Audi A3 Saloon review
As a longer, roomier and more practical version of Audi’s five-door A3 hatchback, the A3 Saloon makes for a compelling proposition. You get a big boot, more space for rear-seat passengers and the knowledge that you’re driving something a little bit different from everyone else. Why not give it a try? You might like it. Read our full Audi A3 Saloon review below for more details.
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Pros
- Efficient engines
- Surprisingly practical
- Premium interior
Cons
- Hatchback is more practical
- Can get expensive
Interior
Our rating: 9/10
The A3 Saloon’s cabin is typically Audi, with a sea of soft-touch plastics and high-quality materials reminding you that you’re travelling in a well-built, premium vehicle.
All the switchgear and controls are well-engineered, tactile and fall easily to hand.
Driving position
There’s a wide range of adjustment for both the driver’s seat and the steering wheel, so getting comfortable inside the A3 Saloon should be a breeze.
All round visibility is good too, with only the large rear pillars impeding the view back just a little.
The A3 Saloon’s driving position is impressive, with good visibility out the front and an equally good view of the essential dials behind the wheel.
Tech and features
As it’s a used Audi, the A3 Saloon is suitably well-equipped.
The entry-level Sport model features a 10.1-inch colour screen, three-zone climate control and an upgraded version of Audi's digital instrument cluster.
Popular S line cars add sportier seats, a sporty flat-bottomed steering wheel and that stylish bodykit.
You can also buy Black Edition models, which add more aggressive styling.
The S Technology Pack Pro adds adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, a panoramic glass roof and plenty of other safety kit.
Performance
Our rating: 8/10
Handling and ride comfort
Handling-wise, the car benefits from lightly weighted, precise steering, and plenty of grip, which make for a stable, confidence-inspiring drive.
In both manual and automatic, the A3 Saloon changes gear with considerable enthusiasm, adding to the car’s smooth progress along all but the most rutted of surfaces.
Cars fitted with Audi’s quattro four-wheel-drive system benefit from even better road holding.
Driving experience
Due to its compact dimensions and light steering the A3 Saloon is also a great town car, as at home negotiating narrow city streets as it is squeezing into tight parking spaces.
The car’s range of diesel engines provide plenty of power for B-road overtaking manoeuvres and fast motorway cruising.
The A3 Saloon’s refined ride and hushed cabin also make it eminently qualified for longer journeys.
Practicality
Our rating: 7/10
With its longer dimensions and bigger boot, the A3 Saloon boasts more practicality than its Sportback sibling.
There’s plenty of leg and headroom up front, with more legroom in the back as well, allowing four adults to travel in comfort over longer distances.
Rear seats
Rear passenger headroom is slightly compromised by the car’s sloping roof. That’s the price you pay for the A3 Saloon’s sporty exterior design.
Boot space
The boot space is larger than that of the A3 Sportback, with enough room to pack for a long weekend away, while the rear seats fold down to increase load capacity.
Storage solutions
Interior storage is also impressive, with a cubby in the centre console to store smartphones, wallets and loose change, a larger compartment under the front centre armrest, a decent-sized glovebox and a pair of cupholders.
Door bins are more than adequate, with enough room to take a large sparkling bottle of water each.
Running costs
Our rating: 7/10
The Audi A3 saloon offers good value against the competition, with generally strong residual values.
Fuel economy
Most configurations come with 150hp from either a 1.5-litre petrol or a 2.0-litre diesel engine, so they offer a good balance of performance and fuel economy.
The diesel should be able to get up to around 60mpg on a longer trip, but for many drivers, the difference between the petrol and diesel fuel economies isn't too different around town.
Reliability
Reliability and safety are both excellent, with the A3 Saloon sharing tried and tested engines and technology with other cars in the Volkswagen Group.
Additionally the car feels incredibly well-built, so we don’t foresee any major problems when it comes to A3 Saloon ownership.
Insurance groups
Being a premium option, the Audi A3 Saloon typically sits in higher insurance groups than some other compact saloons, so if you're coming from a different manufacturer, you may notice slightly higher insurance premiums.
Compared to this car's main rivals – the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé, Mercedes A-Class Saloon and Mercedes CLA – the A3 Saloon doesn't stick out as being particularly expensive to run.
The verdict
Interior
9/10
Performance
8/10
Practicality
7/10
Running costs
7/10
We love the A3 Saloon’s added space. The A3 Sportback is a great car - the saloon version offers just a little more for families who need the extra space.
There’s a decent amount of standard safety kit as well, including a plethora of airbags, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control, as well as more modern active safety features.
Unsurprisingly, the A3 Saloon has a maximum 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
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