Audi A3
The Audi A3 is one of the best premium hatchbacks on the market. Its smart, understated design and superior build quality add desirability and help improve resale values. It's offered in three-door hatchback, five-door Sportback and Cabriolet bodystyles, and there is a wide choice of engines, plus manual, automatic and DSG automated manual gearboxes - all of which are tough and reliable. A restyle in 2008 made it look even sharper.
Watch our overview of the Audi A3 range
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- pros:
- Excellent build quality
- Cabin comfort
- Spacious interior
- cons:
- Expensive compared to rivals
- Not very exciting to drive
- Slightly claustrophobic in the back
The five-door A3 Sportback builds on the appeal of the three-door version. The key difference is a longer wheelbase and a redesigned rear that creates more legroom and an extra 20 litres of boot space. You still get the same safe and reassuring driving experience and a large choice of engines.
- pros:
- Excellent build quality
- Comfortable interior
- Economical diesel engines
- cons:
- Top spec models are expensive
- BMW 1 Series is sportier to drive
- Dark cabin feels slightly claustrophobic in the back
The premium badge and smart styling are a big part of the three-door A3 hatchback's appeal. It's also good to drive, but while it's refined and well built, its chassis lacks the sparkle of mainstream rivals like the Ford Focus. The A3's diesel engines offer great fuel economy and models fitted with these tend to be worth more second-hand than their petrol equivalents.
- pros:
- Excellent interior
- Frugal diesel engines
- Quick folding roof
- cons:
- High price-tag
- BMW 1-Series is more fun
- Cramped rear seats
At this price, drop tops don’t come any more desirable than the A3 Cabriolet. It's a style seeker's dream, with a snug-fitting, electrically-operated canvas top, and a neatly judged design. It's not the most rewarding car to drive – there is too much body shake over rough roads – but it does offer decent value for money and you won’t lose as much as some rivals when you come to sell it on. Rear visibility is poor and it's not terribly practical, either, with a tiny boot and small rear seats.
- pros:
- Blistering performance
- Solid build quality
- Practical for a performance car
- cons:
- High price tag
- Steering lacks feel
- Not as thrilling as BMW 1 Series M Coupe
The Audi RS3 is the smallest car in Audi's high-performance RS division. It's based on the A3 Sportback, so while it packs a punch, it's still reasonably practical, thanks to its five-door body. It uses a powerful five-cylinder turbocharged engine and comes with four-wheel drive and a seven-speed automatic gearbox, and is a rival to models such as the BMW 1 Series M Coupe and Subaru WRX STi. As it's the flagship of the A3 range, it comes with lots of standard equipment, but it also has a high asking price.
There are no prices & specs for this edition
- pros:
- Sensational cabin with style and quality
- Ride has a new found sense of comfort
- Wide range of efficient engines
- cons:
- Doesn’t handle as well as a 1 Series
- Space in the back is a little tight
- Looks too much like other Audis
First seen in production-ready form at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March, the all-new Audi A3 is due to go on sale in the UK in the summer of 2012, priced from around £19,000. Slightly wider and longer than its predecessor, the new A3 also weighs less and boasts more interior space. The cabin has received a major overhaul too. Taking inspiration from the Audi A1, quality levels are considerably higher while the dashboard features a new pop-up display. Buyers can choose from a range of TFSI petrol and TDI diesel engines, including a 1.6 TDI that is capable of 74mpg and 99g/km. Competition comes in the form of the new Volvo V40 and BMW 1 Series.
