2025 Audi A3 review
Angus MacKenzie gets an early steer of the facelifted Audi A3 ahead of its Australian introduction in the early stages of 2025.
CarExpert's verdict on the A3
What we love
- Mild but effective restyle
- Efficient powertrain
- Smooth transmission
Worth a thought
- Inconsistent brake pedal feel
- Suspension slightly underdamped
- Some obvious hard plastics inside
Introduction
The Audi A3 has long been a popular gateway to the premium European motoring experience.
Note: This article is based on our most recent review of the Audi A3, which assesses the updated model due to arrive in Australia in 2025.
Pricing and specification details are still unavailable for the Australian market, but we’ve updated details in the review where appropriate.
You can read more about Audi Australia’s 2025 product rollout here.
Though closely related to the Volkswagen Golf, different styling inside and out, higher standard equipment levels, and of course that iconic four-ringed badge have all conspired to deliver a car that’s perceived to be a cut above its cousin from Wolfsburg.
Audi has given the A3 a mild makeover for the 2025 model year. Changes to the exterior include a new front fascia that features a wider and flatter execution of the single-frame grille with body-coloured trim underneath, redesigned tail-light displays, and a new rear bumper.
New LED headlights have 24-pixel elements arranged in three rows on their upper edge, allowing owners to choose between four different digital daytime running light signatures using the MMI.
WATCH: Paul’s video review of the 2023 Audi RS 3 Sportback
The alloy wheels have been redesigned, and four new paint colours are available: Arkona White, Arrow Gray pearl, and District Green and Ascari Blue metallics.
These tweaks, and revisions to the A3’s interior, are all designed to make Audi’s compact premium car feel more premium.
How much does the Audi A3 cost?
Audi has not yet released any pricing as the updated A3 range isn’t due to arrive until the first half of 2025.
However, the existing A3 is currently priced from $50,600 plus on-road costs in five-door hatch form, and $53,100 plus on-roads in four-door sedan guise. And in a recent product announcement, Audi Australia representatives said the upgraded model will feature “the highest level of equipment on A3 ever”, to go with its updated design both inside and out.
Compare the Audi A3
Want to see how the Audi A3 lines up against the competition?
Use our comparison tool for a side-by-side look at the specs, features and prices of the A3 and its rivals.
What is the Audi A3 like on the inside?
“Our main objective was to bring more quality into the car, to give it more charisma,” said Audi product marketing chief Tobias Döbel of the improvements to the A3’s interior; which he acknowledges have been made in response to criticisms from customers that it did not look or feel premium enough.
The overall architecture of the cabin is unchanged, but there’s more fabric and less hard plastic than before.
Contour lighting runs around the redesigned centre console that sits under the 10.1-inch touchscreen at the centre of the dash, and the cupholders are illuminated.
An optional lighting package delivers backlit fabric panels on the front doors with 300 laser-cut openings that light up when unlocking that car. Owners can choose from 30 different light colours using the MMI.
Audi’s Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster is now standard globally, and the toggle-like shifter on the new centre console has been replaced with a smooth lozenge that’s pushed or pulled to select reverse or drive.
Pulling it back twice puts the automatic transmission into Sport mode. The centre console now also houses a wireless charger for mobile phones.
The revised interior does look and feel more premium than before, but there are still some hard plastics evident, most notably the grab handles at the front of the front door armrests.
To see how the current Audi A3 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What’s under the bonnet?
The powertrain of the revised A3 35 TFSI carries over unchanged from the current model.
The mild-hybrid 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine develops 110kW of power from 5000rpm to 6000rpm and 250Nm of torque from 1500rpm to 3500rpm, and drives the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
A belt-driven alternator starter (BAS) feeds the 48-volt electrical system and the compact lithium-ion battery located under the passenger seat. Under lift-off deceleration or light braking, the BAS can recuperate up to 12 kW and send it to the battery. When accelerating from low speeds the energy stored in the battery can be used by the BAS to send an extra 9 kW and 50 Nm of torque through the drivetrain.
Audi claims the MHEV system improves fuel consumption by up to 0.4 litres per 100km. On the European WLTP cycle, the Sportback uses 5.8 to 5.2L/100km, while the Sedan’s consumption ranges between 5.7 and 5.2L/100km.
