Audi A3 review (2003 - 2011)
Audi A3 cars for sale
3.0
Expert review
Pros
The second-gen A3 still looks surprisingly modern
Premium interior quality puts most rivals to shame
Thrifty diesels offer low running costs
Cons
Iffy reliability is a concern
Nothing special to drive
Some cars have very basic equipment levels, so choose carefully
The CarGurus verdict
It may not be the most enthralling car to drive in its class, and it certainly doesn’t ride the most comfortably, but the Audi A3 mk2 is still an appealing package. It has a strong range of engines, both petrol and diesel, its styling is sophisticated enough to transmit Audi’s ‘premium’ message just by looking at it, and the quality of its interior remains something to which most other car manufacturers aspire.
Take the time to pick the used example that is best for you, though: some cars will have only very basic equipment levels, so choose one where the first owner ticked a few options boxes, in particular the box marked ‘air conditioning or climate control’. And there are reliability worries with the A3 mk2, so revisit this review’s Reliability section, go for a long test drive, press all the buttons and switches, and ask lots of questions.
What is the Audi A3?
When launched in 2003 the Audi A3 mk2 immediately benefitted from the high esteem in which its predecessor was held. It might not have been the best medium-sized family hatchback on the market to drive, but the A3 mk1 enjoyed a strong fan base of customers enamoured of its classy cabin and premium-feel styling. It was seen as an executive class hatchback rather than a mainstream one, and that distinction appealed to British car buyers. The Audi A3 mk2 represents more of the same, except more upmarket, outside and in. Initially the A3 mk2 was available as a three-door hatchback only, by mid-2004 Audi had added the five-door Sportback model to the range, and it was this which allowed sales to really take off.
How practical is it?
If you’re buying an A3 mk2 as a family car then it’s best to opt for the Sportback as its extra doors make access to the back seats so much easier.
There’s also a Cabriolet version of the A3, launched in 2008, which is surprisingly practical for what it is. Of course, there isn’t as much room in the back as you’ll get in an A3 hatchback, but the Cabriolet is still a bona fide four-seater, with a boot that's small but big enough for a couple of overnight bags or a week’s shopping.
With the fixed-roof versions, no matter how many doors you go for you get a decent-sized boot (350 litres in the three-door), though ultimately the A3 is beaten in terms of outright practicality by the Volkswagen Golf.
What's it like to drive?
The A3 mk2 was often criticised in the motoring press for being an uninvolving drive – the steering is light and the ride a bit lumpen and crashy, especially with the S line trim’s sports suspension and large diameter wheels – and while these are things that an enthusiast driver might notice, you’re unlikely to be too concerned if you’ve fallen for the A3 mk2’s looks and image. On the whole its engines are smooth and refined and it’s a comparatively relaxing conveyance for long journeys. The style and feel of the cabin is first-class, and it’s spacious enough as long as you don’t have to sit behind a tall driver.
Technology, equipment & infotainment
The old stereotype about German cars being poorly equipped as standard holds true for the Audi A3 mk2, at least if you’re on the hunt for items such as air conditioning, a CD player, or part-leather seats, although all of them came with alloys wheels, electrically heated and adjustable door mirrors and stability control. But on the plus side a fair number of these premium hatchbacks were bought as company cars and had a good number of the option boxes ticked. The A3 mk2 sold in reasonably large numbers in the UK, too, which increases your chances of finding the spec that you’re after.
There was a facelift for the A3 mk2 in spring 2008, when the car’s looks were smartened up and it received better equipment levels, including the option of a seven-speed version of the S tronic automatic gearbox.
Audi A3 running costs
With the exception of the 3.2-litre V6, all Audi petrol engines are claimed to deliver in excess of 30mpg, but it’s exceptionally unlikely that you’ll get anywhere near that in either the S3 or RS3 if driven in the manner that Audi intended. The 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre TFSI engines are reckoned to be good for 50mpg-plus but you’d need to be feather-footed to achieve that. However, it’s a good performance throughout the range, which you’ll appreciate if you prefer petrol motors.
From the diesel line-up the 1.6 TDI models are thriftiest at the pumps. The ‘regular’ version is claimed to travel up to 69 miles on a gallon while the TDIe lays claim to 74mpg. The popular 1.9 TDI gives 58mpg, while the more powerful (168bhp) of the 2.0 TDIs is rated at 60mpg.
Annual road tax for the petrol A3 mk2 models ranges between £125 for some of the 1.2 and 1.4 TSFI variants, through to £580 for certain versions of the high-performance 3.2 V6, S3 and RS3. Predictably the latter three are caned hard by the insurance companies, but the more mainstream examples of the A3 mk2 fall between groups 14 and 29.
Like many other major car makers these days, Audi runs a fixed price servicing plan for models three years and older, and it’s worth measuring up what the dealers are charging against the many highly respected Audi specialists. A minor service is pitched at around £165 for engines up to 2.0 litres and £199 for the bigger ones, while a major service costs around £320 and £400 respectively. Diesel engines and the S3 have timing belts (rather than the chains of other models) and these need changing every five years or 75,000 miles. It’s best to check when this was last done as a replacement, including a new water pump, can cost between £600 and £900 depending on where you get it done. An air conditioning service should be performed every couple of years, but even at an Audi dealer this is only about £80.
