Audi A3 Sportback (2004 – 2012) Review

Audi A3 Sportback (2004 – 2012) At A Glance

4/5

+Quality feel from behind the wheel. More practical and spacious than standard A3. Impressive choice of engines including excellent TFSI turbocharged petrols.

-Standard equipment on entry-level models not generous. Most engines belt cam. Oil pump problems with 2.0 diesel.

Insurance Groups are between 14–29
On average it achieves 78% of the official MPG figure

The Audi A3 Sportback of 2004 is a 5-door version of the A3 hatchback that ran from 2008 to 2012.

The obvious benefit is the extra practicality of two more doors that enables elderly people to enter and leave the rear of the car and, of course, turns settling an infant in a child seat from a back-straining exersise to a simple, easy, straigntforward and safe job.

Car seat chooser

Child seats that fit a Audi A3 Sportback (2004 – 2012)

Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.

Which car seat will suit you?

Real MPG average for a Audi A3 Sportback (2004 – 2012)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

78%

Real MPG

21–63 mpg

MPGs submitted

450

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

Satisfaction Index What is your car like to live with?

We need your help with our latest Satisfaction Index, so that we can help others make a smarter car buying decision. What's it like to live with your car? Love it? Loath it? We want to know. Let us know about your car - it will only take a few minutes and you could be helping thousands of others.

Help us with the Honest John Satisfaction Index now

Ask Honest John

Can I upgrade a car stereo to include Apple CarPlay?

"I'm looking to buy an Audi A3 Sportback from 2011/12 but would like to upgrade the stereo to include Bluetooth and, ideally, Apple CarPlay. Can anyone give me any advice on the possibility of this and any brands/services you would recommend to get it done?"
You can definitely get that done - Halfords sells a great range and they'll fit it too. I'd order the stereos on Halfords site by popularity and see which ones are rated best by customers if I were you. We've tested this one and very much liked it, though we fitted it ourselves: https://kit.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/review-sony-xav-ax100-64-car-stereo-with-apple-carplay-android-auto/
Answered by Georgia Petrie

What sporty, 5-door, reliable cars could you recommend?

"Our 12 year old Audi A3 2.0 TDI Sportback has done 100,000 miles, so will be going, and we need a third car to back up our Ford S-Max 2.0 Ecoboost and Porsche Cayman GTS. The front runner is a Mazda 3 2.0 165 Sport, which you report very favourably on. It will be for general/family use (we have 3 kids: aged six, eight and ten) and Drivethedeal can supply one for under £20,000. Are there any other suggestions that should be considered for a sporty, five-door, good to drive, reliable car? We wouldn't touch VWG at the moment and a Ford Fiesta ST would be nearly perfect except it may be a bit small. Secondly, if we go for the Mazda, I cannot find any mention on the Michelin site that they do 18-inch cross-climates (which the Mazda rides on)."
You can get Cross Climates in 205/60 R16, which is the other size on the Mazda 3, but the Michelin site becomes very frustrating looking for 18-inch whether you just look for tyre size or try to input the actual car. You're obviously looking for a bit of power, but we had huge fun in the low power Mazda 3, though admittedly in Northern Scotland on almost empty roads: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/mazda/mazda-3-2017-road-test/?
Answered by Honest John

Best wheel size for winter tyres for Audi A3?

"I want to buy a set of steel wheels with winter tyres for my 2005 Audi A3 2.0 TFSI Sportback quattro, which currently has 18-inch rims on. Will 16-inch wheels with winter tyres fit my car? "
Yes, no problem. But sensibly priced alloys such as Alutecs may actually be cheaper than steels. Check with http://www.tyremen.co.uk. And double-check with http://www.mytyres.co.uk (this is actually a German company operating out of a co.uk URL).
Answered by Honest John

Noisy Audi A3

"My Audi A3 makes a lot of noise. It sounds like air rushing into the car from one of the windows (even though they are all shut) I have taken it back to the dealer and they fitted a new wheel bearing under warranty. The noise is no better. How do I get this fixed before my car's warranty runs out?"
Get some painter's thick masking tape and tape the window up. If the noise disappears, it was coming from the window seals. If it doesn't, tape the door up. If the noise disappears it was coming from the door seal. You can find out where by removing bits of tape until the noise reappears.
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

What does a Audi A3 Sportback (2004 – 2012) cost?