Audi A3 hatchback (2012-2017) - Reliability & safety

Audi has an enviable reputation for build quality, which is largely justified. Certainly, Audis feel better built than almost any other cars out there and they’re used as a benchmark for interior fit and finish.

Audi A3 reliability

Inside, the Audi feels better built than many cars costing a lot more, but the bits you can’t see are also tough and durable. The Audi A3 range was rated average for reliability in our 2017 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey of cars currently on sale in the UK. Of the owners who responded, 13.6% reported experiencing a problem with their car at least once.

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The looks, engine and gearbox and ride and handling are all regarded as among the A3's strongest attributes by owners. They're not so impressed with its interior space and practicality, or its running costs and fuel economy.

Safety

With five stars from Euro NCAP, the A3 is extremely safe and it gets all the safety features you'd expect, including plenty of airbags as well as a pre-sense system to prepare the car in the event of an accident. The comprehensive options list means you can also have features such as active cruise control, which can match the speed of the car in front of you. The A3 can also be specified with Audi's quattro four-wheel-drive system.

Euro NCAP rated the A3's crash protection as being fractionally better than that of the Ford Focus and BMW 1 Series, and praised the Audi in virtually every area for adult and child occupant protection. The A3 can also be set to warn you if you're exceeding a pre-set speed.