2024 AUDI A3 | WAUHUDGY6RA138401

Body Styles

The Audi A3 is offered globally in two main body styles: a five-door Sportback and a four-door sedan. The Sportback emphasizes hatchback practicality with a tapered rear profile and clean roofline, while the sedan adopts more traditional proportions with a short rear deck and upright stance. Both versions share a sharp shoulder line, wide hexagonal grille, and slim Matrix-inspired LED lighting. Despite their compact dimensions—around 4.34 meters long—the cars feel planted and balanced thanks to short overhangs, wide tracks, and aerodynamic surfacing. The sedan is particularly tailored for North American and Asian markets, while the Sportback appeals more to European buyers with its cargo-friendly versatility.

Model Name Meaning (Manufacturer)

The “A” in A3 represents Audi’s base model series, with the number 3 indicating its position as a premium compact. It stands as the entry point into the Audi sedan and hatchback world, bridging affordability and sophistication. The name is consistent across global markets and reflects Audi’s structured, number-based hierarchy.

Body & Interior Colors and Rims

The A3’s exterior color palette includes clean neutrals and bold metallics that reflect its dual role as a stylish urban car and subtle luxury commuter. Shades like Ibis White, Mythos Black, and Floret Silver form the base, while progressive hues such as Turbo Blue, Manhattan Gray, and Navarra Blue offer more expressive options. District Green and Python Yellow were introduced on select trims and markets, reinforcing a youthful design direction. Most versions come with contrasting exterior accents like aluminum window surrounds or gloss black grille elements, depending on the line (Advanced, S line, or Black Optic).

Inside, the cabin continues Audi’s minimalist, driver-focused aesthetic. Standard trims use high-quality fabric and TEP materials, while upper versions feature fine Nappa leather in Black, Rock Gray, or Okapi Brown. Inlays include brushed aluminum, silver trim, or dark matte plastics for a sportier feel. The dashboard is dominated by Audi’s 10.1-inch MMI touch display and an optional 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit, while a low-set gear selector and angular air vents give the cabin a distinctly geometric design language. Ambient lighting, stitched door cards, and perforated leather steering wheels in higher trims subtly elevate the premium experience without overwhelming it.

Wheels range from 16-inch turbine-inspired alloys on base models to 18-inch multi-spoke or Y-spoke designs on S line trims, with machined surfaces or graphite gray finishes. Some variants offer Black Optic packages with gloss black wheels to complement dark window trim and badges. All wheels are chosen to balance visual appeal, weight, and aerodynamic efficiency, enhancing the car’s dynamic stance.

Top Expensive Options

• Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus (12.3" Digital Cluster): $900
• Matrix LED Headlights with Dynamic Turn Signals: $1,200
• Adaptive Suspension with Drive Select: $1,300
• Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System: $850
• Panoramic Sunroof with Electric Shade: $1,100
• S line Exterior and Interior Styling Package: $1,700
• Heated and Ventilated Leather Sport Seats: $1,300
• Park Assist with 360° Camera: $1,000
• Wireless Charging with Phone Box: $450
• Interior Ambient Lighting Plus Package: $600

vs Competitors

The A3 competes with other premium compact sedans and hatchbacks such as the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, and Mazda 3 Turbo. Where the Mercedes emphasizes tech glamor and the BMW goes for dynamic posture, the Audi strikes a balance with understated design, advanced digital integration, and precise handling. Against mainstream rivals like the Mazda or Hyundai Elantra N-Line, the A3 holds its ground with superior material quality and all-wheel-drive availability. Though less extroverted than the CLA-Class, it appeals to buyers seeking mature, German refinement in a smaller package. It’s not the most spacious or powerful, but in design, build quality, and drivetrain execution, the A3 remains a benchmark.

Fun Fact

The A3 8Y is one of the few cars in its segment to offer the same MIB3 infotainment and digital cockpit architecture as Audi’s flagship A6 and Q7 models, essentially shrinking flagship tech into a compact premium shell. It also marked the global debut of Volkswagen Group’s new 1.5 TFSI engine with cylinder deactivation, boosting both performance and efficiency in everyday driving.