Audi A3 3rd Generation 2015-2020 (8V) Review

The A3 was only on the market for two years before getting quite a substantial facelift for the 2017 model year. There were a few small changes made to the 2019 A3 as well, but they were very minor.

The exterior restyle was quite extensive and the 2017 A3 Sedan has an all-new front end with a more angular hexagonal grille¹ and new air intakes that contain contrasting vertical "blades" on some trims². The new angular, L-shaped headlights are noticeably different from the pre-facelift model's jello-mold-shaped ones³. For 2020, the slightly rejigged range's Premium gets black exterior accents.

The rear-end styling of the 2017 car is very similar to what went before, with only the revised taillight lenses drawing the attention with their L-shaped LED motif in the outer lens and the longer backup light in the inner lens - now set in the bottom of the lens and no longer in the middle¹. The bumper has been subtly revised² and the strip reflectors are now parallelogram-shaped and no longer curve downward at both ends³.

The revised front and rear bumper¹ treatment and the new headlights can be spotted in profile, as well as the new wheel designs², but the taillights look very similar from the side. For 2020, the black exterior trim and 18-inch alloys of the Premium are easy to spot.

The 2017 facelift models could for the first time be ordered with Audi's optional Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster¹, which will be easy to spot on models so equipped. Other than that, the interior remains largely as is, save for some detail changes such as revised MMI controls on the center console². In a small 2019 refresh, the Premium gets a color driver information display between the gauges and new aluminum interior trim.

The 2015 Audi A3 Sedan 8V 3rd gen reached the market with a choice of three engines - two gas and one diesel. The two gas engines are both members of the chain-driven inline-four aluminum EA888 engine family and consist of a 1.8-liter with 170 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque and 2.0-liter with 220 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The third engine option is a turbocharged 2.0-liter iron-block diesel engine with a belt drive for its overhead cams; this engine hails from the EA189 engine family and develops 150 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. It's also the engine that would later become the main focus of Dieselgate, the Volkswagen emissions scandal.

For the 2016 model year, the S3 quattro joins the lineup with a 292-hp/280-lb-ft version of the 2.0-liter gas engine. For the 2017 facelift, the 1.8-liter gas engine is dropped in favor of a detuned version of the existing 2.0-liter engine producing 186 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. The diesel engine disappears from the A3 lineup forever. At the same time, the FWD cars received a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. For the 2019 model year, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is introduced for the quattro models as well and all engine outputs are slightly revised - the base 2.0-liter's output is reduced from 186 hp to 184 hp, the mid-range 2.0-liter increases from 220 hp to 228 hp, and the S3's high-output 2.0-liter decreases from 292 hp to 288 hp; all torque figures remain the same.

The EPA publishes actual owners' real-world fuel-consumption figures alongside its own estimates once enough examples of the car are on US roads. Due to selling in rather limited numbers, very few real-world figures are available for the 3rd-generation Audi A3. Interestingly, despite selling so few units, diesel drivers are apparently keen to share their real-world fuel economy due to their vehicles generally performing so well and the diesel A3 does not disappoint, easily beating its EPA estimates in real life with a stellar 41.1-MPG effort.

* Real-world mpg and MPGe figures are provided by the EPA. Once a car has been on sale for a significant period of time, the EPA gets real-world figures directly from the customer base. These figures are then provided on the EPA website. Real-world figures are not available for certain models due to a lack of sales, or not enough people partaking in this after-sales survey.

The third-generation Audi A3 offers top-class safety. Even the 2015 model boasts a five-star overall score at the NHTSA, made up of top scores for the side crash tests, and four stars for the frontal crash and rollover tests. At the IIHS, the 2015 A3 kicked off with "Good" scores all around and a Top Safety Pick+ award, which it maintained until the 2017 model year. The 2018-2020 models fared slightly worse against stricter criteria but still bagged a Top Safety Pick award for all three years.

