf, while the hybrid-engined Honda Civic, stylish Peugeot 308 or fully-electric Cupra Born all make strong cases for themselves.

There’s no question that the Audi A3 is a desirable little hatchback - it just looks great. Tidy proportions, neat detailing that doesn’t stray into looking fussy and that instantly-recognisable Audi front end mean it stands out on the road without being too flash. Audi still offers an array of great colours, too, such as the lovely navy Navarra blue or the eye-catching Python yellow.

Group test: Audi A3 v Mercedes A-Class v BMW 1 Series v Volkswagen Golf

The interior is a similar blend of solid and understated. The A3 is one of an increasingly rare number of cars with lots of physical switchgear - there’s a full set of climate controls plus lovely clicky buttons with some shortcuts on. It’s all set under a modestly-sized 10.1-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch ‘Virtual Cockpit’ digital instrument cluster.

By keeping these screens a sensible size, Audi’s made the A3’s interior really easy to use - and much more attractive than alternatives which are basically a giant tablet. Old-school screen sizes don't mean a lack of tech, though, as all cars get Audi’s latest software plus smartphone connectivity if you’d rather bypass it.

As a relatively compact hatch the A3 Sportback isn’t going to win any awards for rear space - you’ll need a Skoda Octavia if you want the absolute maximum in rear legroom. But four six-foot adults will be able to sit comfortably, while the 380-litre boot is the same size as you get in a VW Golf or BMW 1 Series.

Engine choices are all great. There are two petrol engines which are brilliant all-rounders, and available with auto or manual gearboxes. There’s also a diesel, a rare option these days but a fantastic one for long-distance drivers, as it offers great fuel economy and an even better driving range.

There’s also the A3 TFSI e plug-in hybrid, which has a driving range on pure electric of up to 88 miles - that’s best-in-class. It’s ideally suited for people who have a long commute during the week that they want to do on electric power alone, but can’t commit to a full EV and want a petrol engine in reserve for longer drives.

Whether it’s a long motorway slog or an across-town jaunt, the A3 is nice to drive. It’s not as exciting in the bends as a BMW 1 Series, nor is it as comfortable over bumps as a Honda Civic - but it strikes a great balance, feeling solid, comfortable and stable.

Interested? Check out the latest Audi A3 deals on Carwow, or check out other Audi reviews to find the right car for you. You can also browse used A3s from our network of trusted dealers and take a look at other used Audis, and when it’s time to sell your current car, Carwow can help with that, too.

The Audi A3 range starts in Sport trim at around £28,000 for the ‘30 TFSI’ petrol engine with a six-speed manual gearbox, but jumping to the more powerful ‘35 TFSI’ costs less than £2,000, which makes it rather tempting. The ‘35 TDI’ diesel starts at almost £33,000. Stepping up the trim levels, S line starts at over £31,000, while fully loaded Black Edition cars start at nearly £35,000.

That makes the A3 competitive among other posh hatchbacks, being about the same as the BMW 1 Series, and less expensive than the Mercedes A-Class. The Volkswagen Golf is a fraction cheaper, while Honda Civic prices start at £35,000 – though this is explained in part by the fact it’s hybrid-only, which pushes the price up. The Skoda Octavia isn't the bargain it once was, with entry level versions starting around £27,000, while top-spec models are more in line with the Audi at over £35,000.

The Audi A3 Sportback is comfortable, quiet and easy to drive although it’s not the best choice if you like your car to be fun to drive

In town

The Audi A3 Sportback gets the basics of town driving spot on. You get a perfect driving position with loads of adjustment and large windows that give excellent visibility. Navigating through town is easy thanks to the car’s digital instrument display that transforms at the touch of a button into a massive map behind the steering wheel.

Get underway and you’ll find the A3’s suspension soaks up inner-city bumps and poor surfaces well for a car of this price. S line models are a touch more jiggly over imperfections, but not uncomfortable. The A3’s tight turning circle – tighter than a BMW 1 Series offers – is also a big help when you’re negotiating streets crammed with traffic.

