The third-generation Audi A3 – not to mention the hotter S3 and hottest RS3 – will soon be replaced.
The next-generation A3 and S3 land in Australia in the second half of 2021, with the launch of the A3 having been delayed once due to COVID-19.
That leaves a range of current-generation models still in showrooms, ranging from the entry-level 35 TFSI Sportback at $40,700 before on-road costs to the RS3 Carbon Edition sedan at $84,736 before on-roads.
The A3 and S3 are offered in a choice of four-door sedan, five-door hatchback and two-door convertible body styles, though the RS3 does without a drop-top.
Pricing
- 2020 Audi A3 35 TFSI Sportback: $40,700
- 2020 Audi A3 35 TFSI sedan: $42,300
- 2020 Audi A3 35 TFSI S line plus Sportback: $43,300
- 2020 Audi A3 35 TFSI S line plus sedan: $44,900
- 2020 Audi A3 40 TFSI S line plus Sportback: $49,300
- 2020 Audi A3 35 TFSI Cabriolet: $49,800
- 2020 Audi A3 40 TFSI S line plus sedan: $50,900
- 2020 Audi A3 35 TFSI S line plus Cabriolet: $52,400
- 2020 Audi A3 40 TFSI S line plus Quattro Sportback: $52,900
- 2020 Audi A3 40 TFSI S line plus Quattro sedan: $54,500
- 2020 Audi A3 40 TFSI S line plus Cabriolet: $58,400
- 2020 Audi A3 40 TFSI S line plus Quattro Cabriolet: $62,000
- 2020 Audi S3 Sportback: $64,200
- 2020 Audi S3 sedan: $65,800
- 2020 Audi S3 Cabriolet: $73,400
- 2020 Audi RS3 Sportback: $80,044
- 2020 Audi RS3 sedan: $82,121
- 2020 Audi RS3 Carbon Edition Sportback: $82,660
- 2020 Audi RS3 Carbon Edition sedan: $84,736
All prices exclude on-road costs.
Engines
The 2020 Audi A3 35 TFSI is powered by a turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine producing 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque.
The 40 TFSI upgrades to a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 140kW of power and 320Nm of torque. The S3 also has a turbo 2.0-litre, though its produces 213kW of power and 380Nm of torque.
The range-topping RS3 uses a turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine producing 294kW of power and 480Nm of torque.
All A3, S3 and RS3 models use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All are front-wheel drive bar the 40 TFSI S line Plus Quattro, S3 and RS3, which are all-wheel drive.
Fuel Economy
The 2020 Audi A3 35 TFSI consumes 5.1L/100km on the combined cycle as a Sportback, 5.0L/100km as a sedan and 5.2L/100km as a Cabriolet.
For the 40 TFSI, consumption is 6.0L/100km for the Sportback, 5.9L/100km for the sedan and 6.1L/100km for the Cabriolet.
The all-wheel drive 40 TFSI uses 6.1L/100km as a Sportback, 6.0L/100km as a sedan and 6.3L/100km as a Cabriolet.
The S3 Sportback uses 6.7L/100km, the S3 sedan 6.6L/100km, and the S3 Cabriolet 6.9L/100km.
All RS3 models use 8.5L/100km.
All models require 95RON premium unleaded fuel except for the RS3, which runs on 98RON.
Dimensions
The 2020 Audi A3 measures 4458mm long, 1796mm wide (1960mm including the mirrors) and 1416mm tall as a sedan.
As a Sportback, it’s 4313mm long, 1785mm wide (1966mm including the mirrors) and 1426mm tall, while the A3 Cabriolet is 4423mm long, 1793mm wide (1960mm with mirrors) and 1409mm tall.
Front-wheel drive A3 models have 380L of luggage space in the Sportback, 425L in the sedan, and 320L in the Cabriolet.
The S3 is 4466mm long, 1796mm wide and 1392mm tall as a sedan, 4322mm long, 1785mm wide and 1404mm tall as a Sportback, and 4431mm long, 1793mm wide and 1388mm tall as a Cabriolet.
Boot space in the S3 and all-wheel drive 40 TFSI is 390L in sedans, 340L in Sportbacks and 285L in Cabriolets.
The RS3 is 4479mm long, 1802mm wide and 1399mm tall as a sedan and 4335mm long, 1800mm wide and 1411mm tall as a Sportback.
Servicing
All models are covered by a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Audi offers five-year servicing plans across the A3, S3 and RS3 range. These cost $2080 in the A3, $2390 in the S3 and $3420 in the RS3.
Safety
The Audi A3 range has a five-star rating from ANCAP based on testing conducted in 2013. It received a score of 15.41 out of 16 in the frontal offset test, a side impact score of 16 out of 16, and whiplash and pedestrian protection scores of Good and Acceptable, respectively. The total score was 36.41 out of 37.
All 2020 Audi A3, S3 and RS3 models come standard with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert plus front, front-side and curtain airbags and a driver’s knee airbag.
Optional across the A3 range is an Assistance Package which adds an AEB system that works at higher speeds (up to 85km/h for pedestrians and 250km/h for vehicles) plus lane-keeping assist.
Standard Equipment
The 35 TFSI comes standard with the following features:
- 7.0-inch infotainment system with satellite navigation and wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster
- Eight-speaker sound system
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Xenon headlights
- Leather upholstery (Milano leather in Cabriolet)
- Electromechanical parking brake
- Reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors
- Dual-zone climate control
- Automatic headlights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Cruise control
Heated, power-adjustable front seats and Qi wireless phone charging are optional.
The 40 TFSI S line plus adds:
- LED headlights
- LED tail lights with dynamic indicators
- Power front sport seats
- Heated front seats
- Qi wireless phone charging
The 40 TFSI S line plus Quattro adds:
- Panoramic sunroof (excludes Cabriolet)
- DAB+ digital radio
Optional on all A3s is an Assistance Package which adds:
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- Automatic high beam
- Lane-keeping assist
- Hill-hold assist
- Traffic jam assist
Standalone options include:
- 13- or 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system
- Semi-autonomous parking assist
Over the 40 TFSI S line plus Quattro, the Audi S3 adds:
- Adaptive suspension
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Tyre-pressure monitoring
- Semi-autonomous parking assist
- Automatic high beam
- Lane-keeping assist
- Nappa leather upholstery
- 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system (13 speakers in Cabriolet)
The optional Assistance package adds:
- Hill-hold assist
- Traffic jam assist
Standalone S3 options include:
- Matrix LED headlights
- Panoramic sunroof
- Privacy glass
Over the S3, the Audi RS3 adds:
- Hill-hold assist
- Quilted Nappa leather upholstery
Gloss black, aluminium and RS styling packages are optional.
The RS3 Carbon Edition adds:
- Panoramic sunroof
- Gloss black exterior package
- Carbon-finish exterior mirrors
To see a side-by-side comparison of all the standard features and options offered between each of the variants download the official Audi A3 specifications sheet which can be found on the Audi A3 website.
MORE: Audi A3 news and reviews
MORE: Audi S3 news and reviews
MORE: Audi RS3 news and reviews
MORE: Audi news and reviews
