Why Lease The A3 Saloon?
by: Fergus GrayFergus is a talented automotive writer specialising in automotive and sports content. He has a Level 3 qualification in content creation and previously worked for Boxxer and The Best of Bolton.
Audi A3 Saloon Review 2022
The Audi A3 Saloon is a compact executive saloon that offers a comfortable driving experience. The A3 Saloon has a sporty interior which adds a sense of premium motoring.
Rivals to the Audi A3 Saloon include the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, Mercedes A-Class Saloon, Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia.
Our Audi A3 Saloon review covers:
Audi A3 Saloon Key Features
- Sporty, stylish exterior with a striking honeycomb grille
- High-quality driver-oriented interior
- Square load 425-litre boot
- Range of engines with petrol and diesel options
- Four trim levels, including Sport, S Line, Edition 1 and Vorsprung
Design, Practicality and Boot Space
The Audi A3 Saloon is a sleeker-looking version of the Audi A3 Sportback and a smaller and less expensive alternative to the Audi A4. It features a sporty, stylish exterior with a honeycomb radiator grille and striking lines that extend to the rear door, highlighting the length of the A3 Saloon.
Inside, the A3 Saloon offers a high-quality driver-oriented interior that provides space for up to five. Passenger space, however, in the back is a little tight as the A3 Saloon has a low, sloping roofline meaning there's just enough leg and headroom for adults.
At the rear, the A3 Saloon offers an extremely 425-litre boot which is square in shape. As such, it is much larger than A3 Sportback's 380-litre boot but is not as spacious as the more expensive BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe at 480 litres.
Interior and Trims
The Audi A3 Saloon has one of the sportiest interiors of any Audi to date. The cabin is driver-oriented and made from high-quality materials similar to what you'll find in a BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe or Mercedes A-Class Saloon.
The A3 Saloon also gets Audi's latest infotainment system with a 10-inch easy-to-use touchscreen as standard with crisp graphics. You also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.
The Audi A3 Saloon comes in four trim levels, including Sport, S Line, Edition 1 and Vorsprung.
The entry-level Sport model comes with either lowered sports suspension or the standard suspension, a 5.8-inch screen, Audi Music Interface Bluetooth, DAB radio and a voice control system. An aluminium trim, lowered sports suspension, Rallye cloth sports seats. It also has a three-spoke leather sports steering wheel with multifunction controls, dual-zone climate control and 17-inch alloy wheels.
S Line models include an S-Line bumper, side sills and a high gloss black grille. Cloth/leather interior with S-Line badging and silver stitching. You also get a flat-bottom steering wheel, Xenon headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The Edition 1 models feature Matrix LED headlights and LED rear lights, plus 'scrolling' indicators and a headlight cleaning system. It comes with Black styling pack that includes black mirror housings and window surrounds. You also get part-Alcantara heated sports seats, a 12.3-inch full HD Virtual Cockpit Display and 19-inch alloy wheels.
The top-of-the-range Vorsprung models add a black styling pack, Matrix LED lights, dynamic indicators and interior lighting. It also adds a self-parking system, leather upholstery and 19-inch alloy wheels.
Power and Performance
Under the bonnet, the Audi A3 Saloon features a similar engine range as the standard A3, including petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid variants.
Petrol models include a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine with 110hp and a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 150hp.
Diesel models include a 2.0-litre 115hp engine and a 2.0-litre 150hp model, which is an ideal motorway cruiser.
There's also a 1.4-litre plug-in hybrid model that's more efficient and faster than the standard petrol models.
Out on the road, the Audi A3 Saloon is excellent to drive with enhanced efficiency and sheer driving pleasure. S line models have a much more comfortable drive as they have a lower suspension set-up to make them feel more sporty. However, this results in a firmer feel over potholes and rough roads.
Overall the Audi A3 Saloon is an excellent leasing option and isn't that far behind the impressive BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe for overall driving pleasure. However, keep in mind the Audi's A3 Sportback is a more practical choice.
Leasing vs Buying
Prices for the new Audi A3 Saloon start from £26,925.00 OTR* or to lease from £288.76 per month.
Want to know more about leasing the Audi A3 Saloon? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the largest car leasing providers in the UK. All of our leasing deals include the manufacturer's warranty, road tax for the duration of the lease, breakdown cover, and free mainland GB delivery (exclusions apply).
Plus, with fixed monthly rentals, a low initial outlay and flexible mileage and contract terms, leasing an Audi A3 Saloon might be cheaper than buying outright with a bank loan or dealer finance.
*'On the road' price is correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change. Always check with your nearest retailer.