The list of standard safety features has been long from day one and even the entry-level 2015 A3 Premium has eight airbags (including front knee airbags), ABS, stability and traction control, automatic bi-xenon headlights, forward-collision warning, rain-sensing wipers, and Audi pre sense that automatically closes the windows and tightens the seatbelts when a crash is anticipated. Available features include a backup camera, an automated parking feature, parking sensors front and rear, and blind-spot warning; it was optional on the Premium Plus and standard on the Prestige.

The Prestige has LED headlights. Optionally available features for this trim include forward collision mitigation with automatic emergency braking and lane-departure warning. For the 2017 facelift, more safety kit was added to all trims, with a backup camera and rear parking sensors becoming standard. At the same time, front parking sensors and an auto-dimming interior mirror were added to the Premium Plus, while automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning were added to the Prestige. The Premium Plus gained blind-spot monitoring for 2019 and LED headlights for 2020. The Prestige gained automatic self-parking for 2020.

Audi sticks to three main trims for the Audi A3 gen 3 Sedan as well: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. The S3 is the performance flagship, available in the Premium Plus and Prestige trim levels from 2015-2019, and in S3 Premium and Premium Plus trims for 2020. In terms of value for money and standard specifications, even the base 2015 A3 Premium comes as standard with items such as a panoramic sunroof and leather upholstery. For 2019, a new entry-level Titanium trim was added below the Premium trim, but this confusing addition is not treated as a new trim by most sources. By all accounts, the only difference between the Titanium and Premium is that the former is a sedan only and the latter is also available as a Cabriolet. Equipment levels are similar. There was a trim reshuffling for 2020, with all the quattro models renamed S line and the Platinum and Prestige trims dropped, leaving the Premium, Premium S line, Premium Plus, Premium Plus S line, S3 Premium, and S3 Premium Plus.

The A3 plays the value card better than most rivals while maintaining an undisputed premium air. Besides the normal three trims available with all the available mainstream engines, quattro AWD was available on the more powerful engines only, which is to say the 220-/228-hp 2.0-liter gas engine and the 292-/288-hp version of the same engine used in the sporty S3 - the latter joining the range for the 2016 model year as a separate, standalone top trim essentially equipped with everything the Prestige has and more. Optional extras changed every single year as the packages were reshuffled. We try to provide as much detail as possible below.

The 3rd generation Audi A3 is a small car and although there is plenty of space for front-seat passengers to stretch out in - with 41.2 inches of legroom up front - its diminutive size becomes apparent in the rear seat where legroom (35.1 inches) and headroom (36.1 inches) are at a premium. The trunk size of 12.3 cubic feet for the FWD models is passable but drops to only 10 cubes in the quattro models, which is very small.

The trims can get confusing and lots of chopping and changing took place over the years, but the three main trims always remained Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. A Platinum trim briefly features for 2019 and the Prestige trim was discontinued for 2020, when the quattro trims received the S line package and were renamed S line Premium and S line Premium Plus, respectively. The S3 was offered from the start only in Premium Plug and Prestige trims, until 2020 when the flagship S3 Prestige was dropped and an entry-level S3 Premium was added.

The basic mechanics are durable, but meticulous maintenance is a must. The EA888 engine and S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission last well, but the former needs its oil topped up frequently - even between scheduled services - to remain reliable, and the latter runs wet clutches, so the fluid must be replaced every 40,000 miles according to Audi. Any transmission work is expensive and both the clutches and mechatronics unit will last longer if the transmission gets clean oil frequently, so never postpone transmission oil changes. The S tronic transmission has dual wet clutch packs that will probably not cost much less than $2,000 to replace when they're worn out. Always keep the vehicle stationary on inclines using the footbrake and never by applying the throttle, because this causes the clutches to slip, wearing them out faster. Check the water pump/thermostat housing periodically, because it can crack and coolant loss can lead to overheating and engine damage.

