Model research hub
Audi A3
The Audi A3 is a small luxury car built since 1996 and sold in the U.S. as a compact sedan on the current generation. Guides say to avoid 2015 to 2017, and federal data supports that with 178 complaints on the 2015 and 112 on the 2016, while the 2022 has the most recalls (6). The 2026 A3 starts at $41,395 and is rated 28 mpg combined.
What the Audi A3 is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the A3 as a small family car (C-segment) made by Audi since September 1996, with the first two generations on the Volkswagen Group A platform and later generations on a newer one, sold as a hatchback and a saloon. The 2026 A3 is a 2.0L four-cylinder with all-wheel drive, rated 28 mpg combined by the EPA at about $2,750 a year in fuel. Kelley Blue Book base prices for the 2026 A3 are $41,395 for the 40 TFSI Premium and $44,295 for the Premium Plus.
Best and worst A3 model years
Federal data shows the early third-generation cars struggling. The 2015 has 2 recalls, for air bags and the fuel system, and 178 complaints, the most of any year, the 2016 has 3 recalls and 112 complaints, and the 2017 and 2018 have 2 recalls each. The 2019 and 2020 have 3 recalls and only 12 and 16 complaints, the 2021 has none, and the 2022 has 6 recalls, covering the backup camera, child seat, seat belts and air bags. The 2023 has 2, and the 2024 and 2025 have none.
Guides agree on 2015 to 2017. Car Smite (opens in a new tab) says the 2015, 2016 and 2017 models have high NHTSA recalls, numerous complaints and poor consumer ratings, and are years you might want to evade. REREV (opens in a new tab) says the 2015 earns its spot as the absolute worst year, between the airbag recall, oil-guzzling engines and drivetrain issues, and cites an airbag sensor problem on 2015 to 2017 models and DSG transmission issues on early cars. BestCarRank (opens in a new tab) quotes owners who say the seat-pod recall repair did not fix a pre-sense fault warning. Open the 2015 A3 page for that year.
Choosing a year
Anything from 2019 onward has a far lower complaint count in federal data, with the 2021, 2024 and 2025 showing no recalls, though recent years have had less time on the road to collect reports. Whatever the year, check the VIN for open recalls, particularly the 2022's six.
Questions buyers ask
Which Audi A3 years should I avoid?
Car Smite (opens in a new tab) says 2015, 2016 and 2017, and REREV (opens in a new tab) calls the 2015 the absolute worst year.
How much does the 2026 Audi A3 cost?
Kelley Blue Book base prices are $41,395 for the 40 TFSI Premium and $44,295 for the Premium Plus.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2026 Audi A3 is built around 2.0L turbo four-cylinder, rated at 201 horsepower across its compact luxury sedan body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 2 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2026 A3 seats 5 and is a Compact luxury sedan.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2026 A3.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Audi A3
Every A3 shares the same 201-horsepower turbo four and standard quattro AWD; the two trims separate by luxury and technology equipment, not powertrain.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
4 indexed Audi A3 model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Audi A3 | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Audi A3 | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Audi A3 | 2025 record → | |
| 2022 Audi A3 | 2022 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Audi A3.
The Audi A3 is a small family car (C-segment) manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi AG since September 1996. The first two generations of the Audi A3 were based on the Volkswagen Group A platform, while the third and fourth generations use the Volkswagen Group MQB platform.
- Safety
- The first generation A3 received a Euro NCAP rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Their evaluation concluded "the column lock, adjuster lever and bracket presented hazards in the knee impact area for the driver. These could cause high loads on his upper legs and damage to his knees." The A3 also provided minimal protection for pedestrians, and received two stars out of a possible four.
Source: Audi A3 (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Audi A3 at a glance
- Production
- 1996–present
- Class
- Small family car (C)
- Body style
- 3 or 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive (quattro)
Audi A3 generations
The Audi A3 has been redesigned in 2003, 2012, gaps of 7, 9 years, an average of 8.0 years between generations. The current generation (third generation, Typ 8V) began in 2012.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | Typ 8L | 1996–2003 | Audi announced the first generation A3 (Typ 8L) in June 1995. |
| Second generation | Typ 8P | 2003–2012 | At the 2003 Geneva Motor Show, Audi launched the second generation of the A3, the Typ 8P, designed by Gary Telaak during 2000 (however, the final design was frozen in 2001). |
| Third generation | Typ 8V | 2012–present | The vehicle was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show and went on sale in Europe in September 2012. |
Owners filed 5 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Audi A3, most often about unknown or other (3), service brakes (1), forward collision avoidance (1).
