Audi A3 Saloon review

It’s the Audi A3 Saloon, the lesser-spotted sibling to the A3 Sportback (that’s hatchback in Audi speak) which together make up the seventh best-selling car in the UK at the time of writing. Isn’t that cheating?

We’ll forgive the A3 because it’s fighting with one hand tied behind its back: hatch and saloon numbers have tanked since crossovers and SUVs muscled their way into the market, so it’s fighting for survival more so than when this fourth-generation car emerged in 2020.

It’s due an update then, surely?

Certainly is. Audi’s opted against pumping resource into the refreshed A3, which either means confidence in the product or… lack thereof in the segment. You can be the judge of that.

Incoming are the mildest of mild design tweaks, with a reworked grille up front and some faux panelwork at the rear to give off a sportier vibe. The daytime running lights are now configurable (good news with Christmas coming up), and the interior’s been upgraded with some fancier materials, a wireless phone charger, and a pair of USB-Cs in the back. Heavens above! Beyond that, there’s not a lot to write home about.

Is the engine line-up vast and unwieldy?

Ha! For the moment there are three, starting with the 1.5-litre ‘30 TFSI’ petrol with a very modest 114bhp and capable of 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds. Then there’s another 1.5 4cyl petrol - the ‘35 TFSI’ - that ups the ante to 148bhp and 8.1s, which are identical numbers to the 2.0-litre ‘35 TDI’ diesel. The petrols can be had with a six-speed manual or Audi’s seven-speed automatic gearbox; the diesel can only be paired with the latter.

Audi says there’s a plug-in hybrid inbound, which will bring a fourth powertrain option to the table. If more performance is what you’re after, check out the hotter S3: it gets a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol with 328bhp. Or there’s always the hotter still RS3…

Sum the drive up for me.

Silky smooth. This is a junior saloon don’t forget, so it hasn’t been promoted to senior exec levels of power enjoyed by the A5 and above. But it makes up for that with splendid refinement and comfort, plus tidy dynamics. It’s not an entertainer by any stretch, but it’s pleasant company. And there’s a lot to be said for that.

When the Mk4 was launched a few years ago we viewed the interior as a step back: the cabin design felt overwrought and the material quality wasn’t where it should be for an Audi. The angular design still feels very busy (check out the third image in the gallery above - there’s a lot going on, isn’t there?), though you can see why it appeals to some people.

The infotainment - you get a 10.1in touchscreen and 12.3in instrument panel - remains very in ‘yer face. That’s not a problem unique to the A3 or indeed Audi, however. 

Anything to be wary of?

Audi has embraced something it calls ‘Functions on Demand’, which is marketing parlance for… selling extra kit through an app. It’s not quite BMW heated seat subscription levels of opportunism (customer empowerment, shurely?), but the carmaker is testing the waters by making adaptive cruise control and high beam assistance features that you book in for a month, a year, or forever. Resist, dear reader. Resist!

What’s it up against?

The A3 Saloon’s biggest rivals come in the shape of the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and the saloon version of the Mercedes A-Class. If you’re happy to settle for something less posh, then the Skoda Superb and Peugeot 508 exist for less.

Mercedes also makes the CLA, if you’re willing to inconvenience your rear passengers.

What’s the damage on one of these?

Prices start from a touch under £28.5k for the entry A3 Saloon with a six-speed manual and the diddiest petrol engine. The diesel sits at the top of the tree costing five grand more, though you’ll need another five Gs to climb from the base spec to the top trip. More details on the Buying tab.

The A3 Saloon is a fine thing. It handles neatly, gets about its business without fuss and you won’t be uncomfortable in it unless you hit a particularly large pothole on a cobblestone path covered in nails. Meanwhile the interior is festooned with tech, which - if you’re not sold on the look of the cabin - will at least distract you from the look of the cabin.

The elephant in the room is the Sportback, which is more practical, costs less, and arguably drives that bit sweeter. How badly do you want to compromise on all that for the optics of driving around in a three-box saloon instead of a perky hatchback?