Parking’s another A3 strong point. Light controls make it effortless to manoeuvre at low speeds and its progressive steering means you can get from lock to lock in just two turns. You also get standard rear parking sensors, though you'll have to pay extra for a reversing camera.

All the engines are fine, particularly those with automatic gearboxes. The A3 TFSI e is the best companion around town, though. With a claimed 88 miles of electric range - that’s well over 70 miles in the real world - you’d be able to go right through the middle of London and out the other side without troubling the petrol engine all. It’s quiet and responsive, and you don’t feel like you’re missing out on too much acceleration without the petrol engine involved.

On the motorway

The Audi A3 is one of the best cars of its type on the motorway. Road, wind and engine noise are all well contained and you’ll also love the standard auto-dimming rearview mirror, which cuts out the glare of other cars' headlights at night. All models offer reasonable acceleration, but the 35 TDI diesel is worth considering if you do lots of long drives thanks to its good combination of performance and economy.

Cruise control is included as standard, but if you want an adaptive system that maintains your distance to the car in front, you'll have to pay extra – though it is included in the same package that gives you a reversing camera (and an upgraded Sonos sound system).

On a twisty road

Out on country roads, the Audi A3 Sportback doesn’t prove to be as much fun as a BMW 1 Series, which offers an extra level of driver engagement and enjoyment. S Line models feel a touch sportier than lesser versions, their sports suspension 15mm lower so you get less body roll and a sportier stance, but not at the expense of comfort. Still, whichever version you go for the A3 is easy to place on the road and pretty grippy, so it's not totally flumoxxed by a B-road. If you like the A3 but wish it was a bit quicker, consider the S3 Sportback instead.

Decent space for four and good boot space, but glovebox and cup holders aren’t the most useful

The Audi A3 Sportback gives you a decent seating position and its cabin is well designed with space for four people, a square-shaped boot and a plethora of smaller storage spaces.

Getting comfortable behind the wheel is easy. You get loads of adjustment for you and your passenger’s seat and the steering wheel also offers plenty of movement.

Interior storage is mixed. The glovebox is only an average size and the cup holders don’t do a great job of holding your 330ml fizzy drinks upright – smooth driving is a must if you want to avoid a sticky mess. Also, the cubby under the centre armrest is next to useless for storing anything.

Better news comes in the form of a centre console tray that’ll accommodate big phones, two USB plugs in the front and large pockets in all four doors. You also get a hidden cubby under the steering wheel that’s ideal for hiding small valuables.

Space in the back seats

Headroom and legroom in the back of the Audi A3 Sportback are decent enough – you’ll fit comfortably even if you’re more than six feet tall, although three adults sitting across the back seat will feel crushed for hip and elbow room. While we’re having a moan, the centre armrest’s recessed cupholders mean it’s not a comfortable place to lean your elbow, which is something of a design flaw.

Fitting a child seat is easy thanks to the ISOFIX mounting points in the outer seats and, although you’ll have to move the front seats forward to squeeze in a bulky rear-facing child seat, the same is true on most alternatives.

Boot space

The Audi A3 Sportback’s boot has a large opening and a 380-litre capacity, which is bang on average for the class. In real terms, it can swallow up to five carry-on suitcases. That space is the same as the BMW 1 Series and Volkswagen Golf, while the Mercedes A-Class falls behind a little with 350 litres. Although they're less premium, the Honda Civic offers 410 litres, while the Skoda Octavia has a cavernous 600-litre space.

Setting the adjustable boot floor as high as it goes means you can slide heavy luggage into place, the space below the floor serves as an ideal place to store the parcel shelf and you get a completely flat floor with the rear seats folded down. Total luggage capacity sits at 1,200 litres in this configuration.

