Used Audi A3 Saloon 2013-2020 review

For those who find that the excellent 2013 to 2020 Audi A3 three-door hatchback and five-door Sportback aren’t quite their style, take a look at the A3 Saloon, a conventional three-box-style, four-door executive car with a stubby boot at the back.

The good news is that it shares its underpinnings with the other A3s, meaning this smart and handsome car is great to drive and a pleasure to travel in.

Part of its appeal has always been the wide range of engines available. Over the years, the saloon has been powered by a variety of petrol engines, from a lively 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit up to the sporty RS3’s 395bhp 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine. Diesels range from the economical 1.6 TDI (with an official 68.9mpg average) through to a smooth and punchy 148bhp 2.0 TDI engine. With most of the engine options available, fuel economy and CO2 emissions are among the best in class.

In 2016 the A3 saloon was facelifted, with a refreshed look, some engine updates and the option of a new digital instrument display. It also received a number of new safety systems, such as a semi-autonomous traffic jam assist function. Among the revisions, a sweet and lively 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine was added to the range, effectively replacing the earlier 1.2-litre unit. The facelift also meant the popular 1.4 TFSI 150 petrol engine was replaced by a more efficient 1.5-litre TFSI unit, and the S3’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine gained an extra 10bhp, taking it to 306bhp.

At its original launch, the A3 saloon was available in a choice of three trims: SE, Sport and S line. An SE Technik trim was added to the range a short time afterwards, and in later versions this version actually replaced SE as the entry-level trim. Over the years, there have been a number of limited editions and special trims with various cosmetic and equipment upgrades, most notably the Black Edition.

Opt for an earlier SE A3 and you'll find 16in alloys, xenon headlights, cruise control, rear parking sensors and auto lights and wipers fitted as standard on the outside. Inside, there's air conditioning, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, and Audi's MMI infotainment system complete with a 7.0in display, a DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, as well as smartphone integration. Upgrading to the SE Technik trim added sat-nav and a three-month trial to Audi's online connected services.

If you seek out a Sport trim the A3 gains 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, front sports seats and touches of aluminium, while S line cars get LED headlights, a sporty bodykit, lowered, firmed-up suspension, ambient interior LED lighting, part-leather upholstery and 18in alloys. Topping the standard range is the Black Edition models which get fancy 18in alloys, an improved audio system and lots of gloss black exterior styling.

On the road, you'll find that every version, no matter of what age, is great to drive. The 1.4 TFSI was smooth and powerful and reasonably economical. The replacement 1.5 (badged in later cars as the 35 TFSI) balances strong, flexible performance across the rev range with decent economy, too. Of the diesels, the 114bhp 1.6-litre engine (later called the 30 TDI) provides solid pace and makes for relaxed progress. The 148bhp 2.0-litre engine (badged as the 35 TDI) pulls harder across the rev range and the more powerful 187bhp 2.0-litre (called 40 TDI) is useful if you need even more oomph. Both the six-speed manual or the automatic gearbox option shift cogs effortlessly and smoothly.

Added to all that, the A3 Saloon handles brilliantly, with plenty of grip and precise steering. All models are capable and composed, and there’s even the option of four-wheel drive to help you out if you do a lot of travelling on slippery surfaces. As a further bonus, it rides well, with a firm but comfortable set-up, although we would advise against cars with the sport suspension option because they can be a trifle too firm. The A3 is also an impressively refined car; that's one of the reasons why it's one of the most desirable cars in its class.

The interior is classy and well built, with a widely adjustable driving position, good visibility and an excellent infotainment system. The only drawback to the saloon model is that space is rather limited in the rear, especially behind a taller driver, and the boot isn’t one of the biggest.

The A3 is well equipped, though, and the solid build quality translates into a good record for reliability, so this should make this enticing premium product an even more appealing used proposition.

If you're interested in finding a used A3, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

On the second-hand market, there’s little to choose between the petrol and diesel versions, although there are inevitably more diesel A3s around.

Prices start at around £6000 for an early car from 2013 with more than 100,000 miles or possible Category D write-off issues. Move up to £7000 and you can bag yourself a car with less than 100,000 miles from 2013 or 2014, with a good service history, bought from an independent dealer.

