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Why Lease The A3 Sportback?

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Fergus 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 Sportback Review 2022

The Audi A3 Sportback is a premium hatchback with a sharp, sporty, stylish exterior. It is packed with super-advanced tech and a luxury interior, offering a first-class, driver-oriented experience.

Rivals to the Audi A3 Sportback include the BMW 1 Series, Mercedes A-Class, Volkswagen Golf, SEAT Leon and Skoda Octavia

Our Audi A3 Sportback review covers:

Audi A3 Sportback Key Features

  • Strikingly athletic exterior design with a honeycomb Titanium Black front grille
  • Spacious luxurious interior with high gloss black surface and centre console
  • 380-litre boot space 
  • Choice of petrol, diesel, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines
  • Four trim levels, including Technik, Sport, S Line and Edition 1

Audi A3 Sportback Pros and Cons:

Pros:

  • Easy-to-use infotainment technology
  • Excellent handling with upgraded sport suspension
  • Great range of features as standard 

Cons:

  • Some rivals are more fun to drive
  • Some cheap-feeling materials in places
  • Expensive compared to some rivals

Design, Practicality and Boot Space

The Audi A3 Sportback sporty exterior is sure to catch your eye while on the road with its Titanium Black front grille and the newly designed Audi Singleframe, which has a honeycomb look. Plus, with its revolutionary driver assistance technology, you enjoy a smooth driving experience. 

audi-a3-sportback-exterior

The A3 Sportback's interior boasts spaciousness, with ample legroom in the front and back for all passengers. Compared to its rivals, the A3 offers a similar amount of space to the Mercedes A-Class, although the BMW 1 Series is slightly roomier inside. 

As for boot space, the A3 Sportback offers 380 litres, the same size as the boot in a BMW 1 Series. Plus, it's easy enough to flip down the back seats to extend the boot space to 1,200 litres if more room is needed. 

Interior and Trims

The A3 Sportback has a striking interior that compares well with the A-Class for appeal and quality materials. Apart from the R8 supercar, the A3's interior is one of Audi's sportiest interiors, as it's been inspired by the one inside the Lamborghini Urus.

Inside, you get a 10.1-inch infotainment screen in the centre of the dashboard and a 10.25-inch screen behind the steering wheel, which is much better looking than the Mercedes A-Class's small screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, so it's simple to mirror your phone and use its display on the car's big screen.

Four trim levels are available, including Technik, Sport, S Line and Edition 1.

The entry-level Technik model comes with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital driver's display, with crystal clear graphics instead of those old analogue dials. You also have LED headlights as standard and a set of 16-inch alloy wheels.

Sport models add 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, leather upholstered seats and dual-zone electronic climate control.

S Line models have more aggressive styling, deeper bumpers, a rear spoiler, 18-inch wheels, and sports suspension. It also adds LED rear lights, leather sports seats, privacy glass, dark aluminium interior trim and LED interior lighting.

The top-of-the-range Edition 1 models come with 20-inch wheels finished in black, high-intensity 'laser' LED headlights and a 12.3-inch 'Virtual Cockpit' digital driver's display. It also adds electric seats trimmed in Nappa leather, piano black interior trim and a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel.

Power and Performance

Audi offers the A3 Sportback with the choice of petrol, diesel, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines.

audi-a3-sportback-interior

Petrol engines consist of a 109bhp 1.0-litre 30 TFSI and a 148bhp 1.5 litre 35 TFSI. If you don't travel with the car loaded up and mainly just drive around town, the 1.0-litre 30 TFSI is fine however, if you tend to travel more on motorways and do more miles, the 1.5-litre 35 TFSI is a better option.

Diesel models range from two 2.0 litre engines with different power outputs. An entry-level 114bhp 30 TDI diesel and 148bhp 35 TDI, which is noticeably better and proves particularly relaxed on motorway runs.

There are also two plug-in hybrid variants available, consisting of 40 TFSIe and 45 TFSIe. They both offer punchy performance from the petrol engine and motor combined, with the 40 TFSIe capable of doing 40 miles on a charge.

The Audi A3 Sportback is great to dive and has a faultless driving position with loads of adjustment and huge windows that give brilliant visibility. It is partially good to drive around town thanks to the car's digital instrument display that transforms into a massive map behind the steering wheel at the touch of a button.

However, rivals like the BMW 1 Series are slightly sportier hatchbacks to drive, but the A3 isn't that far behind if you want to have fun down a twisty road. Overall, the A3 Sportback is a great practical leasing option that looks great.

Leasing vs Buying

Prices for the new Audi A3 Sportback start from £25,140.00 OTR* or to lease from £233.85 per month.

Do you have questions about leasing an Audi A3 Sportback? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts are one of the leading car leasing providers in the UK. All our car leasing deals come with a manufacturer's warranty, free mainland GB delivery (exclusions apply), inclusive road tax and breakdown cover. 