Audi also claims a 0 to 100km/h acceleration time of 8.1 seconds for the 2025 A3, a 0.3s improvement over the current car. Top speed for the Sportback is 226km/h. The Sedan’s longer tail gives it a slight aerodynamic advantage at high speeds, allowing it to reach 231km/h.
The difference is a moot point in Europe, let alone on Australia’s heavily speed restricted roads. For the record, though, our A3 Sportback hit 200km/h with little fanfare on a short stretch of autobahn outside Munich.
To see how the current Audi A3 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
How does the Audi A3 drive?
Of course, autobahn-storming is not what the A3 35 TFSI is all about.
If you want raw speed in an A3-sized package, you’ll need the 294kW and 500Nm outputs of the 2.5-litre, five-cylinder RS 3 under your right foot, or even 245kW and 420Nm from the new S3.
No, the standard A3 is all about relaxed highway cruising, with relatively low noise levels and a decent ride, the engine shutting down and the car coasting to conserve fuel.
It’s pleasantly quick on a winding country road, especially when you set the slick-shifting dual-clutch transmission to manual mode and use the paddles to get the gear you want, when you want.
And, it feels alert and responsive around town when the transmission is left to sort things out for itself.
Our tester was fitted with 18-inch wheels and Nexen Nfera Sport 225/40 tyres. Grip levels were good, at least on billiard-smooth German backroads.
The steering weighting is lighter than that of the S and RS versions, but the front-end responds concisely to inputs from the helm, the rear-end tracking faithfully during changes of direction.
That said, the suspension felt slightly underdamped on occasion, and there was at times a noticeable inconsistency in brake pedal.
After discussion with Audi engineers, that problem was tracked down to the MHEV system’s handoff between regenerative and mechanical braking as it worked to recuperate kinetic energy and send it to the battery.
What do you get?
So far we only have details for the entry-level A3 35 TFSI – Audi Australia currently sells a 40 TFSI quattro S line as well.
A3 35 TFSI highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights
- LED daytime running lights
- 4 signatures
- LED tail lights
- Keyless entry
- Audi Virtual Cockpit
- Power boot lid (Sedan)
- Leather multifunction steering wheel
- Dual-zone climate control
- Comfort front-centre armrest
- 40:20:40 rear-seat backrest
- 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen
- Audi Connect Plus
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
Options include:
- Electric, heated front seats
- 4-way electric lumbar support
- Auto-dimming interior mirror
- 360-degree camera
- Power hatch (Sportback)
- Panoramic glass roof
To see how the current Audi A3 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
Is the Audi A3 safe?
The A3 35 TFSI was tested by ANCAP when the current fourth-generation model was launched in 2020 and earned a five-star rating.
It scored 89 per cent for adult occupant protection, 81 per cent for child occupant protection, 68 per cent for vulnerable road users and 73 per cent for safety assist.
Standard safety features include:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection
- Cyclist detection
- Audi pre-sense basic
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Safe exit warning
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keep assist
- Active lane assist
- Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
- Semi-autonomous parking assist
- Reversing camera
- Front, rear parking sensors
How much does the Audi A3 cost to run?
The A3 comes with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia. Body and paint is also covered for five years, while corrosion is covered for 12 years.
Scheduled maintenance can be covered by an Audi Genuine Care Service Plan, which covers the car for five years or 75,000km, whichever comes first. Currently for the 35 TFSI the plan costs $2520.
To see how the current Audi A3 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
CarExpert’s Take on the Audi A3
This mild refresh of the A3 isn’t going to shock anyone, and that’s probably a good thing.
We’d like slightly better rebound damping, the blending between recuperative and mechanical braking to be smoother, and the hard plastic bits at the front of the armrests to be trimmed with something softer. Otherwise there’s not a lot to complain about here.
The exterior styling tweaks make the car look a little cleaner and crisper than the outgoing model. And the upgrades to the interior – apart from those armrest bits – have indeed made the compact Audi feel just a touch more upmarket.
If you want an affordable taste of premium European motoring, the 2025 Audi A3 is a good place to start.
Stay tuned for all the latest in the lead up to the updated A3’s Australian launch during the first half of next year.
Interested in buying an Audi A3? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
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