The normal lubrication service is performed every 10,000 miles or one year, whichever comes first, but you can be almost sure that the EA888 engine will require top-ups in between. Check oil weekly and keep it topped up to prevent running low on oil and accelerating wear. It is recommended that you reduce oil-change intervals to 5,000 miles if you are operating your vehicle under severe conditions, such as in freezing temperatures and/or on dusty roads. On the A3 quattro models, the oil in the AWD system's clutch pack should be replaced every three years, regardless of mileage, the engine's air filter must be replaced every 60,000 miles, and the cabin filter every 20,000 miles or two years. The brake fluid must be renewed every two years.

Technical Service Bulletins according to the NHTSA. Check service book for:

The 8V Audi A3 is a highly strung and intricately engineered car with all the latest advances such as direct injection, turbocharging, and a dual-clutch automatic transmission - in every single model. It can be reliable but neglect it at your peril. The EA888 gas engine is known to drink oil and you have to check its oil levels weekly. Replace the dual-clutch transmission's oil strictly on schedule too, to maintain its reliability. The thermoplastic water pump/thermostat housing is also known to crack and leak coolant, so be sure to check for coolant leaks and have them attended to promptly before damage can occur. Last, the panoramic sunroof is standard on all models and its water-drainage channels crack, leaking water into the interior, which can lead to water damage to the trim and electrics. Thankfully, very few 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, or 2020 Audi A3 air conditioning or transmission problems are reported - as long as the cars are properly maintained.

Some problems are not quite so commonplace and/or not as serious, so they don't get their own expanded sections. However, we note them here, so you can have a fully comprehensive list of possible things that can go wrong with the 3rd-generation Audi A3:

• The odd 8V Audi A3 might still suffer from cam-chain tensioner failure, but it's rare on post-2013 VW Group vehicles after the tensioner was redesigned. Either way, just to be sure, listen carefully to the engine on startup and when idling - there should be no tell-tale chain rattles.
• Many 2015-2020 Audi A3 electrical problems and interior trim damage are due to the problem of leaking sunroofs in the third-generation A3. Carefully check for evidence of water ingress on the roof lining or the rest of the interior.
• Ignition coil failure is not a big concern, but can occur and seems to have seen a bit of an uptick for the 2016 model year. A duff coil can announce itself by a lack of power, misfiring, and the Check Engine light. Coils cost around $26 each but can often be cheaper per coil if bought in a set of four. You should replace all four at a time on high-mileage cars because they all tend to fail at around the same mileage. The Audi A3 P130A error code usually indicates a misfire that can often be attributed to a tired coil.

The biggest recalls for the 8V Audi A3 Sedan are for problems with airbags and with the evaporative emissions (EVAP) control system. Here is every 2015-2020 Audi A3 recall:

