Should you buy one?

We can heartily recommend the A3 Saloon if you’re in the market for a premium, but small, executive-style car. It looks and feels just as grown up as more expensive Audis, and has an interior that gives a wow factor.

A Mercedes A-Class Saloon has a flashier interior, though, while a BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe is a touch better to drive. The A3 Saloon is the happy medium between these two.

If you dig the looks, this is a no-brainer. But if you’re on the fence about them, a regular A3 Sportback does much the same job but is a bit cheaper and a smidge more practical because of the hatchback boot.

The 35 TDI offers the best bang for buck in our opinion. But the 35 TFSI is equally as good if you can’t justify a diesel. The cheaper, less powerful petrol and diesel options are fine, but feel a bit so-so in a premium brand.

Watch out on the options too – not all cars come with reversing cameras, and things like an upgraded stereo can pump up the list price.

What we like

Despite being Audi’s entry-level saloon car, the A3 feels reassuringly premium to look at inside and out. It’s a smart-looking thing, and it seems a bit cooler than the hatch because of its rarity. It’s quite practical for a small saloon car, too, and is good to drive and available with some great engines.

What we don’t like

Despite being larger than the A3 hatchback, its boot isn’t as useful or practical in the real world. It’s more expensive, too, and the ride quality on the largest alloy wheels isn’t good at all.