Overview

The Audi A3 Sportback is the family hatchback for people who want to inject some premium polish into their daily life. This fourth-generation car cracks the conservative style mould in favour of a more youthful design that’s matched with a high-tech and classy interior.

Audi has ditched the less-practical three-door model, in line with the BMW 1 Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class, so it’s only available as a five-door hatchback, called the Sportback, and as a four-door saloon. The current A3 is slightly longer and wider than before with marginally improved space inside.

Audi offers buyers a broad choice of engines, starting with a 110hp 1.0-litre petrol, badged 30 TFSI. Next up is a 150hp 1.5-litre petrol unit, badged as the 35 TFSI. Diesel’s on offer too – with a 116hp 2.0-litre diesel – called the 30TDI. There’s also a 150hp diesel badged the 35 TDI, which is also a 2.0-litre. Up next is the petrol plug-in hybrid version of the A3, which officially has a 41-mile electric driving range.

The Audi A3 is available in Technik, Sport and S line specification grades, as well as higher-spec Edition 1 and Vorsprung guises. Buyers can also choose from package upgrades to avail of items like driver assistance and upgraded stereo systems at a better price. If you want to know more about the 310hp S3, that’s covered in its own review.

The latest Audi couture is wrapped around familiar oily bits – in essence, this is a Volkswagen Golf in a posher frock. You won’t mistake it for anything but an Audi, although the designers have tried to inject some more interest this time round, to help the A3 Sportback stand out from the crowd.

So there are more overly-designed headlamps, whose day-running lights are made up of 15 individual pinprick LEDs, allowing for a different light signature depending on the model you choose. So sportier models will have one sparkly pattern, plug-in hybrids another. Games of family I Spy on the motorway will never be quite the same again.

Over the next few pages we’ll be thoroughly reviewing all aspects of the Audi A3 and rating them in our verdict. Our scores will take into account the driving experience, how pleasant the interior is, the practicality on offer and what it’ll cost you to run.