Everything you need to know about the Audi A3

Martin Pretorius

When the Audi A3 first arrived on the international stage in 1996, automotive enthusiasts struggled to make sense of the new entry-level Audi. This was quite understandable, because the first-generation A3 was little more than an “inbetweener”. Why would anyone be interested in a blend of Golf mechanical bits and Audi styling cues, which demanded a significant price premium at the same time?

But Audi’s product planners saw a gap in the market, and they ended up proving those nay-sayers completely wrong. As it turned out, there was significant demand for a smaller, yet still upmarket Audi, and the A3 soon became a very important product for the brand. 

The eventual addition of a 5-door variant further broadened the A3’s appeal, as did the arrival of the high-performance S3 derivative. In hindsight, that first A3 may have been a somewhat cynical exercise on Audi’s part, but it did broaden their model range, and introduced a new generation of customers to Ingolstadt’s products.

While it took Audi a good few years to bring the A3 to South Africa, it proved an immediate success on local shores as well. Buyers were hungry for this car’s brand cachet and crisp styling, and the three-door body style set it apart as something out of the ordinary. (We never received the five-door variant of the first A3 in South Africa.) It was like a Golf, but sportier and more exclusive. Thus was the foundation for the A3’s future popularity on local shores laid. 

The next generation A3: things get serious

The A3 really gained momentum with the local arrival of the second generation in 2004. Initially also offered only in three-door form, a five-door (with the Sportback label) soon joined the range, as did a host of high-tech drivetrain options.

Buyers could choose between a selection of 2.0-litre FSI (direct injection) and 2.0 TDI engines, with outputs initially ranging between 103 kW (2.0 TDI) and 147 kW (2.0 TFSI), along with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed twin-clutch automatic gearbox (named S-Tronic in Audi guise). 

The Big Six and range development

Most noteworthy was the eventual addition of a 3.2 FSI variant, with a 3.2-litre, 24-valve VR6 engine under the bonnet, coupled to a (Haldex-based) quattro all-wheel drive system. This derivative is now highly sought-after, as it effectively marks the end of the VR6 era in small cars. Yes, the 2.0 TFSI was probably no slower in a straight line, and the S3 could run rings around the 3.2, but that VR6 charisma and soundtrack truly compensated for its performance deficiencies and profligate thirst.

The first RS3 deserves a special mention as well. Slotting a 2.5-litre 5-cylinder turbo engine in front of its S-Tronic gearbox and AWD system, this 250 kW monster opened up the current “hyper-hatch” genre, and delivered massive straight-line speed (and generous helpings of understeer in its first guise).

During its 2008 facelift, the second-generation Audi A3 received smoother styling, and marked the introduction of downsized 1.4-litre and 1.8-litre TFSI engines. However, the car’s fundamental design remained unaltered until its successor arrived in 2012. The first A3 Cabriolet also appeared around this time, and was based on the three-door variant. Very few were sold, so these might become quite collectable in the future as well.

Third generation moves upmarket

As the first car to introduce the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, the third (and current) generation A3 was a revelation when it arrived. It was so well-developed and so refined, that it immediately sent its competitors scurrying in search of answers. 

This still holds true: while the current A3 is quite aged by now, the integrity of its engineering habitually puts its opponents to shame in the areas of ride quality, space utilisation, and efficiency. It also doesn’t hurt that the A3 is beautifully built and tastefully trimmed, and even much newer competitors usually just manage to equal its excellence, but very seldom better it.

Range expansion

As has become A3 tradition at that stage, the third-generation car launched in three-door form only, but the five-door Sportback joined it quickly enough. Of greater significance was the arrival of the four-door Sedan – a body style which has proven to be popular beyond even Audi’s imagination. The Sedan also forms the basis for the second edition of the A3 Cabriolet, which is very pretty and really nice to drive, but unfortunately also very expensive.

Following its most-recent model update, the three-door has disappeared from the model line-up, leaving the Sportback and Sedan to carry the range into the future. The Cabriolet is still available as well, but its limited audience and high price means that it will forever remain a fringe player.

The current range

With a variety of downsized engines, the current A3 range caters for the tastes of most buyers. It must be noted that diesel has disappeared from the A3 following its last facelift, leaving only 3 petrol-fuelled, turbocharged engine options for the mainstream models. There are no more manual gearboxes on offer, either, with all derivatives (including the performance variants) now using a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Audi’s current model naming structure is quite confusing, but let’s try to simplify it a bit. The entry-level 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine carries the “30TFSI” badge, and offers 85 kW and 200 Nm. Next up is the “35TFSI”, which uses a 1.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine to produce 110 kW and 250 Nm. Topping the range is the “40TFSI”, which offers a 2.0-litre petrol with 140 kW and 320 Nm. 

This engine selection is available in both Sportback and Sedan body styles, but the Cabriolet can only be had in “40TFSI” flavour. Mainstream A3 models currently retail anywhere between R432 000 and R505 676, with the Cabriolet adding at least R83 000 to the price of a "40TFSI" Sedan.

Speed freaks can also look at the S3 (available in all three body styles), which employs a 2.0-litre TFSI engine with 228 kW and 400 Nm, along with quattro AWD. Topping the range is the extremely rapid RS3, which delivers 294 kW and 480 Nm from its 2.5-litre 5-cylinder power unit, and can be had as either a Sedan or a Sportback.

Into the future

Going on past trends, it’s highly probable that the next A3 will be another facelift of the current car, as the MQB platform is not due for replacement any time soon. However, there’s a strong possibility that Audi may eventually move this model over to the Volkswagen Group's new MEB electric-car platform. 

If this comes to pass, the days of rorty petrol-fuelled A3 will be consigned to history, with this mainstay model likely to move into the future as an electric-only offering. While we’ll eventually have to accept this fate for all of our favourite cars, at least there will be some consolation in the fact that any future A3 should continue to set the trend among its peers. It effectively created its market segment, after all...