Blue Audi A3 Sportback on the road

New Audi A3 Sportback

From £32,630

Take a dose of practicality, add a hint of luxury and a dash of power and you’ve got the Audi A3 Sportback. This five-door hatchback combines the compact size of the standard A3 with the luxury of the Saloon.

New look, new attitude: the new Audi A3 is here and it's not just the profile that's changed. Packed with the latest Audi technologies and driver assistance systems, there's a lot that's new, both inside and out.

Technology and Interior

The new A3 Sportback is equipped as standard with a 10.25-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit, a 10.1-inch touch colour display in the instrument panel, MMI Navigation Plus, Audi smartphone interface and Audi Connect Services Plus. In addition to this standard equipment, the Technik trim also includes headlights with LED technology, 16-inch alloy wheels, electrically adjustable and heated exterior mirrors, Audi pre sense front, the lane departure warning, and the collision avoidance assist.

The Sport trim, which builds on Technik and adds 17” alloy wheels, interior and exterior styling upgrades, dual-zone electronic climate control, and twin leather upholstery. The S line models benefit from 18” alloy wheels, sport suspension, LED headlights with LED rear lights and dynamic rear indicators, front sport seats with twin leather, S-embossing and contrast stitching, upgraded interior inlays and privacy glass. The newest addition to the trim levels is the Edition 1. On this trim you will gain features such as 19” alloys, Matrix LED headlights, front sport seats in Alcantara and leatherette combination, electrically adjustable front seats, exterior mirrors with memory and heated front seats.

Audi A3 Sportback black interior

Space

​The new A3 Sportback offers more space and functionality combined with compact external dimensions

It is just over 3cm larger than the previous model which has a great benefit on passengers;more elbow room at the front and rear and more shoulder room in the rear.

A new feature of this model is the lower driving position, which in turn reaps the benefits of more headroom in the first row of seats. As well as this, there are plenty of handy compartments and clever storage places throughout the cabin to store you items such as smartphone and coffee cup​ in.

Larger belongings can be stored in the luggage compartment, which has a capacity of between 380 and 1,200 litres.

Driver assist systems

The Audi A3 Sportback is equipped with many driver assist systems which can help support you whether you are driving in the city or on long journeys.

One of these features is Audi pre-sense, along with the collision avoidance assist and the lane departure warning, all of which ensure you stay as safe as possible whilst in the vehicle.

The interaction of the camera and front radar allows Audi pre sense front to prevent accidents with other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists or to reduce the severity of such accidents. The collision avoidance assist helps the driver steer the A3 Sportback around an obstacle in a critical situation, again using the sensors.

When travelling at a speed of roughly 40mph, the lane departure warning helps the driver to stay in their lane. This system can alert the driver when they are approaching the boundary line (unless the indicator is on) and will perform corrective steering to steer the vehicle back into the correct lane.

There are many other features in the A3 Sportback including; adaptive cruise assist, stop and go traffic and high beam assist.

Audi A3 with a boot full of items
Audi A3 door speaker
Blue Audi A3 rear side
Audi A3 Sportback black interior
Blue Audi A3 front
Man driving and Audi

What trim levels are on the Audi A3 Sportback?

Sport:

Features Include:

  • Seats in Routine cloth          
  • 17" '5-parallel spoke' design alloy wheels
  • Dual-zone electronic climate control
  • Audi drive select
  • Door mirrors - electrically folding and dimming

S line:

In addition to Sport:

  • LED headlights with LED rear lights and dynamic rear indicators
  • Front Sport seats in Twin Leather
  • LED interior lighting pack
  • S line design body styling
  • 18" '5-arm dynamic' design alloy wheels
  • Privacy glass

Black Edition:

In addition to S line:

  • Matrix LED headlights
  • 19" '5-arm trapezoid' design alloys
  • Audi virtual cockpit plus
  • Audi matrix LED headlights with LED rear lights
  • Black Styling Pack
  • Flat-bottomed 3-spoke leather multi-function Sport steering wheel
  • Sport suspension

New A3 Sportback TFSI e

The new Audi A3 Sportback plug-in hybrid has returned.