• Airbag recalls. There were four airbag-related recalls and we group them together here. Several hundred thousand VW Group products were affected, including the 8V Audi A3. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) of certain 2015-2020 A3s may deactivate, disabling the passenger-side airbag in the process, even though there is a passenger in that seat. Audi replaces the PODS sensor mat and updates the PODS control software to fix the problem. In a separate recall of 2015-2017 A3 models, an improper electrical contact may also disable the passenger airbag. Audi replaces the connector and reroutes the electrical cable. These two airbags affected nearly 200,000 VW Group cars in total. In a much smaller recall affecting only 11,618 2017 cars, the passenger airbag may deploy with too much force in a low-speed crash if the passenger is sitting on the edge of the seat or reclining in it. Audi updates the airbag control module software to fix the problem.
• Label with incorrect vehicle manufacturing date. In a minor recall affecting fewer than 3,000 2015 cars, the label with the vehicle's production date may have been incorrectly printed, making it difficult for owners to determine whether their vehicle is affected by a recall or not.
• EVAP system fuel contamination. More than 110,000 vehicles were recalled for a problem with a suction pump inside the fuel tank that may cause fuel to enter the evaporative emissions control system, from where it can leak out through the charcoal canister's filter element and potentially cause a fire if a spark is present. The recall affects 2015 and 2016 A3. The 2015 Audi A3 P0456 trouble or error code is typically associated with the EVAP system and indicates that it has a leak.
• Fuel pump recall. More than 6,000 2015 vehicles were recalled for a fuel pump that may fail. It can cause a stall or prevent the vehicle from being started. Audi replaces the affected fuel pumps.
• Recall for side marker lights not illuminating. Nearly 80,000 vehicles in total are affected by improper software programming that disables the side marker lights of 2016 vehicles whenever the park lights or headlights are switched on, reducing vehicle visibility. This fault requires only a software update.
• Recall for engine control software that can cause a stall. A small number of 2017 and 2018 Audi A3s were recalled for engine control unit software that may incorrectly interpret the flywheel's rotation on startup as a "knocking" condition. The ECU then adjusts the air-fuel mixture to compensate for this nonexistent knocking condition and this can lead to a stall. Audi updates the software free of charge.
• Rear center headrest recall. A small number of 2018 A3 sedans were recalled because their rear center headrest's latching pins may not have been installed, causing the headrest to detach in a crash. Audi replaces the missing pins free of charge under the recall conditions.
• Rear center headrest recall.
• Recall for an improperly secured fuel line. A fuel-hose quick connector may become detached from the fuel line in a small number of 2018 cars, causing a fuel leak in the engine compartment, which could ignite in the presence of a spark. Audi properly secures the connector.

There is currently no Audi A3 water pump recall, but this might very well change, pending the outcome of the class-action lawsuits currently open on the subject.

The 2015 Audi A3 was affected by more problems and recalls than any of the other years and although the recalls are hardly a concern - they are all fixed for free - the other problems might be. Most important of these is the problem of the engine burning oil. While all cars with the EA888 2.0-liter turbocharged gas engine burn oil, the earlier A3s are worse than the later ones. It does not affect engine longevity unless the oil level is allowed to drop too low too often, which can end in engine failure. By the 2017 facelift, most teething troubles were sorted out, so we'd avoid the pre-facelift cars if we had a choice.

In terms of trim, there isn't a dud in the range, and even the Prestige trim - which was expensive when new - is far more palatable at a decent second-hand price. The base Premium looks a little skimpy on its smaller wheels, so for appearances' sake, we'd give it a miss, unless we traverse poor roads and need the higher-profile tires. We wish we could tell you to avoid models with the leaky sunroofs, but we can't, because all A3s came as standard with the sunroof. We wouldn't bother with the later base-spec Premium S3, because the performance flagship deserves a spec level befitting its status.

The sweet spot in the lineup is the 2017+ facelift S line Premium Plus. The quattro AWD is not a must, but it does give you access to far more power (228 hp), so that's why we'd opt for it (the FWD can only be had with the low-output 186/184-hp engine). The diesel is very rare with fewer than 2,500 sold in the US before Audi pulled the plug on diesel. However, the used ones now available would have had their emissions equipment fixed and the diesel is surprisingly sprightly and extremely economical - great for long distances. It's actually not a bad call if you can find one because the EA189 engine can do huge mileages if properly cared for. If you consider an S3, go for the later seven-speed model in Premium Plus trim.

As long as you keep in mind that the third-generation Audi A3 is not a car you can simply forget about until the next time it's time to service it, it will serve you well. You cannot afford to take shortcuts with its maintenance and besides on-schedule fluid changes, you must keep an eye on the engine's oil level at all times, as it is unlikely to make it to the next service without a top-up. Go for the prettier facelift models and you'll have a smart-looking, sporty, fast, and extremely well-built small executive sedan with all the big-car quality you have come to expect from Audi. Just remember that the emphasis is on small. If you need the back seat for adults and a big trunk, the A3 is not for you. Opt for an A4 instead.