• Refreshed dashboard with 2024 facelift
• Even more ambient lighting
• Patchy material quality

How is the quality and layout?

Almost everything in the A3’s cabin 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, although there are some not very well hidden hard plastics on the dash and door cards.

Elements of the driver-focused dashboard were redesigned during the 2024 facelift 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 current interior and the previous design.

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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 flash as that of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, but it’s more user friendly than a 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

• Excellent driving position
• 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, with the pedals and steering wheel lining up with the seat well. Both the front and back seats are supportive and very comfortable – you’re unlikely to develop any aches or pains on a long journey.

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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.