Skip advert
Advertisement

Audi A3 2.0 TDI 140

Beautifully finished and fun to drive, Audi's A3 is a serious contender here

Pros
  • Low CO2 emissions, urgent and punchy oil-burner, strong in-gear performance, muscular styling, smooth gearchange
Cons
  • Engine noise under acceleration, headroom tight in rear, standard equipment could be more generous, plain hatchback looks

The A3 was Audi’s first premium hatchback, and its launch in 1996 was perfectly timed. Superbly built and highly desirable, it quickly captured the imagination of young executives who were desperate to step up from a Volkswagen Golf.

The factors that made the original such a hit are still clearly evident in the latest model. The A3 simply oozes quality, despite the fact that it looks rather run-of-the-mill when lined up alongside the C30 and C-Class Sports Coupé.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Audi A3

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_narrow","fid":"69227","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image"}}]]

With its archetypal hatchback proportions and square tail, it’s nowhere near as funky as the Volvo or sleek and sporty as the Mercedes. Yet it’s clean and unfussy nevertheless, with a strong waistline and muscular poise. Our test car had an aggress­ive edge thanks to the chunky 17-inch alloys fitted as standard on Sport variants.

The A3’s underpinnings are proven, and shared with a host of VW Group products, so the good packaging is no surprise. It’s the shortest car here and features the most compact wheelbase, but still has a decent 350-litre boot. The capacity increases to 1,100 litres when the rear seats are folded flat – that’s as big as the Sports Coupé and 90 litres more space than the C30 has to offer. However, the short wheelbase is noticeable if you are sitting in the rear. The chairs are set higher than those in the front, yet headroom suffers as a consequence. Legroom is better, though, and access to the back seats easier than in the C30.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

UX

2023 Lexus

UX

14,752 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £16,649
View UX
Combo Life

2023 Vauxhall

Combo Life

44,046 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £12,849
View Combo Life
A3 Sportback

2024 Audi

A3 Sportback

25,255 milesAutomaticPetrol1.4L

Cash £20,699
View A3 Sportback
XC40

2022 Volvo

XC40

40,430 milesManualPetrol1.5L

Cash £20,449
View XC40

Up front, Audi quality is evident in the elegant, user-friendly dash design. Neither competitor is as solidly put together – the A3’s cabin feels as if it will stand the test of time. But that’s not to say it’s perfect; the cup-holder is rather flimsy, while the handbrake, when pulled up, hits the underside of our model’s optional centre armrest.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The rest of the Audi interior is better exec­uted. High-quality switchgear is used throughout and the leather-trimmed, three-spoke steering wheel is good to hold. The sports seats also offer decent lateral support, although they aren’t quite as com­fortable as those in the C30.

The proven 2.0-litre diesel engine is the best in this test. Its 320Nm of torque peaks at only 1,750rpm, and that means the Audi is ideal for overtaking. The six-speed transmission is excellent and maximises the TDI’s power, so it’s punchy and urgent low down in the range. At high revs the powerplant runs out of puff (this is also an issue in both the Volvo and Mercedes), but nevertheless the A3 felt the quickest of our trio.

And at the test track, this proved to be the case. The Audi’s 9.1-second 0-60mph sprint time was marginally slower than the C30’s, but it was by far the fastest from 30-70mph, taking only 8.3 seconds. What’s more, the A3 has the best handling. Admittedly, the competition here isn’t fierce, but in Sport trim it corners precisely and is respon­sive, although the steering could be more involving.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Yet while the Audi has better grip and body control than the Volvo, the ride isn’t as smooth and gets caught out by sharp bumps. So the Volvo has a better all-round balance for most buyers.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The A3 is also comparatively expensive and not especially well equipped. Simply specifying this Sport version to the same level as the standard Volvo would push its price up to £21,840 – which is £2,545 more than the Swedish offering. As a result, the Audi doesn’t look great value.

Details

Price: £20,080
Model tested: Audi A3 TDI 140 Sport 2.0 litre/138bhp
Chart position: 2
WHY: There are five petrol engines and three diesels in the A3 line-up, as well as five trim levels. Add in gearbox variations and the quattro all-wheel drive, and the choices are baffling. However, it’s the mid-range diesel in Sport spec that we test.

Economy

Although the 2.0-litre TDI powerplant is rather noisy and unrefined, it knows how to save money at the pumps. With long gearing and good aerodynamics, the Audi stretched 43.9 miles out of each gallon, making it the only car here to be able to travel more than 500 miles on a tankful.

Residuals

The standard A3 doesn’t tend to perform as strongly as the five-door Sportback, yet its residuals are still good, and diesels lead the way. After three years, it is worth 48.2 per cent of its original cost, or £10,438. But if you want to minimise your losses, the entry-level 1.9-litre TDI is a better bet.

Servicing

While Audi has the smallest network in this company, its dealers have an excellent reputation for customer relations. The first three services for the A3 come to £1,095, but thanks to its variable schedule, this 2.0-litre TDI model can travel up to 30,000 miles between check-ups.

Tax

Emitting 149g/km of CO2, the Audi’s diesel is the most environmentally friendly, and so the A3 sits in the 19 per cent tax category. Lower-band owners will shell out £839 every year – that’s over £450 cheaper than the C-Class Sports Coupé, but a mere £10 less than the Volvo.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £2,607 off RRP*Used from £16,850
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £37,230Avg. savings £3,063 off RRP*Used from £14,910
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £14,575Avg. savings £1,864 off RRP*Used from £7,850
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £3,970 off RRP*Used from £8,795
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Geely EX5 SUV to arrive in October, starting at £32k
Geely EX5 - front

New Geely EX5 SUV to arrive in October, starting at £32k

This new electric SUV is coming soon to the UK from Volvo and Lotus parent company, Geely
News
15 Sep 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Savour the Scandi cool of a Polestar 4 at only £334 a month
Polestar 4 - cornering, low shot

Car Deal of the Day: Savour the Scandi cool of a Polestar 4 at only £334 a month

Fancy something smart and sophisticated? You won’t look back with the Polestar 4. It’s our Deal of the Day for September 13
News
13 Sep 2025
Nissan Qashqai to finally go electric, but hybrid model will remain
Nissan Qashqai electric render Avarvarii - front 3/4

Nissan Qashqai to finally go electric, but hybrid model will remain

There will be an overlap of powertrains for the big-selling SUV
News
15 Sep 2025