In 1996 A3 created a new segment, that of premium compact sedans. Today, 30 years later, the Audi icon reaches its fourth generation. On the outside the design changes little, it maintains its recognisability, but it is inside that the major innovations are concentrated
Audi A3 has sold 5 and a half million cars worldwide, 415 thousand in Italy alone, where half of the A range is made up of A3s
The new Audi A3 comes in 4 versions: sedan, sportback, allstreet and RS3. Five engines available: petrol, diesel, mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid and Audi Sport with power from 116 to 400 HP and quattro front or all-wheel drive
For Italy there is the Sportback version in the Design trim, the brand's new entry level after the exit of the A1 and A2 from the market. It focuses entirely on design, but has a more "streamlined" equipment: for example, it lacks the integrated navigator (but you can use that of your smartphone) which however can be purchased via the Functions on Demand. In Italian dealerships in October 2026 it will have a starting price of 32,600 euros for the 116 horsepower 1.5 TFSI petrol with manual gearbox. 43,100 euros for the 204 horsepower PHEV version.
As mentioned, the biggest innovations are inside with the so-called "digital stage", inherited from the higher range cars that debuted on the Audi Q6 e-tron.
The Audi digital stage consists of the 11.9-inch Audi virtual cockpit and the 12.8-inch screen of the MMI system.
The direct lineage from the top of the range is further underlined by the elegant insert extending from the door panels to the dashboard and offered in four different configurations: carbon fibre, Dinamica microfibre and two fabric variants.
The digital dashboard allows you to consult the instrument panel alongside the indications provided by the driver assistance systems. The steering wheel, offered in three different configurations, has controls along the spokes with partially physical operation rather than totally touch.
The MMI panoramic display has a curved design. It has light backgrounds for greater readability, while the possibility of drag and drop of the icons facilitates the personalization of the digital experience
New design also for the console: the compartment dedicated to the smartphone is now oriented towards the driver and offers 25 Watt wireless charging
The Audi A3 borrows driver assistance technologies from higher-class Audi models. The central front airbag, cruise control, rearview camera, automatic emergency braking, collision avoid assist, lane keeping assistance and Audi connect emergency call and assistance are standard. The systems also include advanced parking assistance - debuted by the new Audi Q3 - inspired by the principles of machine learning: it allows Customers to "teach" the car up to 5 different manoeuvres.
There are five engines: TDI, TFSI, mild-hybrid, plug-in and Audi Sport, with 4 and 5 cylinder in-line architectures, power from 116 to 400 HP, front or all-wheel drive and 6 or 7-speed manual or automatic dual clutch transmission. The 1.5 TFSI petrol engine with 116 HP with manual gearbox and the 2.0 TFSI with 333 HP (on the Audi S3) are joined by the 4-cylinder 2.0 TDI with 116 and 150 HP. The mild-hybrid technology is dedicated to the 1.5 TFSI combined with the 7-speed S tronic dual clutch gearbox.
The Audi A3 Sportback e-hybrid has an electric range of up to 142 kilometers WLTP. The Sportback variant has 204 and 272 hp, while the Audi A3 allstreet e-hybrid urban crossover only has 204 hp. At the pinnacle of the Audi RS 3 range, with the 5-cylinder 2.5 TFSI capable of delivering 400 HP and 500 Nm of torque, for 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 290 km/h.
