Audi A3 Saloon review

Audi doesn't sell estate cars – it sells Avants. And there are no hatchbacks in its range, just Sportbacks. So it's a bit of a surprise that the saloon car version of the Audi A3 is called... the Audi A3 Saloon.

If anything, though, the A3 Saloon's name rather undersells it, because the swoopy roofline and extended tail give this four-door executive car its own distinct identity and appeal. Broadening that appeal, Audi has also treated the A3 Saloon to a mid-life facelift in an effort to keep ahead of rivals. 

A new frameless grille, sharper bumpers and updated LED headlights with configurable light signatures have been added to give the A3 a more aggressive "RS look". Inside, the driver is treated to ambient lighting and a higher grade of materials. 

The engine line-up remains more or less unchanged and there are two performance variants (for more on those, see our Audi S3 review and Audi RS3 review).

Is the Audi A3 Saloon good enough to stand out among the best executive cars? Read on to find out how we rate it against rivals including the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé, Mazda 3 Saloon and Mercedes A-Class Saloon. Or to read about the hatchback version see our Audi A3 Sportback review.

If you want your Audi A3 Saloon with a petrol engine, there are two to choose from: the 1.0-litre 30 TFSI and the 1.5-litre 35 TFSI.

We've driven the 35 TFSI and found it a highly flexible engine that pulls strongly from low revs. With an official 0-62mph time of 8.1 seconds, it's not quite as quick as the entry-level BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé (the 220), but it's still our pick of the range.

We’ve yet to drive the 30 TFSI in the latest A3 Saloon, but in the pre-facelift version it felt rather breathless at motorway speeds.

That’s not a criticism you can level at the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine – the 35 TDI. It takes the same time to accelerate from 0-62mph as the 35 TFSI petrol but has more torque (pulling power), making it a relaxed performer with plenty of grunt for overtaking on motorways.

The suspension under your A3 Sportback depends on its engine. The 30 TFSI petrol comes with a less sophisticated rear suspension set-up than the other two engines. And if you go for S line or Black Edition trim, you get sport suspension, which is lower and firmer.

S Line and Black Edition models remain impressively cushioning most of the time. They're slightly more forgiving than the equivalent 2 Series Gran Coupé M Sport, and when you do hit rough stuff, the car recovers its composure quickly, with little bobbing or bouncing around afterwards. That's a trait the Mercedes A-Class Saloon has too, but overall the A-Class is softer and comfier.

The sweetest-riding A3 Saloons are the entry-level Sport trim versions, which are a bit softer and come fitted with the smallest 17in alloy wheels.

With sports suspension equipped, the A3 Saloon is sharper to drive than the bigger Audi A4. It corners really predictably and securely, gripping the road well, with a lovely balance front to rear that leaves it – and you – unflustered by quick changes of direction. In Sport trim, with the slightly softer set-up, it rolls a bit more but still feels very tidy to drive.

It helps that the steering is reassuringly weighted and responsive, although it's not as sharp as a 2 Series Gran Coupé’s. You can make it feel a bit meatier by engaging Sport mode.

If you can make the step up to a bigger executive car, you'll find an Alfa Romeo Giulia or BMW 3 Series even more fun.

All the A3 Saloon’s engines are impressively quiet most of the time. The standard fit automatic gearbox sometimes flares the engine revs if you’re a bit too enthusiastic with the accelerator but it’s smooth through the gears.

The A3 Saloon emits less suspension or wind noise than the A-Class Saloon but road noise can be more intrusive at higher speeds, especially with bigger wheels fitted. The larger A4 and 3 Series cruise more serenely than both.

“The A3 Saloon feels more grown up than you might expect, although I found the 1.5-litre petrol engine can become quite coarse when pressing on.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

Regardless of which trim you go for, the Audi A3 Saloon has a fundamentally good driving position and there’s plenty of seat adjustment – including four-way lumbar adjustment – to help you get comfortable. 

All the controls and screens you use frequently are within clear sight or easy reach, helped by the centre area of the dashboard being angled towards the driver. We like the fact that you get simple physical switches to operate the climate controls.

Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital driver's display comes as standard. It shows lots of information on a crisp 12.3in screen, with various lay-outs to choose from. It’s so good that you don't really need the optional head-up display.

Slim front pillars ensure that the A3 Saloon provides a good view ahead. Wide rear pillars impede the view over your shoulder slightly, but standard front and rear parking sensors make parking easy enough. You also get a parking assist feature that can detect a suitable parking space and manoeuvre you in.

Bright LED headlights come as standard, and you can opt for matrix LEDs that can be left on full beam at all times without dazzling oncoming drivers.

The A3 Saloon's infotainment touchscreen is a good size – 10.1in – but you have to look directly at the screen to find and hit the icon you need. That makes it more distracting when you're driving than the system in the Mazda 3 Saloon (with its rotary dial) and the Mercedes A-Class Saloon (a touchpad).

On the plus side, the screen is sharp with good graphics, and the menus respond quickly. It's also packed with features, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, a wireless phone-charger and sat-nav.

