Audi A3 facelift brings new interior and kit for £32,035

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 23:01:00 +0000
Automotive

The A3 will once again be offered in both Sportback and saloon forms in the UK

Audi’s hatch and saloon get targeted revisions, with a powerful 329bhp S3 to follow

Pricing and specification details have been revealed for the new Audi A3, which gains a wide-reaching overhaul for 2024 in saloon and Sportback guises.

The A3 Sportback costs from £32,035, while the more practical saloon is slightly more expensive at £32,600. Both variants are available to order now.

As standard, the A3 comes with LED headlights, electric sports seats, a 10.1in touchcsreen infotainment system, wireless phone charging and voice control.

Other equipment, such as Audi’s digital cockpit, front and rear parking sensors, heated seats and three-zone climate control are also included as standard for the first time on the A3 model range.

Mid-range S-Line models gain larger 18in wheels plus ambient lighting, a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, S-line styling cues and sports suspension.

Black Edition cars get 19in wheels, fabric interior trim, plus a black exterior styling pack, and the doors will project the Audi logo onto the tarmac below when opening the door.

The revamped A3 will initially go on sale with a choice of two powertrains: the 35 TFSI 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol and the 35 TDI 2.0-litre diesel.

Both units offer an unchanged 148bhp. A revamped plug-in hybrid is among the other engine options that will be launched later this year.

The Audi A3 follows its Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia platformmates in receiving a wide-reaching refresh for 2024, with a modernised interior, trick new lights and a more powerful S3 among the headlines.

The focus of a relatively subtle exterior makeover has been to make the car look more dynamic.

There is a revamped, wider hexagonal grille at the front, with the Audi rings now protruding from the top rather than being integrated into the middle.

The front also features new side air intakes and a reshaped spoiler, designed to make the car appear lower.

At the back, there is a new bumper and diffuser unit, which is inspired by that on the legendary RS2 Avant, says Audi.

The daytime running lights now feature four different ‘signatures’ that users can switch between to individualise their car’s appearance.

Each signature has its own distinctive graphic when the car is locked or unlocked. Inside, there has been a focus on adding extra standard kit and digital technology.

All trim levels now feature Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display and a three-spoke steering wheel.

The redesigned centre console now includes an armrest as standard and a smaller gear selector for the automatic ’box.

The design of the air vents has also been revamped. In addition, Audi has revised the standard interior lighting, including backlit doors and contour lights in the centre console and cupholders.

There is a new optional stereo system too, with a Sonos unit replacing the B&O system previously featured.

The revamped A3 also features a new version of Audi’s infotainment system, running on the 10.1in central display.

Audi will offer several functions on demand in certain markets, including the ability to add adaptive cruise control, high-beam assist and two-zone air conditioning.