Audi A3 Sportback review

This is the A3: Audi’s bread and butter, a dependable all-round hatchback now in its fourth generation that remains a huge seller despite the endless and unstoppable rise of the SUV.

It goes up against arch rivals from BMW and Mercedes – the 1 Series and A-Class – and shares all of its mechanical bits and bobs with Volkswagen’s Golf Mk8, plus the latest Skoda Octavia and Seat Leon.

How does it stay ahead?

The A3 has perfected its conservative setup, avoiding passing fads and fashions to offer a consistent slice of premium German carmaking. That’s not to say it doesn’t need freshening up to stay with the times: a 2024 facelift was mostly light touch, but focused on some much needed improvements.

Such as?

As well as getting the mildest of exterior design tweaks, the latest A3 Sportback (or hatchback if you’re not a middle-aged marketing executive) shows off configurable DRLs (you can choose from a number of different patterns) and optional LED matrix headlights. Meanwhile the interior gets some fancier materials and a higher standard spec. Oh, and a couple of USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad for your phone.

Other innovations include a new app store that’ll sit in the infotainment: you can download a range of free and paid-for apps to the car depending on what you fancy. A different satnav? Spotify? The world is your oyster.

Audi’s also trying out a new ‘functions on demand’ approach: it reckons there are certain things - like self-parking tech or adaptive headlights - that you don’t want to buy outright, but you’ll be willing to give Audi some cash to use for limited periods. Hmm. We’re not so sure.

Audi’s put a bit more of its effort into making the S3 hot hatch more fun to drive, so if you want an A3 that’s perkier and more entertaining then that’s the place to look. But mechanically speaking, nothing has changed.

What engines can I get?

Currently there are four powertrains to choose from: a 1.5-litre ‘30 TFSI’ with 114bhp and 162lb ft that’ll do 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds, as well as a 1.5 ‘35 TFSI’ petrol and 2.0-litre ‘35 TDI’ diesel that both produce 148bhp and hit 62mph from rest in 8.1 seconds.

There's now a plug-in hybrid too: it pairs a 1.5-litre engine with a 113bhp electric motor and 25.7kWh battery (19.7kWh usable) for 201bhp/258lb ft and a 0-62mph time of 7.4 seconds. More pertinently, though, is the all-electric range of up to 88 miles (almost double that of its predecessor), making it one of the longest electric range plug-in hybrids available. Ooft.

It also supports 50kW DC fast charging for the first time, meaning a 10-80 per cent recharge in under 30 minutes. But who’s really doing that in a plug-in hybrid? Using a home charging unit you’re looking at two and a half hours.

How does it drive? 

Very well indeed. Audi must’ve drawn up a Venn diagram containing comfort, engagement and refinement and plonked the A3 right in the middle, because it’s successfully covered off all three. A capable chassis and quick steering make for fluid handling, the ride quality has impressive breadth and when you’ve settled into a cruise you won’t need to shout at your passengers. What more would you want from a day-to-day car?

How much is it?

The entry-level petrol Sport model starts at just over £30k and you’ll pay around £39k for the top-spec Black Edition car with the diesel engine. Betwixt all that, you’ve got the choice of a six-speed manual or seven-speed auto.

The PHEV meanwhile starts at just under £40k, rising to a tad over £43.5k in range-toppin' trim. Yowzers. More info over in the Buying section.

The A3 Sportback is the most roundly talented premium hatchback you can get your hands on right now. The BMW 1 Series is sportier (but pays for that with a tougher ride and more road noise), and the Mercedes A-Class trails both by a distance, despite its tech-festooned dashboard.

The Audi strikes a neat balance between fuss-free family transport, incredibly well-mannered refinement and managing to feel just a little keener in the chassis department than A3s of old. As a do-everything car, it’s hard to fault.

Most people will be seduced by the image, the badge and the impression of tech, and the A3 ticks those boxes too. But underneath this is a fundamentally well thought out car with few stand-out flaws. We like.