The humble hatchback has been under siege for years. SUVs have muscled into driveways, shopping centres and school drop-off zones, leaving traditional passenger cars languishing unloved and unwanted. Yet the Audi A3 continues to quietly do what it has always done best: offer compact premium motoring in a package that doesn’t feel compromised and out of breath.
Audi has given its cutest pint-sized punter a substantial update, and this one is less about sheet metal and more about touchy-feely stuff. The refreshed A3 range hits Europe from September with a redesigned cabin, more advanced driver assistance technology, and a stronger focus on digital features. Don’t groan, it really is a great idea.
For buyers who felt the current A3 was beginning to show its age with new releases blitzing the bling and bristling with the latest gizmos looking like better buys, this will sort that out.
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ABOVE: Audi A3 exterior and digital cabin images.
The biggest change is the fully redesigned cabin, whose cockpit gets a new panoramic display. Every A3 has an 11.9-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit paired with a 12.8-inch MMI panoramic touchscreen. The curved display gives the cabin a much more contemporary look and aligns the A3 with larger, more expensive members of the Audi family. It’s a welcome move because premium buyers increasingly judge a car by what they see from behind the wheel rather than what sits under the bonnet. A smart cabin can sell a car just as effectively as a powerful engine.
The dashboard has a wider decorative trim panel stretching across the cabin to imagine a cleaner, more horizontal appearance.. Audi buyers can choose from carbon fibre, Dinamica microfibre, or textile finishes, while the centre console has been reworked with a new 25w wireless charging tray.
Thankfully, Audi appears to have resisted the temptation to banish every physical control in favour of functions buried in cavernous menus. The steering wheel gets a physical scroll wheel in the multifunction controls, giving drivers a more tactile way to interact with some functions. In an era where some manufacturers seem determined to replace every button with a touchscreen menu, that’s refreshing.
Technology upgrades extend well past the dashboard. Audi has expanded the A3’s driver assistance systems and grouped them into three packages called Tech, Tech Plus and Tech Pro. The star attraction is adaptive cruise assist plus, which combines adaptive cruise control with active lane guidance at speeds up to 210km/h. Mind you, you get this in a base spec Chinese car but hey ho.
The system can make lane changes on highways when the indicator is activated. More impressively, Audi has added automatic braking and restarting at traffic lights. If the traffic stops at a red light, it can automatically move off again when the light turns green, something now ubiquitous in lesser brands in base models.
That might sound like a small detail, but the daily grind is hugely relieved when handled by systems who don’t feel frustration or anger. Of course, the driver is always in charge and this in no way allows inattentive users from their full responsibilty.
Audi has expanded use of connected vehicle data. The adaptive cruise system can use online information and traffic patterns to better maintain lane position and adjust speed, even when road markings are unclear. This is the same system that projects updates from Europe directly into the car instead of the need to trek to a dealer.
Parking technology receives an equally handyl upgrade. New surround-view cameras provide a 360-degree view around the car, while park assist systems can now take complete control of steering, acceleration, braking and gear selection when parking. Again, the driver has to be ready to stab those brakes should the need arise.
For drivers who still dread squeezing into tight city spaces, Audi has gone a step further. Park Assist Pro allows remote parking through the myAudi smartphone app. Drivers can step out before the manoeuvre begins and let the car park itself. It can also reverse out before the driver gets in, something Genesis has done for years. better late than never.
Then there’s trained parking. This feature allows the A3 to memorise up to five regular parking manoeuvres, each up to 50 metres long. If navigating a difficult driveway, garage or carport requires a complicated sequence of steering inputs, the car can learn the process and repeat it automatically in future. TOP TIP: don’t leave your bins in the driveway.
The myAudi app can also be use to check whether doors, windows or lights have been left on, monitor fuel levels, tyre pressures and service schedules, and remotely lock or unlock the vehicle.
Audi is also leaning the subscription model . New Functions on Demand packages include enhanced audio processing and virtual surround sound systems that can simulate different listening environments, from concert halls to recording studios.
The A3 range istill includes the Sportback hatch, Sedan and A3 allstreet crossover. The allstreet sits 30mm higher than the Sportback and offers a more rugged look without stepping into that unglamorous full SUV territory.
Powertrain choices cover everything from efficient petrol and diesel engines through to plug-in hybrid models and high-performance S3 and RS 3 models.
The plug-in hybrid has outputs of 150kW or 200kW, and claimed electric driving ranges of up to 143km WLTP. That’s enough for many owners to do several days of commuting without using a drop of dinosaur. The battery can recharge in around 30 minutes using DC fast charging.
Audi has increased towing capacity for the e-hybrid models to 1,700kg, as if an Audi driver would be caught dead towing.
Performance models sees S3 continuing with a 245kW turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the RS 3 retains its 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine producing 294kW. Both have quattro all-wheel drive and torque-splitting technology that can direct power across the rear axle for improved fun.
Visually, the sporty models gain unique daytime running light signatures and specific badging in the Singleframe grille. Drivers can select from four different daytime running light designs through the infotainment system. That seems a bit of a waste of time but will entertain the onlookers but once changes, will probably never be touched again.
Audi hasn’t revealed Australian timing, the upgrades suggest Ingolstadt is keen to keep the A3 from drifting off the buyer notebooks. The changes aren’t revolutionary, but they address the areas people notice most: screens, connectivity, convenience and driver assistance.
In many ways, this update reflects the changing definition of luxury. Twenty years ago it meant leather seats, polished timber and 2 or 3 zones of climate selection. Today it means smart software, seamless connectivity and technology that quietly removes frustrations from everyday driving, as long as it works.
The A3 might still be Audi’s entry point, but with these upgrades will at least match models costing half as much.
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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