Shell out £8000 and upwards and you should find a 2014 A3 with an average mileage and full service history. Upping your wedge to between £10,000 and £14,000 should bring in a manufacturer-approved used facelifted A3 from 2016 or 2017 that’s carrying a fairly nominal mileage. Spend between £15,000 and £17,000 on a 2017 or 2018 car, and £17,000 to £19,000 on a 2018 or 2019 model. Run-out 2020 cars should set you back between £19,000 and £22,000.

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The A3 Saloon comes with a wide variety of petrol and diesel options, including a 148bhp 1.4 TFSI engine that can automatically cut off two of its four cylinders at a cruise to save fuel. With an official average fuel economy figure of 57.6mpg (under the older NEDC tests) and £30 road tax, it should be cost-effective to run. Diesel variants include the popular 1.6 TDI and 2.0 TDI 150, both of which are surprisingly refined. The 1.6 TDI should be the cheapest version to run, with road tax costs of £20 and a 68.9mpg average in some models. The more powerful 2.0 TDI is a little down on that but, at 58.9mpg and £30 to tax, it’s hardly expensive to run.

On the high-performance spectrum, the 296bhp S3 averages 39.8mpg and costs £195 in road tax, while the bonkers 395bhp RS3 can potentially return 34mpg and costs £250 to tax. Like the fuel bills, insurance will be high for these models.

Various engines were introduced later, but it was the 2016 facelift that brought a new 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol unit. This sweet and economical engine is great in town and never feels short of puff, and fuel economy is a highly commendable 61.4mpg NEDC and road tax costs £20.

It’s worth noting that any A3 registered after 1 April 2017 will be charged under a different taxing system. Most models will be charged a flat-rate yearly fee of £165, but some high-spec S3s and all RS3s will have an additional annual charge of £355 up until the car is six years old.

Servicing is due every two years or 19,000 miles, with Audi main dealers offering a comprehensive service plan for cars aged three years and older. From new, many A3s had an Audi Service Plan that could be used to cover the cost of routine servicing for up to five years or 50,000 miles.

The A3 was also covered by a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty from new, with the option to extend it to four or five years.

The entry-level 1.0-litre engine still has plenty of pep, coping with motorways without too much difficulty. Even so, we'd recommend the more powerful and refined 1.4 TFSI or, in later cars, 1.5 TFSI engine, if you’re after a petrol-powered car. Sitting at the top of the petrol range in the RS3, there’s a 395bhp 2.5-litre five-cylinder motor that not only sounds fantastic but also has a serious turn of pace. It’s one for the well heeled, though.

The 1.6 TDI 110 diesel engine is the best in the line-up for CO2 emissions. It’s also smooth and has enough low-down punch for comfortable motorway cruising. We think the 2.0 TDI 150 diesel engine (in this 148bhp tune) is worth the premium over the 1.6 because it’s a little smoother and offers punchier performance. It should still return about 50mpg, too, keeping running costs down. It’s our pick of the range if you’re after a diesel-powered A3.

Sport is the entry-level trim and it has more than enough kit, with dual-zone climate control, 17in wheels, DAB radio, a 5.8in colour screen, Bluetooth, a USB socket and a leather steering wheel complete with audio controls. It’s worth noting that you could specify a more comfortable suspension set-up for no extra cost when new, so it’s worth checking if the car you’re looking at has had that done. S line trim is focused on sporty looks; you get 18in wheels, a bodykit, xenon headlights and part-leather upholstery.

Our favourite Audi A3 saloon: Audi A3 saloon 2.0 TDI 150 Sport

One of the most obvious rivals in this compact executive class is the BMW 3 Series saloon. This is the car that has for years defined the class, although we think the Audi A3 Saloon certainly gives it a run for its money. The BMW is great to drive, with a strong range of engines and a class-leading iDrive infotainment system. It’s powerful, punchy, economical, classy, good to drive and nice to be in, so it’s no wonder it’s been top of the tree for so long.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class saloon has been held in similarly high regard over the years. It’s comfortable, classy and efficient. Only next to the 3 Series does it seem less refined and not as good to drive, with its ride being a little lumpy on some roads.

There’s also the Mercedes-Benz CLA, which is stylish and, in diesel form, highly economical. The ride is firm, though, and interior space isn’t great due to the swoopy shape.

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If you're interested in finding a used A3, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.