It’s worth noting that the A3 TFSI e has a smaller capacity, though, at just 280 litres. That’s a bigger sacrifice than you make with the plug-in Mercedes A-Class, which still has 310 litres, but it’s a little bigger than the 273 litres you get in a plug-in Volkswagen Golf. The space is lost from the underfloor storage compartments, and it’s due to the placement of the hybrid battery pack.

Handy features? There’s no shortage of those – you get hooks to secure your luggage and your shopping, as well as a 12V socket for powering electrical appliances.

The Audi A3 Sportback doesn't have a particularly flashy interior, but it's well put together and the infotainment system is slick and easy to use

Sitting behind the steering wheel, the Audi A3 Sportback feels modern enough, although its angular design isn’t as understatedly pleasant as the old model’s dashboard and interior quality isn’t as consistent, either.

Okay, so the tops of the front doors and the dashboard get soft-touch plastics, but below eye level, there’s plenty of scratchy stuff to grumble about. The BMW 1 Series’ consistently high-quality cabin feels like a level up in terms of materials, though the Audi A3 is really well put together and should stand the test of time better than most alternatives.

The BMW’s infotainment is also slightly better thanks to its brighter graphics and more logical menus, but we're being picky because Audi's system is still up there with the best of them. You can swipe through menus quickly and you get physical buttons for the ventilation so there’s no need to dive into menus just to turn up the heater.

As you’d expect, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard so it’s easy to mirror your phone’s apps and use its display on the car’s big screen. Two USB ports mean you can charge two phones at once.

Along with the 10.1-inch screen in the centre of the dashboard, you get a 10.3-inch 'Virtual Cockpit' screen behind the steering wheel which is class-leading even among other digital instrument displays.

The basic stereo is fine if you're an avid Radio 4 listener but if you like your tunes with a bit more get-up-and-go, you'll want the Technology Pack and its upgraded Sonos sound system.

The Audi A3 Sportback is available with two petrol engines and one diesel. Petrol models come as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, with the option to swap it for a seven-speed dual-clutch auto. The diesel is automatic as standard. 

The 30 TFSI is the range entry-point producing 116hp from a 1.5-litre petrol engine. Performance is adequate rather than startling – 0-62mph takes just under 10 seconds – but it can return fuel economy of about 50mpg.

Go for the 35 TFSI petrol engine which has a healthier 150hp. It’ll get from 0-60mph in 8.4 seconds, but returns identical fuel economy figures to the '30' in official tests, making it a tempting upgrade. 

The 2.0-litre 35 TDI diesel also makes 150hp, but gets the best fuel economy. It can return about 57mpg, and with a 0-60mph of 8.3 seconds it's just about the fastest A3 this side of the sportier S3. The diesel is ideal for those who do a lot of motorway miles, but it is more expensive to buy than the petrols, which can offset the savings.

Opt for the 40 TFSI e plug-in hybrid and there’s the potential for some real cost-savings. Audi claims up to 88 miles of all-electric range - that’s between 70-80 miles in the real world - which is certainly enough that you could do even the most gruelling weekday commute without ever troubling the petrol engine.

If you are doing a longer journey, using the A3’s built-in nav will let the car decide when and where to use the electric power, optimising your mpg. This electric range also puts it in one of the lowest groups for company car benefit-in-kind tax, just one step above a full EV.

All other models have fairly low CO2 emissions, so first-year road tax isn't too pricey. Audi A3 insurance groups are similar to other premium hatchbacks, so should see similar premiums.

The Audi A3 Sportback was awarded a five-star rating when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP and it comes fitted with features such as automatic emergency braking, hill-hold assist, lane-departure warning and a distance sensor that warns when you’re too close to the car in front. Driver attention and drowsiness warning is included as standard as part of the 2024 update, as is a speed limiter function. You also get a car alarm as standard. 

Audi hasn't traditionally scored very well overall in the Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, and the A3 itself hasn't appeared in the latest list of the top cars to own in the UK. The three-year/60,000-mile warranty is about as basic as it gets, too, though you can pay a bit extra to extend this.