Audi A3 Review

• Typical used price (UK): £15,000–£25,000 (2020–2023 cars; more powerful engines, higher trims and low-mileage at the top)
• This car: £15,799 (VN23NHL, HPL Motors Atherton)
• Insurance group: 15P
• MPG: 48.7 (official combined)
• CO₂: 132 g/km
• Best for: A premium-badge hatch with a classy cabin and low running costs

Is It a Good Choice?

If you want a small car that feels genuinely premium, the Audi A3 is one of the most desirable choices on the used market. It offers the badge, the beautifully made cabin and the refined driving manners that have made it a favourite for years, in a sensible, easy-to-live-with package. It's the upmarket hatch that still feels special.

This example is the 30 TFSI in S line trim, which brings sporty styling, 18-inch alloys and a generous kit list including sat nav, Audi's Virtual Cockpit digital dials and plenty of safety tech. The 1.0-litre petrol engine is smooth and economical, well suited to everyday driving. As a one-owner car at £15,799, it's an affordable route into a classy, in-demand premium hatchback.

Pricing & Running Costs

This fourth-generation A3 launched in 2020, so there's a good used choice across engines and trims. Its premium billing and strong residual values mean it holds its money well, but there are affordable examples to be found.

Typical UK Used Price Ranges:

• Early cars (2020–2021): roughly £15,000–£20,000
• Later cars (2022–2023): roughly £17,000–£25,000
• More powerful engines, higher trims and low-mileage cars: toward the top of that range

At £15,799 this 2023 S line is priced towards the affordable end, with its higher mileage keeping it keen for a well-equipped premium car (lower-mileage examples typically cost a couple of thousand more).

Running Costs:

• Fuel: an official 48.7mpg, with a realistic high-40s achievable in mixed driving.
• Insurance: group 15P — reasonable for a premium hatch.
• Road tax: the standard flat annual rate of VED (check the current DVLA figure).
• Servicing: worth noting that Audi servicing and parts cost more than mainstream brands; a good independent specialist can keep bills in check.
• Clean air: Euro 6 means it's exempt from ULEZ and Clean Air Zone charges.

Performance & Driving Experience

This car uses the entry 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol, producing 110ps and covering 0–62mph in 10.6 seconds. It's worth setting expectations here: the S line's sporty looks suggest more pace than this engine delivers, so it's best thought of as smooth, willing and economical rather than quick. For town and motorway use it's perfectly adequate, with enough flexibility to keep up with traffic easily.

On the road the A3 feels every inch the premium product. It's refined, composed and quiet when cruising, with a real sense of solidity that cheaper hatchbacks can't match. The main thing to note is the ride: the S line's sports suspension and large 18-inch wheels firm things up over poor surfaces, so it's worth a test drive if comfort is your priority. On a smooth road and the motorway, it's polished and planted.

Key Performance Figures:

• Power: 108 bhp (110 ps)
• Cylinders: 3
• Engine capacity: 999 cc (turbocharged petrol)
• Gearbox: 6-speed manual
• Drive: front-wheel drive
• 0–62 mph: 10.6 seconds

Interior & Technology

The cabin is where the A3 justifies its badge. It feels upmarket and high-tech, built around Audi's excellent Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display and a 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen with sat nav. This car has the Audi Smartphone Interface, bringing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with dual-zone climate control, LED headlights, sports seats and natural-language voice control. It's a genuinely classy, modern environment.

It isn't completely flawless: some of the lower cabin plastics are harder than you might expect for the badge, a sign of the cost pressures on modern cars, and the touchscreen-led controls can take a little learning. But the overall quality, design and sense of occasion remain a cut above most rivals.

Space & Practicality

The A3 Sportback is a practical five-door, with good head and legroom in the front and enough space in the rear for adults on most journeys, though the middle rear seat is tight. The 380-litre boot is on a par with a BMW 1 Series and bigger than a Mercedes A-Class, and there's a handy adjustable load floor, although the boot's shape is a little narrower than some rivals'. For everyday family and commuting use it's perfectly practical.

Dimensions:

• Length: 4,343 mm
• Width: 1,984 mm (including mirrors)
• Height: 1,425 mm
• Boot: 380 litres
• Seats / doors: 5 / 5

MPG, Emissions & Tax

• Combined MPG: 48.7 (official)
• CO₂: 132 g/km
• Euro status: Euro 6
• Fuel type: petrol
• Engine: 999cc, 3-cylinder turbo
• Gearbox: 6-speed manual

Running costs are reasonable for a premium car. Euro 6 compliance means it's exempt from London's ULEZ and other Clean Air Zone charges, and real-world economy in the high-40s mpg is easily achievable. Road tax is charged at the standard flat annual rate, so check the DVLA's current figure at the time of purchase.

Safety & Reliability

Safety is a strong point, and unusually for a car of this age the rating is still current. The A3 earned five stars from Euro NCAP when tested in 2020, with a strong 89% for adult occupant protection, and it was reassessed and confirmed at five stars again under tougher protocols in 2025 after Audi made improvements. It comes with Audi Pre-Sense autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist recognition, lane-departure warning and traffic-sign recognition.

NCAP Ratings (Euro NCAP, 2020):

• Overall: 5 Stars
• Adult occupant: 89%
• Child occupant: 81%
• Vulnerable road users: 68%
• Note: reaffirmed at 5 stars in a 2025 re-test, so the rating remains current; autonomous emergency braking is standard

On reliability, the A3 is built on well-proven Volkswagen Group foundations, and its 1.0-litre engine is the same dependable unit used across the Golf, Leon and others, so there's nothing exotic to worry about. In the interests of balance, Audi hasn't always scored highly in owner-satisfaction surveys, and premium servicing costs more than a mainstream brand, so a full service history matters. At this mileage it's worth checking the cambelt in particular. This car has one owner, and HPL adds its 128-point check and a warranty for added peace of mind.

Alternatives

• BMW 1 Series — the keener driver's premium hatch, and similarly badge-proud.
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class — a style-led rival with a high-tech cabin.
• Volkswagen Golf — shares much of the A3's engineering for less money.
• SEAT Leon — the sportier VW Group sibling, and better value again.
• Skoda Octavia — the same mechanicals with far more space, if practicality matters.
• MINI Hatch — another premium small car, with more of a fun, fashion-led character.

Verdict

The Audi A3 remains one of the most appealing premium hatchbacks you can buy used, thanks to its classy, high-tech cabin, refined drive and desirable badge, and this one-owner S line is a lot of upmarket car for £15,799. The things to weigh up are the modest pace of the entry engine, the firm S line ride, the higher mileage, and the premium running costs that come with the badge. But if you want a small car that feels genuinely special and holds its value, few rivals match the A3's blend of quality and image.

Overall Rating: ⭐ 4.2 / 5