Year by year
The Audi A3 across 12 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Audi A3 | 28 | $2,850 | 1 | |||
| 2026 Audi A3 | 28 | $2,750 | 1 | |||
| 2025 Audi A3 | 28 | $2,750 | 1 | 5 | ||
| 2024 Audi A3 | 30–32 | $1,950–$2,100 | 2 | 1 | ||
| 2023 Audi A3 | 30–32 | $1,950–$2,100 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2022 Audi A3 | 31–32 | $1,950–$2,000 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2020 Audi A3 | 25–30 | $2,100–$2,500 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Audi A3 | 25–29 | $2,150–$2,500 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Audi A3 | 25–36 | $2,150–$2,500 | 5 | 2 | 44 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Audi A3 | 25–34 | $2,150–$2,500 | 5 | 2 | 36 | |
| 2016 Audi A3 | 26–39 | $2,000–$2,400 | 6 | 3 | 112 | 5 stars |
| 2015 Audi A3 | 26–35 | $2,550–$3,000 | 5 | 2 | 178 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Audi A3, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Electric range, miles | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 to 2025 | 2 to 1 | 31.0 to 28.0 | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Drives: All-Wheel Drive; Fuels: Premium | Labels: A3; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Mild Hybrid; Drives: 4-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive; Fuels: Regular | |
| 2023 to 2024 | Drives: 4-Wheel Drive | Drives: All-Wheel Drive | |||
| 2022 to 2023 | 31.5 to 31.0 | ||||
| 2020 to 2022 | 3 to 2 | 27.5 to 31.5 | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Mild Hybrid | Labels: A3 Cabriolet quattro; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI | |
| 2019 to 2020 | 4 to 3 | 27.0 to 27.5 | Labels: A3 Cabriolet | ||
| 2018 to 2019 | 5 to 4 | 30.5 to 27.0 | Labels: A3 e-tron; Engines: 1.4L 4-cyl SIDI; PHEV; Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S6); Fuels: Premium and Electricity; Size classes: Compact Cars | ||
| 2017 to 2018 | 29.5 to 30.5 | ||||
| 2016 to 2017 | 6 to 5 | 32.5 to 29.5 | Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S7) | Labels: A3 e-tron ultra; Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl SIDI | |
| 2015 to 2016 | 5 to 6 | 30.5 to 32.5 | first listed: 17 | Labels: A3 e-tron, A3 e-tron ultra; Engines: 1.4L 4-cyl SIDI; PHEV; Fuels: Premium and Electricity, Regular; Size classes: Compact Cars | Engines: 2L 4-cyl; Fuels: Diesel, Premium |
Buying used
What the Audi A3 recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | equipment (other); air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2022 | 6 | back over prevention (sensing system); child seat (vehicle latch anchor); seat belts (pretensioner); 3 more | None |
| 2020 | 3 | air bags (sensor); tires (pressure monitoring and regulating systems); fuel system, gasoline | None |
| 2019 | 3 | air bags (sensor); tires (pressure monitoring and regulating systems); fuel system, gasoline | None |
| 2018 | 2 | air bags (sensor); fuel system, gasoline | None |
| 2017 | 2 | air bags (sensor); fuel system, gasoline | None |
| 2016 | 3 | air bags (sensor); air bags (frontal); fuel system, gasoline | None |
| 2015 | 2 | air bags (sensor); fuel system, gasoline | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| air bags | 189 | 47% | 2015 (83) |
| electrical system | 62 | 15% | 2015 (25) |
| fuel/propulsion system | 55 | 14% | 2015 (21) |
| engine | 44 | 11% | 2015 (18) |
| unknown or other | 31 | 8% | 2015 (12) |
| power train | 22 | 5% | 2016 (9) |
| Model year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 2019 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 2018 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 2016 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Audi A3 trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 TFSI Premium | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 201 | 236 | 3,461 | – | 28 | $41,395 |
| 40 TFSI Premium Plus | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 201 | 236 | 3,461 | – | 28 | $44,295 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Audi A3 model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 201 | 3,461 | – | 14.5 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 201 | 3,461 | – | 14.5 |
| 2024 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 201 | 3,329 | – | 14.5 |
| 2023 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 201 | 3,329 | – | 14.5 |
| 2022 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 201 | 3,329 | – | 14.5 |
| 2020 | 4 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 184–228 | 3,197–3,417 | – | 13.2 |
| 2019 | 4 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 184 | 3,197 | – | 13.2 |
| 2018 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 220 | 3,197 | 3,300 | 13.2 |
| 2017 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 220 | 3,428 | 3,300 | 13.2 |
| 2016 | 9 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 4-Cyl, Turbo Dsl, 2.0L / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 150–220 | 3,175–3,362 | 3,300 | 13.2–14.5 |
| 2015 | 6 | 1.8-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 170–220 | – | 3,300 | 13.2–14.5 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Model-year recall record
Audi A3: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2022 Audi A3 : 6 recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera and child seat.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | not available | ||
| 2025 | 5 | ||
| 2024 | 1 | ||
| 2023 | 2 | not available | equipment, airbags |
| 2022 | 6 | not available | backup camera, child seat, seat belts, airbags |
| 2021 | 0 | ||
| 2020 | 3 | 16 | airbags, tires, fuel system |
| 2019 | 3 | 12 | airbags, tires, fuel system |
| 2018 | 2 | 44 | airbags, fuel system |
| 2017 | 2 | 36 | airbags, fuel system |
| 2016 | 3 | 112 | airbags, fuel system |
| 2015 | 2 | 178 | airbags, fuel system |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Audi A3 model years 2022, 2023 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Audi A3?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2022 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Audi A3 model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2022 Audi A3 has 6 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera, child seat, seat belts. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03What are common recall-related problems on the Audi A3 by model year?
2023: equipment, airbags. 2022: backup camera, child seat, seat belts, airbags. 2020: airbags, tires, fuel system. 2019: airbags, tires, fuel system. 2018: airbags, fuel system. 2017: airbags, fuel system.
Q04Why do some Audi A3 model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Audi A3 model years 2022, 2023 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Engine and cooling, Brakes, tires and steering, Climate and electrical.
2022 Audi A3 owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Buying, records and recalls.
Compared with
Models this Audi A3 is most often compared with.
Nearest Audi models
Other Audi models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2026 A3 come in?
The 2026 Audi A3 (compact luxury sedan) comes in 2 trims: Premium, Premium Plus.
Q02What are the 2026 A3 trims?
The 2026 Audi A3 trims are Premium, Premium Plus, listed from the entry Premium up to the top Premium Plus.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2026 A3 use?
The 2026 Audi A3 is built around 2.0L turbo four-cylinder, rated at 201 horsepower across its compact luxury sedan body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2026 A3 have?
The 2026 Audi A3 is rated at 201 horsepower (2.0L turbo four-cylinder).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2026 A3?
The 2026 Audi A3 is offered with Standard AWD.