Audi A3 Saloon review

The A3 Saloon takes the inside of our 2013 Car of the Year and adds a small, stubby boot in place of the hatchback. It’s unmistakably shorter than traditional executive saloon rivals such as the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and even Audi’s own A4 – but it’s still the sort of three-box design that buyers of those cars are keen on.

The rest of the package is remarkably close to the A3 Sportback, because the A3 Saloon is based on the same set of excellent underpinnings. The interior is carried over, too – and its minimalist design and high-quality materials are more than good enough for the A3 Saloon to stand up to more established and expensive competition. Throw in rock-solid resale values, attractive PCP rates and efficient engines that bring down company car tax rates and you have a serious contender in the executive class.

Read on over the next few pages to get our in-depth impressions, along with our recommendations for trim levels and engines. And if you do indeed want to buy an A3 Saloon, don't forget to check out our new car deals – which could get you a great discount.