Audi A3 Sportback (2013-2020) review

Audi created the premium hatchback with the first A3 back in 1996 and has near as damn perfected the recipe with its third generation version. Released in 2013, Audi’s habit of building cars that don’t seem to age is exemplified in this 8V generation, which despite being significantly older than its rivals still manages to better them in many key areas. 

The A3 combines an interior that’s as sharp and well-built as ever, a clean contemporary exterior design and a refined and capable chassis to create a package that despite costing more than its closely-related Golf and Leon cousins is an easy purchase to justify. 

But while the A3 might appeal to the mass-market, its driving experience has always been dull and a tad sterile, especially when compared to its contemporary nemesis, the BMW 1-series. Updated in 2017, the new A3 featured updated tech, subtly refreshed styling and new powertrains to the package, but has Audi improved what was actually lacking?

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Audi A3 Sportback: in detail

• Performance and 0-60 time > Equipped with the 1.2-litre TFSI, the A3 can’t be called quick, with a 0-62mph time of 10.1sec and a top speed of 123mph. It can, however, maintain decent cross-country pace one up and running. 
• Engine and gearbox > All A3 Sportbacks sport front-wheel drive, with the exception of the 1.8-litre TFSI and 2-litre TDI models, which can be optioned with quattro four-wheel drive. 
• Ride and handling > The A3’s strength is neatly maintaining cross-country pace. It‘s also an excellent motorway cruiser, however. 
• MPG and running costs > Petrol-engined cars return anything between 43.5 and 58.9mpg combined – the diesels are better still, managing from 60.1 to 74.3mpg. 
• Interior and tech > The A3’s cabin boasts impeccable fit and finish, with the quadruple air vents now a signature feature. A Bang & Olufsen sound system is £750 – we consider it to be a worthwhile expenditure.
• Design > Many people option the exterior S-line trim because it helps the car stand out with more aggressive bodywork addenda. 

evo Verdict

While the Audi A3 Sportback might look the part and boast a cabin that is a cut above when compared to rivals, it's ultimately a pretty tame thing to drive, offering up little in the way of thrills unless you opt for the range-topping S and RS models. The latter uses a five-cylinder engine and boasts an impressive 362bhp.

Where the A3 Sportback's plus points reside is in its ability to offer levels of refinement normally reserved for a class above. Practical, with two extra doors over a standard A3 and offering a 1220-litre boot, it's also decent value at £620 over the standard car. The extra metal of the Sportback does also add another 30kg to the mix.

It's only really the five-cylinder RS version of the A3 that truly gets towards the thrill of driving but as we discovered during our testing, it's still very much within the 'fast and friendly' realm of quick Audis. The S3 too is definitely quick to drive, but the similarly priced Golf R bests it dynamically.

evo Tip

The two top tier Quattro Sportbacks are very much sub-S/RS 'warm' hatches, but are most definitely pricy at £27,450 for either. While we’d normally favour petrol, the 2.0 TDI diesel engine makes more sense. It has 181bhp, 280lb ft, a top speed of 143mph and a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds, along with eco-stats of 60.1mpg and 124g/km; the correlating numbers for the 1.8 TFSI are 178bhp, 207lb ft, 142mph, 6.8 seconds, 43.5mpg and 149g/km. The TDI costs £925 more than the TFSI model.

evo Comment

Whether or not you prefer the styling of the Sportback compared to the regular A3 is of course a subjective issue, but to these eyes the five-door is just a touch bulkier to behold than the three-door. This is because it is a physically longer car than the hatchback A3, at 4310mm against 4237mm. This brings with it a wheelbase stretched by 35mm, a 38mm longer rear overhang and that extra quarter-light in the C-pillar, making for a fussier glasshouse than on the A3 hatch. On the previous generation A3s, the three-door and Sportback versions had different rear light clusters entirely, whereas the current models have the same units for greater homogeny.

Don’t bank on a lot of extra room inside as a result of its exterior dimensions, though, as rear-seat passengers benefit from just 11mm more elbow room and 1mm more shoulder room. Front-seat occupants actually have more space in the three-door A3.