2023 Audi A3 Reviews

The Audi A3 is a popular premium hatchback in a market increasingly interested in SUVs, so can it continue to hold the small car fort after a mid-life update?

As much as any carmaker Audi has embraced the automotive world's push into SUVs. But it hasn't forgotten its sedan and hatch (Sportback) heritage. The new updated A3 fine tunes an already impressive package with cosmetic tweaks, extra safety, new engine tech, and revised interior layout. What's the catch? It costs more.

Audi was first to bring a go-fast premium small sedan to market, but is it still good after over five years on the market?

The new A3 40 TFSI S line plus sedan could get old very fast, but there are some great reasons to buy one quick.

I test drove the A3 35 TFSI which is second up in a range of four and competes with cars like the Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1 Series. Here's how it did over a week of driving around suburbia with my family.

The A3 Sedan is one of the most beautiful small, four-door saloons in the world. But after a week behind the wheel of this 35 TFSI version, we found things about it which might be stunning for the wrong reasons...

The A3 Cabriolet is a small two-door convertible sitting above the A3 Sportback and A3 Sedan with a list price starting at $41,900.That price will get you into the 1.4 TFSI grade which comes with xenon headlights with LED running lights, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, a 7.0-inch touchscreen with sat nav, reversing camera, multimedia system with voice control, eight-speaker stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, CD player, front and rear parking sensors, paddle shifters, rear view camera and 17-inch alloy wheels.The next grade up is the $48,000 2.0 TFSI Sport which adds leather sports front seats, aluminium door sills, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 17-inch alloys (with a different design).The 2.0 TFSI quattro S Line lists for $51,600 and brings in lowered sports suspension, 18-inch alloys and LED headlights.The grade naming hints at the engine sizes – the 1.4 TFSI has a 1.4-litre four-cylinder making 110kW/250Nm; the 2.0 TFSI Sport has 2.0-litre four-cylinder making 140kW/320Nm, while the 2.0 TFSI quattro S line has the same engine but is all-wheel drive – the other two are front-wheel drives.All engines are turbo-petrols – there is no diesel.The amount of safety equipment increases as you step up through the grades but all A3s have a five-star ANCAP rating and AEB as standard.

The A3 Sedan is a small four-door saloon and sits between the Sportback and Cabriolet with a list price starting at $41,900.That price will get you into the 1.4 TFSI grade which comes with xenon headlights with LED running lights, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, a 7.0-inch touchscreen with sat nav, reversing camera, multimedia system with voice control, eight-speaker stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, CD player, front and rear parking sensors, paddle shifters, rear view camera and 17-inch alloy wheels.The next grade up is the $48,000 2.0 TFSI Sport which adds leather sports front seats, aluminium door sills, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 17-inch alloys (with a different design).The 2.0 TFSI quattro S line lists for $51,600 and brings in lowered sports suspension, 18-inch alloys and LED headlights.The grade naming hints at the engine sizes – the 1.4 TFSI has a 1.4-litre four-cylinder making 110kW/250Nm; the 2.0 TFSI Sport has 2.0-litre four-cylinder making 140kW/320Nm, while the 2.0 TFSI quattro S line has the same engine but is all-wheel drive – the other two are front-wheel drives.All engines are turbo-petrols – there is no diesel.The amount of safety equipment increases as you step up through the grades but all A3s have a maximum five-star ANCAP rating and AEB as standard.

The Audi A3 range offers you a lot of choices, maybe too many choices. That's why we've made this range review just for you.

There is something about being able to lower the roof of a car and have the wind in your hair and sun on your face that speaks to the pure enjoyment of life.