Audi A3 2021 review
Overview
The fourth-generation Audi A3 (8Y) reached the UK in spring 2020 as a five-door Sportback, with the Saloon following later in the year. For used buyers it is the first A3 to bring Audi's big-screen tech into the compact class: a 10.1-inch MMI touch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, plus the Virtual Cockpit digital dials on Sport trim and above. Underneath it shares the MQB platform with the Volkswagen Golf Mk8, but the cabin quality, refinement and badge appeal remain the reasons buyers pick the Audi over its VW cousin.
The UK range is easy to shop. Petrol buyers get the 1.5-litre 35 TFSI with 150PS, later joined by a cheaper 1.0-litre 30 TFSI with 110PS, while diesel buyers get the 2.0-litre TDI in 116PS or 150PS form. Trims run Technik, Sport, S line and the range-topping Vorsprung, with a limited Edition 1 covering the launch year. Sport is the used sweet spot: dual-zone climate, part-leather seats and 17-inch wheels over Technik, without the firmer ride and kerb-prone 18-inch wheels of S line.
On the road the A3 is the classy all-rounder it always was. The 35 TFSI is the pick for most drivers — smooth, willing, 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds and capable of 50mpg on a mixed run — while the 35 TDI is the motorway champion, comfortably topping 55mpg with effortless mid-range pull. The S tronic dual-clutch shifts cleanly at speed but can hesitate at parking pace; the manual is the smoother bet in town.
As a used buy, the A3's strongest cards are slow depreciation and that near-new feel inside — 2021 cars that cost £25,000 new still command £13,000-plus five years on. Go in with eyes open though: early 8Y cars have a well-documented appetite for infotainment gremlins, and a full Audi service history is worth real money. Check the MIB3 system has had its software updates, budget a belt change on the 1.5 TFSI around the five-year mark, and only choose the diesel if you do serious miles — short town hops will punish the DPF.
UK price from: £24,900
Specifications
| Engine | 1.5L turbocharged petrol (35 TFSI) |
| Power | 150 PS (148 bhp) |
| Torque | 250 Nm |
| 0-62 mph | 8.4 seconds (35 TFSI manual) |
| Top speed | 140 mph |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual / 7-speed S tronic |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Fuel economy | ~50 mpg combined (WLTP) |
| CO2 emissions | 127 g/km |
| Boot space | 380 litres (1,200 litres seats folded) |
| Euro NCAP | 5 stars (2020) |
| Insurance group | 21-23 |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60,000 miles |
Features
- Standard 10.1-inch MMI touch display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on every trim
- Audi Virtual Cockpit 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with full sat-nav mapping (Sport trim and above)
- LED headlights with LED daytime running lights fitted as standard across the range
- Audi pre sense front with pedestrian and cyclist detection, plus lane-departure warning, as standard
- Audi drive select with efficiency, comfort, dynamic and individual modes
- 380-litre boot with adjustable floor, expanding to 1,200 litres with the rear seats folded
- Keyless go, cruise control and dual-zone climate from Sport trim upwards
- All 8Y engines are Euro 6, so every 2021 car is ULEZ and clean-air-zone compliant
Common parts & prices
| Part | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake pads (set) | £38.99 | Pattern part; OEM specification |
| Oil filter | £10.99 | |
| Cabin pollen filter | £14.99 | |
| Front wiper blades (pair) | £19.99 | |
| 12V AGM battery | £114.99 | Stop-start compatible |
| Engine air filter | £16.99 |
Pros
- Cabin still feels a class above the Golf it shares its platform with — solid materials and digital dials that look modern years on
- 35 TFSI hits the used sweet spot: genuinely lively yet capable of 50mpg, cheaper to run than its performance suggests
- Slow depreciation means your money holds — better than most rivals
- Five-star Euro NCAP rating (2020, reconfirmed 2025) with strong standard safety kit
- Every 2021 car is Euro 6, so fully ULEZ and clean-air-zone compliant for UK city buyers
Cons
- Infotainment is the known weak spot — 44% of reported faults in the What Car? reliability survey related to the sat-nav/MMI system
- S tronic can be jerky at low speeds and expensive if it fails — mechatronic-unit repairs can exceed £2,000
- S line rides noticeably firmer on 18-inch wheels and the low-profile tyres kerb easily — check all four wheels for scrapes
- Options were brutally expensive new, so many cars lack basics like rear parking sensors — check the spec sheet rather than assuming
