• Refreshed dashboard with facelift
• Even more ambient lighting
• Patchy material quality

How is the quality and layout?

The Audi A3’s cabin exudes the brand’s trademark quality. Almost everything in it feels really well made and you can tell you’re in something a cut above more prosaic hatchbacks like the Ford Focus. The choice of materials and precision of the surfaces is mostly top-notch.

Elements of the driver-focused dashboard have been redesigned for the 2024 car to freshen the cockpit with a sportier, more youthful ambiance. On the centre console, the automatic gearbox’s rocker switch selector has been tweaked, along with the air vents. But the changes are fairly minor, and it would take a keen eye to immediately spot the differences between the latest interior and the previous design.

Unfortunately, there are still some hard and scratchy plastics found around the doors and dashboard. While not galling, we think they bring the interior’s premium, homely feel down a tad, should you graze your hand across them. Softer surfaces would’ve suited the cabin more – and better matched rivals’ interiors.

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Back on the positive side, it’s nice to see that there are still plenty of proper buttons on the A3’s dashboard for things like the air con and lights. Grouping everything into the touchscreen and/or using haptic touch pads may be more fashionable, but we think buttons are much nicer to use.

Overall, the interior isn’t quite as impressive or impactful as that of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, but it easily trumps the BMW 1 Series.

Infotainment and tech

Every A3 model has a generous 10.1-inch touchscreen that runs Audi’s latest infotainment system – dubbed MMI Navigation Plus – which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, plus built-in satnav. The system is bang-up-to-date and will even remember the profiles of up to six drivers, so the car will store your preferred destinations, seat positions (if electric seats are fitted) and even air-con settings. You can also choose to upgrade to a larger 12.3-inch screen.

We think Audi’s MMI is a really user-friendly system. Yes, there are plenty of menus to learn your way around, but you soon do. The satnav – which features 3D-mapping – is pretty effective, as well. Though, of course, you can always connect your smartphone if you don’t like the native system. You can even hook it up to your Amazon Alexa account.

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You also get Audi’s brilliant Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display. It can display a vast range of information and full-screen satnav maps. You can also configure it to show whatever combination of information you what.

There are USB-A and USB-C connections in the front, along with a wireless phone charging pad in the centre console.

Comfort

• Optional adaptive suspension worth considering
• Improved insulation and acoustic glass reduce noise
• Good amounts of seat adjustability

The driver’s seat has a huge range of adjustment and it’s very comfortable once you have it set to your liking. Both the front and back seats are supportive and very comfortable – you’re unlikely to develop any aches or pains on a long journey.

We tried models with quilted leather sports seats and found that they hold you in place really well. Notably, the one-piece seats fitted to S Line and Black Edition models almost entirely block out back seat passengers’ view forwards. Though spacious enough, the back seats are a bit dingy; add in the restricted view and some people won’t particularly enjoy being there. The middle back seat passenger has a better view, but their perch isn’t exactly comfortable. Though we can say that of a lot of cars.

This generation of A3 has better sound insulation than before and comes with noise-reducing acoustic glass, contributing to a very quiet ride. The 30 TFSI engine gets a basic torsion beam rear axle; the ride quality is perfectly acceptable, but it’s noticeably smoother in more powerful models with their sophisticated multi-link rear suspension. The optional adaptive suspension adds yet another level of smoothness and control.

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