Used Audi A3 Hatchback 2003 - 2013 review

Why wouldn’t you want an Audi A3? It’s no surprise that the car that started the premium hatchback trend is a popular choice; after all, it combines the compact dimensions and family-friendly space of the Volkswagen Golf - upon which it's based - with the quality feel and upmarket image of larger Audis.

On the face of it, that’s an exciting combination. However, the A3’s not without its problems; that desirability means resale values are high, and that in turn makes it a very expensive used purchase – or one for which you’d have to sacrifice more in terms of equipment, age or mileage than you would with other used family cars like the Golf, Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra.

Is it worth it? Well, the A3 certainly looks the part, both inside and out. Neat styling details and a smart, high-quality interior mean it easily ticks the premium box.

You can choose between the sporty-looking three-door model or the practical five-door Sportback, and there’s a huge range of engines on offer, from the basic 1.6-litre, which is a little gutless but efficient and mechanically simple, through a selection of petrol and diesel models, right up to the enormously powerful 2.5-litre turbo in the four-wheel-drive RS3 hot hatch.

On the road, however, the A3 is less impressive. S line models, which have sporty looks with big wheels and lowered suspension, suffer from a harsh ride as a result, but even the SE and Sport versions have firmer suspension than rivals. This sadly doesn’t translate to a more interesting driving experience, though, because the steering is both overly light and lacking in feel. Even the more performance-oriented versions, the S3 and RS3, are strangely uninvolving.

The A3 is therefore beaten in terms of driver appeal by the Ford Focus, in terms of comfort by the Vauxhall Astra, and for an all-rounder, the Volkswagen Golf looks like a better bet – it’s nicer to drive and feels almost as upmarket, yet costs less.

Nevertheless, for all its flaws, the A3 does offer you more space than a BMW 1 Series, and it’s a better car than a comparable Mercedes-Benz A-Class. So if you want a small car with a premium feel that’s got plenty of room for the family, it’s still worth a look.

Prices for the Audi A3 start at as little as £1200 these days, but all that will buy you is a very early car with high mileage or a write-off to its name. However, £2000 is enough to get you into a respectable early petrol-powered three-door. If you want a diesel, you’ll have to increase your budget to around £3000.

The five-door Sportback didn’t come out until 2004, and it’s more desirable because of its extra practicality, so prices are a little higher. Expect to pay at least £2700 for a low mileage petrol-powered example with full service history, and £500 more than that for a diesel model.

If you’re after the more powerful S3, a tidy example will cost you from around £8000, while you’ll have to fork out at least £22,000 for a clean RS3 with reasonable mileage and a full service history.

A facelift in 2009 brought revised styling and a tidied-up interior; these cars will cost from around £6000 for a three-door model.

Not too much. The most efficient versions achieve 74mpg on the official combined cycle, and even the fast 2.0-litre turbo version, which is essentially a Golf GTI under the skin, can get as much as 39mpg.

Of course, S3 and RS3 versions will be rather thirstier, especially the RS3, which has a 2.5-litre turbo engine that uses lots of fuel.

Keep in mind that four-wheel drive models will be less efficient, so unless you really need it, stick with a standard, front-wheel drive car. It’s also worth keeping in mind that like-for-like, the BMW 1 Series beats the Audi A3 on fuel economy by a whisker, with diesel versions that are even more economical.

Servicing and maintenance costs for the A3 will be slightly more expensive than with most rivals. Only the 1 Series is costlier to maintain.

The Audi A3’s most common faults seem to affect diesel-powered cars more, so unless you really need to save money on fuel because you do lots of miles, we’d suggest sticking with a petrol model instead. If you can afford to stretch to a later turbocharged model, do so, as they’re great to drive – although avoid the early turbo-supercharged 1.4-litre engine, badged TSI, because it too has a reputation for poor reliability.

When it comes to trim levels, go for an SE or Sport model; the S line might look good, but its bone-shattering ride quality takes an awful lot of getting used to, and you don’t gain anything other than sportier looks in terms of standard specification.

Our favourite Audi A3: 1.4 TFSI SE Sportback manual

If you like the sound of an Audi A3 but don’t want to spend the money, have a look at a Volkswagen Golf. The Golf drives better, rides more comfortably and has a better reputation for reliability, yet comes with a similar range of engines to the A3 and costs less to buy.

The Ford Focus is another alternative; it’s nowhere near as classy as the A3 or the Golf, but it is an awful lot more enjoyable to drive, with engaging handling and communicative steering. The 2.0-litre diesel version also has a better reputation for reliability than the equivalent A3.

If you want a hatchback with a desirable badge on its nose, you might be better off with a BMW 1 Series. It’s less practical than the A3, with cramped rear seats and a small boot, but it’s far more engaging to drive and has an interior that feels every bit as classy. Plus, you’ll find it’s fractionally more fuel efficient, like-for-like.

If you’re buying strictly with your head ruling your heart, try a Kia Cee’d. The interior feels cheap compared to the Audi’s and it’s fairly average to drive, but it’s ridiculously cheap to buy and, if you buy one that’s less than seven years old, comes with the advantage of having a chunk of its manufacturer’s warranty left over.

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