Audi A3 reliability
The fact that the Audi A3 mk2 once placed 71st out of 75 in an Auto Express Driver Power survey gives you some idea about its reliability. And when new it was subject to a number of recalls including a fuel pump leak in some TDI diesels as well as another fuel leak, problems with the S tronic automatic gearbox, faulty dual-mass flywheels, and issues with the airbags. The last of these recalls was in December 2011, so most affected cars should have been fixed by now. It’s always worth asking the question though.
The A3 mk2 has also suffered from leaking radiators, which can cause serious engine overheating problems. There have been various issues with ECUs, sensors and other electrical items, including a problematic door sensor microswitch that can lock your keys in the car, and steering rack failures. Petrol engines are known to be plagued by faulty ignition coils, while a worn sprocket on the 2.0 TDI’s oil pump can lead to complete engine failure – ask the seller if this has already been done. If not, Audi specialists recommend renewing the oil pump as soon as you can as a preventative measure. TDI 2.0s built between 2006 and 2009 should have had their piezo-style fuel injectors replaced as part of a recall, so check that has happened.
Turbochargers don’t seem to fail as often as they do on the VW Golf mk5, but make sure that the car you’re looking at pulls smoothly, just in case. Also ensure that the air conditioning blows cold and strong, as the air compressors can fail with age and are expensive to replace. Gearbox issues aren’t confined to the S tronic automatic transmission – the synchromesh on first and second gears in some six-speed manual gearbox can fail, making it hard to shift gears.
At launch, the A3 was powered by direct injection petrol engines of 1.6- and 2.0-litre capacities, a 3.2-litre V6 petrol with quattro (four-wheel drive) transmission, alongside parent company Volkswagen Group’s ubiquitous TDI diesels in 1.9-litre and 2.0-litre (140hp) guises. In mid-2004 the turbocharged 2.0 TFSI petrol unit joined the gang, and then in 2006 the A3 mk2 range grew some more, with quattro four-wheel drive available for the newly announced 170hp version of the 2.0 TDI as well as the (also new for 2006) 1.8 TFSI and the 2.0 TFSI. The sporty 265hp S3 quattro model also made its debut in 2006, while the following year the 1.4 TFSI arrived. A super-efficient version of the 1.6 TDI diesel engine entered the fray in mid-2009 with CO2 emissions of just 109g/km, which a year later fell to 99g/km. A 1.2-litre TFSI was another 2009 debutant, and in 2011 the 340hp turbocharged inline five-cylinder RS3 Sportback quattro stormed in to cap the A3 mk2 range. As the A3 mk2 got older and its values fell (although not as far as those of some rivals), Audi’s mid-size hatchback has become popular with the younger generation. The consequence is that there are a number of modified cars on the market as owners have tried to make their basic diesels and small petrol-engined models look and perform like an S3 or RS3. Some of these modified cars may seem tempting, but we’d be super-wary of the engineering integrity of some of these mods and your insurance company isn’t going to like them. The Sport and S line trim packages, especially the latter, add extra visual pizzazz to the A3 mk2 and are very popular choices. However, their sportier suspension and large diameter alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile tyres can make for a very harsh ride quality. The S line could be ordered with the softer suspension of the SE model free of charge, and if you could actually find one of those you’d be doing your spine a favour.
- If you want the best fuel economy and emissions: All diesel-engined Audi A3 mk2s are infrequent visitors to the fuel pumps, but the star performer is the 1.6 TDIe launched in 2010: its official combined fuel economy is 74mpg. Its CO2 figure is 99g/km, while even the regular 1.6 TDI produces only 109g/km.
- If you prefer petrol to diesel: While the outright oomph of some of the bigger petrol engines can be tempting, for a good all-rounder take a look at the 1.4 TFSI, launched in 2007. With 123bhp it’s plenty lively and refined, too. It’s capable of 50mpg, its group 18-19 insurance rating isn’t too bad, and thanks to its 132g/km CO2 output, annual road tax can be as low as £125 depending on what model you choose.
- If you want performance without flashiness: The A3 mk2 S3 and RS models represent the ‘obvious’ face of high performance Audis, but if you want to operate below the radar, consider the 3.2 V6. It makes a great noise, rustles up 247bhp (against 261bhp for the S3), reaches 60mph from standstill in 6.3 seconds, is artificially limited to 155mph, and has four-wheel drive. It’s cheaper than the other two, but costs almost as much to insure and to road tax.
- If you want to work on your tan: The Audi A3 mk2 Cabriolet looks smart hood up or down, cruises along nicely and from Technik spec up has a fully electric mechanism for lowering and raising the roof. Go for the easy-going and economical 1.6 TDI paired with Technik trim, which gives you air conditioning and parking sensors.