You get a six-speaker stereo, unless you upgrade to the 15-speaker Sonos surround-sound system that's available as part of the Technology Pack.

As part of the A3 Saloon’s mid-life facelift, the interior underwent a refresh, and it's had a big impact. A prominent plastic ledge on the dashboard has been replaced with a tactile fabric crafted from recycled polyester, which we think is a great improvement.

Audi has also incorporated additional interior lighting strips, and we particularly appreciate the new perforated door panel inserts, which allow the ambient lighting to softly illuminate the cabin in the evening.

That said, there are still cheaper-feeling hard plastics around, including on the centre console. Overall, the A3 Saloon compares favourably with the A-Class Saloon in terms of showroom appeal, but the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé and the more affordable Mazda 3 Saloon feel more luxurious throughout.

“I was delighted to see proper physical buttons to operate the air-conditioning. They feel really high quality, just like Audis of old.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

There’s more than enough leg and head room in the front of the Audi A3 Saloon for two tall adults. However, while shoulder room is far from tight, it’s worth noting that the model is narrower than the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series. The Skoda Superb is bigger than all three.

The A3 Saloon's simple dashboard design doesn’t conceal a huge number of cubbyholes, but you do get storage areas ahead of the gearlever and under the central armrest, plus two cupholders in the centre console. The door pockets are each big enough for a large water bottle.

As you might expect from the A3 Saloon's stylish roofline, anyone over 6ft won’t be particularly comfortable in the back. Indeed, while there’s a fair amount of leg room, with lots of knee room and space under the front seats for your feet, head room is very limited. Even those just under 6ft will have to duck slightly.

Things are even worse for the person sitting in the middle because there's a big hump in the floor for them to straddle. We wouldn’t want to be sitting three abreast for a long drive. Rear passengers are much better off in an A4, a 3 Series or a Superb.

There's not much storage space in the back of the A3 Saloon for odds and ends, although the door pockets are each big enough to hold a small drinks bottle.

The A3 Saloon’s rear seats aren’t exactly innovative but on most trims they offer a versatile 40/20/40 split, giving you more options if you're carrying a few people and a longer load. On entry-level Sport trim they split 60/40.

There’s a big step up from the boot floor once the seats are folded down, but they do at least lie fairly flat.

The A3 Saloon has 425 litres of boot space, beating the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé (360 litres) and Mercedes A-Class Saloon (420). They're all a little way off the A4 and 3 Series for load-lugging, while the Superb’s boot is enormous.

If you're wondering which shape A3 has the biggest boot, it's this Saloon version. The A3 Sportback has 380 litres (or 280 if go for the PHEV), but of course that space is easier to access because of the hatchback opening.

In practical terms, the A3 Saloon's boot is big enough for a child’s bike, or for your weekly shop to sit alongside a compact baby buggy.

“The A3 Saloon is quite low-slung, so I found myself having to stoop down into it.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

As part of the A3 Saloon’s mid-life facelift, Audi increased the levels of standard equipment while keep the pricing more or less in line with the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé and Mercedes A-Class Saloon.

The A3 Saloon's engines deliver fuel economy and CO2 emissions that are in line with rivals, but if you’re a company car driver you’ll be better off with the Audi A3 Sportback. Why? Because that's available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), which is in a much lower BIK tax bracket. An electric car will be even cheaper in BIK tax.

The A3 Saloon in entry-level Sport trim is so well-equipped that we find little reason to upgrade. Standard features include cruise control, three-zone air-conditioning, power-folding door mirrors, 17in alloy wheels, automatic lights and wipers, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

For a sportier look and driving experience, mid-spec S line trim is worth considering. It includes 18in alloy wheels, sports suspension, S line front and rear bumpers, stainless-steel pedals, a flat-bottom steering wheel and customisable multi-colour interior lighting.

The top-of-the-range Black Edition trim is steeply priced considering what it offers. It primarily adds a black exterior styling package, 18in wheels and door-mounted LEDs that project the Audi logo on to the ground when you're getting out of the car.

The A3 Sportback comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty and three years’ roadside assistance, which is the industry norm. You can pay extra to extend cover for up to five years or 90,000 miles.

We’d be tempted to do so, because the pre-facelift A3 Sportback finished in the bottom third of its class in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey – below the BMW 1 Series (the hatchback version of the 2 Series Gran Coupé), and PHEV and petrol versions of the Mercedes A-Class. Audi as a brand performed a little better, finishing 24th out of 31 manufacturers.

​​Every A3 Saloon gets automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-departure warning and traffic-sign recognition as standard.

In common with most cars these days, the model received a five-star rating after safety testing by Euro NCAP. The 2 Series Gran Coupé was found to be a bit better at preventing injury to adults up front and children in the rear.

“The Technology Pack is a well-priced option, and is worth it for the Sonos audio upgrade alone. That it also bundles a head-up display, reversing camera and adaptive cruise control makes it a must-have in my view.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

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