The New A3 TFSI e comes with an all-electric range of up to 41 miles, making it a competitive company car with 6% BIK (when ordered with 17-inch alloys). The new model will reach 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds and get to a top speed of 141mph. Trim levels are separate to the specification on the petrol/diesel modes which are Sport, S line and S line Competition.

The Audi A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e combines a 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an output of 110kW (150PS) with an electric motor that produces 80kW. Combined, the 1.4 TFSI and the electric motor deliver a total system output of 150 kW (204 PS).

The A3 Sportback TFSI e will come with:

  • Type 2 mode 3 charging cable
  • Type 2 socket for AC charging
  • 3 pin 10 amp domestic charging cable

Blue Audi A3 TFSI e charging

Audi A3 Sportback Test Drive Review

Audi’s A3 is something of a household name with a new platform so there’s a lot to look at let’s dive in and check it out.

What is it?

Audi’s A3 is something of a household name. Having been around for some time now, it has come to represent premium motoring in a compact package, making it a hit with a variety of buyers with all manner of requirements. The latest model has gone in heavy on the technology front, with a new platform affording it more space than before too. Needless to say, there’s a lot to look at - so let’s dive in and check it out.

Audi A3 Sportback exterior
Interior of Audi A3 Sportback
Front of red Audi A3 Sportback

What’s new?

As we’ve already mentioned, the new A3 is underpinning by a brand new platform. This not only gives it more interior space than before, but also means that it's ready for more electrified powertrains in the future - something Audi is very keen on doing. We’ve also got an updated look that builds on the appearance of the previous generation car, while the A3’s interior has been given a variety of cutting-edge screens.

What’s under the bonnet?

You’ve got a wide variety of engines to choose from with the A3, ranging from compact petrol and diesels right the way through to ultra-efficient plug-in hybrids. A 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol will no doubt prove the right choice for many, while a 2.0-litre diesel will be the go-to option for long-distance drivers. The plug-in hybrid, meanwhile, combines a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor and batteries for rock-bottom fuel costs.

What’s it like to drive?

Audi has really upped the refinement for the latest A3, meaning that it feels even more comfortable and relaxing to drive than before. Of course, opt for larger wheels and the ride can be made to feel a tough fidgety, but for the most part, it’s relaxed and comfortable. The steering is relatively accurate, too, ensuring that you can place the car just where you want it. Though many models are solely front-wheel-drive, there’s plenty of traction too.

How does it look?

The new A3 is immediately recognisable as an Audi, but it’s a far classier affair than its predecessor thanks to a variety of chrome elements and sharply designed head and tailights. The Sportback looks particularly distinctive, while a range of bright colours can help to make it stand out even further. It’s certainly a well-executed design and one which ties the A3 into the rest of the Audi line-up well.

What’s it like inside?

As we’ve already mentioned, the new A3 benefits from a completely redesigned cabin which affords its occupants’ plenty of space. Those sitting in the back get a good degree of leg and headroom, while those up front have a clear and open view of the area ahead of them. When it comes to boot space, there’s a healthy 380 litres to play with in the A3 Sportback and this can be extended further by lowering the rear seats down.

What’s the spec like?

Standard equipment on theA3 Sportback is impressive, to say the least. All cars benefit from a 10.1-inch central infotainment screen which houses all of your main media and navigation functions. This is then backed by a digital instrument binnacle which can be optionally upgraded to Audi’s full virtual cockpit. All cars also get both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing for quick and easy integration of your smartphone into the car’s system.

Verdict

Audi had quite a job on its hands of replacing the ever-popular A3, but it appears to have hit the nail on the head with this latest version. It’s more refined than before with a good variety of engines to choose from, while the interior feels even more premium than the one found in its predecessor. Certainly as a car for all occasions, the A3 makes a very solid case for itself.

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