Audi A3 (2012 - 2016)

By Jonathan Crouch

Models Covered

3 & 5DR HATCH, 4DR SALOON, 2DR CONVERTIBLE (1.2TFSI, 1.4 TFSI, 1.8 TFSI, 2.0TFSI PETROL / 1.6 TDI 105 & 110PS, 2.0 TDI 150 & 184PS [STANDARD, SE, SPORT, S LINE, S3, RS3])

Introduction

We all like the idea of good things in sensibly sized packages. Perhaps that’s why Audi’s A3 has been so successful here, a compact car that goes large on quality, refinement and maturity. Especially in third generation guise, where it’s lighter, more efficient, more powerful and cleverer than ever before. Fortunately for Audi, it seems well up to the task.

The History

The premium compact car. If that concept means anything to you, then it’s this model, Audi’s A3, that’ll probably come to mind. This is the third of three generations in a line that dates all the way back to 1996 and a time when the idea of being able to move a car up-market in class and appeal without increasing its size was new and rather different. Customers though, loved the idea and by the time the second generation A3 arrived in 2003, BMW and Mercedes rivals had also arrived to swell the market.

Nearly a quarter of a million MK2 A3s were pounding global roads by the time this third generation model arrived in the Autumn of 2012 – to find a much tougher market awaiting it.

The three-door hatch version debuted first, followed a few months later by a five-door ‘Sportback’ hatch version. A Saloon model arrived in 2013, along with an S3 hot hatch version. A pretty Cabriolet model was launched in early 2014 and in 2015, the super hot hatch RS3 variant made its debut. Audi thoroughly revised the entire A3 line-up in the Summer of 2016, smartening up the looks and adding in the clever ‘Virtual Cockpit’ instrument binnacle as an option.

What To Look For

Don’t get us wrong, very little goes wrong with typical third generation A3 models, but there are a few rogue examples floating around in the market. Oil sump failure in 2.0 TD diesel variants was the most regularly reported issue we came across as part of our customer survey, this engine also sometimes exhibiting loud turbo noises too, so listen for that on your test drive. The 1.4-litre TFSI petrol variant has also occasionally faltered too. We came across a couple of owners complaining of a ‘whooshing’ noise with this powerplant in 120PS form which is apparently due to vacuum hose issues and a vibrating actuator rod.

Across the A3 range, other issues we came across that you might want to look out for included a random lumpy engine idle, a faulty coolant expansion tank, worn wheel bearings, warped rear brake discs and sticking rear brake pads. Also look out for a crunchy gear change between 1st and 2nd gear, plus faulty turbo hose seals, motor brushes in the small radiator fan that get stuck and suspension drop-link ball-joints that are worn out.

On The Road

You might not get very excited by the thought of a redesigned automotive platform but Audi does. With good reason. Because this car’s MQB (or Modular Transverse Matrix) underpinnings have also to support everything from a Volkswagen Golf to a SEAT Leon, an awful lot of development budget has been thrown at getting them right, the by-product of which for A3 drivers should be better ride, handling and a whole lot more.

By and large, that’s exactly what you get. First up, because a lot of the stuff you can’t see is lighter than before, the car immediately feels more lithe and agile than you expect, even on a short drive. True, real driving enthusiasts will still prefer the rear wheel drive reactions of a BMW 1 Series or the fine front-driven tactility of a Ford Focus. But everyone else will probably enjoy this Audi just as much thanks to lovely technical touches like the way that an electronic limited slip differential is built into the stability control system so that the car turns more sharply into bends. And the beautifully calibrated multi-link suspension that enables the car to flow fluently though those corners while nonchantly soaking up the bumps in a way that perfectly complements this car’s quite exemplary standards of refinement.

You’ll find the auto ‘box fitted to the180PS 1.8TFSI petrol model a good one, a dual-clutch system able to select the next gear before you’ve even left the last one. Most other A3s though, come fitted with a reasonably slick-shifting manual six-speeder. For those needing more, the 300PS turbocharged S3 hot hatch variant beckons, with its 2.0-litre TFSI turbo engine able to power you to sixty in just 5.1s.

As for the diesel derivatives that over 70% of British buyers will choose, there are two main ones: a 1.6 TDI 105PS, while an uprated 110PS version of this unit was introduced in 2014. Above it, there’s an altogether more satisfying 150PS 2.0-litre TDI diesel powerplant remaining almost as clean and frugal.

Overall

In the search for a compact car that’s also a premium purchase, there are more charismatic choices than this Audi A3. But there are few better ones. Light in bulk, heavy in technology, it’s a logical evolution of a breed that’s long been one of Britain’s favourite company cars.

By pioneering the premium compact hatch segment with the original version of this model, Audi redefined the meaning of automotive luxury, democratising it without the desirability being diluted. Cool, class-less and clever, it’s desirably definitive.