Additionally, due to fixed monthly payments, variable mileage, a small initial rental and flexible contract terms, leasing an Audi A3 Sportback may be less expensive than making an outright purchase with dealer finance or a bank loan.

*'On the road' price is correct at the time of publication and includes one year's road fund licence, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change. Always check with your nearest retailer.

Customer Reviews

Audi A3 Sportback
Average Rating Based on 76 reviews
4.2 out of 5

  • Practicality
  • Performance
  • Running Costs
  • Comfort
  • Value For Money
3.6 out of 5
Stephen Audi A3 Sportback 40 e-tron PHEV 204 S Tronic

Does 28 miles on battery, lower in winter (22 miles) and the air on or heater lowers mileage. Switch to petrol is seamless. Great performance, great to drive.

  • Practicality
  • Performance
  • Running Costs
  • Comfort
  • Value For Money
4.0 out of 5
Jane Audi A3 Sportback 30 TFSI Sport MY23

  • Practicality
  • Performance
  • Running Costs
  • Comfort
  • Value For Money
3.3 out of 5
Christopher Audi A3 Sportback 30 TFSI Sport

I would go for a higher spec one next tome

  • Practicality
  • Performance
  • Running Costs
  • Comfort
  • Value For Money
4.9 out of 5
Janet Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI S line S Tronic (Comfort+Sound)

The car is a pleasure to drive every day.

  • Practicality
  • Performance
  • Running Costs
  • Comfort
  • Value For Money
4.7 out of 5
Paul Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI S line S Tronic (Comfort+Sound) MY21

The only thing I would like to be improved is the road noise heard inside the car

  • Practicality
  • Performance
  • Running Costs
  • Comfort
  • Value For Money
3.0 out of 5
Andrew Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI S line S Tronic (Comfort+Sound) MY21

Reliability is terrible, it has been in the workshop twice with electrical faults, and off the road for a total of 3 months in the past year. Response from Audi UK was also extremely poor, however the Audi workshop done their best. Build quality and reliability is below what I would expect from a supposed quality brand. My last vehicle was an Audi Q3, and quality has deteriorated.

  • Practicality
  • Performance
  • Running Costs
  • Comfort
  • Value For Money
4.9 out of 5
Javaid Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI S line S Tronic (Comfort+Sound) MY21

Nice quality build and finish. Intuitive infotainment system.

  • Practicality
  • Performance
  • Running Costs
  • Comfort
  • Value For Money
4.9 out of 5
Stephen Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI S line S Tronic (Comfort+Sound) MY21

Nice comfortable drive, good controls and dashboard visuals

  • Practicality
  • Performance
  • Running Costs
  • Comfort
  • Value For Money
4.0 out of 5
Christopher Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI S line (Comfort+Sound)

Good performance, excellent sat nav, good digital displays

  • Practicality
  • Performance
  • Running Costs
  • Comfort
  • Value For Money
4.9 out of 5
Karen Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI S line (Comfort+Sound)

Love my car, everything about it.

  • Practicality
  • Performance
  • Running Costs
  • Comfort
  • Value For Money
5.0 out of 5
Ross Audi A3 Sportback 30 TFSI S line MY22

Amazing car and clients love it when entertaining

  • Practicality
  • Performance
  • Running Costs
  • Comfort
  • Value For Money
4.9 out of 5
Thomas Audi A3 Sportback 30 TFSI S line (Comfort+Sound)

Vehicle is excellent. Really comfy, fast when you out your foot down, extremely good looking, luxurious interior, really good quality.

  • Practicality
  • Performance
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  • Value For Money
3.0 out of 5
Darren Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI Edition 1 (Comfort+Sound)

Car is great to drive but like my previous Audi the in-car technology isn't great. Still getting alarms 1 year on with no resolution from Audi (our they haven't contacted to say there is).

  • Practicality
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4.6 out of 5
Khai Audi A3 Sportback 30 TFSI Sport S Tronic (Comfort+Sound)

My A3 came with the C&S pack so it had the 15 speaker B&O, park assist (don't always trust it, it managed to curb my front wheel!) and heated seats on top of everything else that was standard. Sound sytem is awesome. Only downside, there is only so much power a 1.0 engine can output (hence a 3 in performance rating) in an A3/Golf/Leon sized car. Power is sufficient for city, ok ish for 40-50mph roads, but on highways and when required to overtake lorries (single lane 60mph roads), you'd wish you had the 1.5 or 2.0 instead. Then again I guess you get what you pay for. Car is extremely economical, I predominantly drive in the city with some A/B roads, and getting average of close to 50mpg.

  • Practicality
  • Performance
  • Running Costs
  • Comfort
  • Value For Money
5.0 out of 5
Dianne Audi A3 Sportback 30 TFSI S line

I just love the way it drives, and very comfort

  • Practicality
  • Performance
  • Running Costs
  • Comfort
  • Value For Money
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