Audi A3 Saloon practicality & boot space

• Five-star Euro NCAP crash rating
• Lots of driver assistance kit available
• Solid build and plenty of safety equipment

The Audi A3 Saloon hasn’t been crash-tested by Euro NCAP yet, however the regular A3 scores a maximum five stars. The two cars share pretty much everything when it comes to how its built and the safety equipment they’re fitted with.

Optional safety equipment includes clever Matrix LED headlights which change depending on route information from the sat-nav and adjust the beam of light to not dazzle oncoming drivers.

You can also order adaptive cruise control, which automatically adjusts your vehicle’s speed depending on the speed of the vehicle in front.

There’s a lane-keeping system which subtly steers the car back into its lane if it detects drifting without driver input and park assist, which steers the car into parallel and perpendicular parking spaces.

Finally there’s the Pre-Sense basic safety system, which will take preventative action should the car detect an imminent crash.

If the adaptive cruise control is also fitted, this includes a system which warns – and then brakes for – the driver if it senses a collision is about to happen. It will also hold the brakes on after a collision to prevent any further damage.

• Enough space for a small family
• Sloping roof the only black mark
• Four adults will fit with ease

The A3 Saloon is a compact car, so those interested are unlikely to be buying because of its practicality credentials.

However, there’s plenty of room in the front seats with a generous amount of adjustment in the seats, while those in the rear are treated to comfortable seats. However, taller passengers in the rear might struggle with headroom as the roofline is more sloping than the regular Sportback.

At least legroom isn’t too bad, so most will be comfortable on journeys that aren’t too long and arduous. It’s certainly more spacious inside than its most direct rival, the Mercedes-Benz CLA. 

Despite being a saloon, the A3 is a compact one, with neat and tidy proportions. That means it’s easy to manoeuvre into tighter-than-average spaces, but you’ll need parking sensors at the very least if you’re regularly reversing. That jutting out saloon boot can still be deceptive because of the small, sloped rear window. 

The A3’s boot is surprisingly practical, at 425 litres. In fact, it’s the biggest in the whole A3 range with the rear seats in place – bigger even than the A3 Sportback.

However, there are limitations, despite its large, square load space. Access is restricted due to the narrower opening that comes with a saloon body style, and folding the rear seats down doesn’t liberate as much space as it does in something like a regular hatchback.

Finally, go for a model fitted with Quattro all-wheel drive, and capacity falls to 390 litres due to the extra mechanicals located beneath the floor for the rear axle.