NEW 2021 Audi A3 Sportback review - has Audi ruined the best ever hatchback? | What Car?

It wasn't perfect, but it was pretty close to it. The old Audi A3 Sportback was one of the greatest cars of the last decade. Even right at the end of its life it was beating new premium family car rivals like the Mercedes A-Class. So in replacing it, has Audi actually made it better? Or has it taken a brilliant formula and thrown it out the window? Watch to find out
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#AudiA3Sportback #AudiA3 #A3Sportback

[@whatcar]

So does this remind you of the old Audi A3 or the Lamborghini Countach....? 🤔 Vote at 0:37 to let us know!! And yes - this was filmed before the lockdown. Stay home, stay safe, and watch all of our videos!!

[@franciscoamaral4383]

What Car? This car is lacking the panache and finesse of the old one, the devil is in the details and that interior doesn’t do it for me...it’s just too busy and the quality’s big let down. You can tell that all the financial resources are going into electrification.

[@kevinvermeulen01]

Seems like a small a4 or a6

[@cestluixviii7793]

Renault, Citroen Peugeot is better !

[@DuecyHD]

This poll is pointless, obviously it will look like the old a3

[@Bolstreet]

What Car? 2.0 tsi 4x4? 224cv?

[@JMB1891]

I get the feeling this guy doesn’t really like this car.

[@AlbertArrabal]

I thought the same 😂

[@juliusmabanga3849]

He's very strict and too judgmental with all the cars he reviews

[@craigwestwood2339]

Does he like the BMW 1 series? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@juliusmabanga3849]

@@robertvanzant2653 But why????

[@juliusmabanga3849]

@@robertvanzant2653 I agree, the golf looks boring

[@OzgunDoganbaloglu]

It is great that this review identifies issues with the car that Autotrader review ignored.

[@madant7777]

At least it looks better than the Golf 8 and has some physical buttons.

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

That's not hard.

[@JohnnyZenith]

He's poor.

[@duncanidaho7494]

Still.

[@henryviiifake8244]

The Golf 8's interior ergonomics are a pretty hard fail (single-piece capacitive buttons and touch *sliders* for AC temp control‽ it's like they forgot people have to use the damn thing _while driving!_ ), so it's arguably not as much of an accomplishment as it should have been 😅

[@7spursfan]

I bought the old A3 (2.0 Quattro version ) 6 months ago, but I won't swap it with the new one, cos its simply brilliant.

[@kinocchio]

Good choice

[@danielng3497]

good excuse

[@douglasb.5601]

I have a current S3...much prefer the MMI to this new touchscreen system. Audi's rotary dial system is amazing to use whilst driving. They've gone backwards IMHO.

[@SrenGrundahl]

Me too and I couldnt agree more!

[@EmirDemirovski]

@@douglasb.5601 i absolutely hate using touchscreens while driving, it's so distracting and unnecessary. I have an aftermarket Pioneer headunit and i hate that i have to use the screen. The dial in my A6 C6 was perfect in every way.

[@jayfoster9582]

Best presenter what car have had in ages. Well done

[@johnbrown9092]

Virtual dash now standard, not extra as before, hence the price hike! Good review.

[@mihnealazar7039]

We all know that isn’t worth more than like 700€,is it?

[@AchtGradFieber]

Virtual Cockpit is actually cheaper that an analogue Cockpit.

[@forza223bowe5]

Still looks nicer than the new Golf 8, even though it’s basically the same car

[@ETH888]

Forza223 Bowe compared to the last audi generation, a golf 7 dsg and a audi a3 s tronic, with the same 1.6TDI feels nothing like one another.

[@elijahcarr4137]

Just because they share the same chassis platform doesn't make it the same car. Mini and BMW share the same platform too

[@thirst4petrol537]

Feels more upmarket than the golf 8 too. Iv reviewed it aswell in the atolblue color and i like dit a lot. a step up from the previous version. You're welcome to check out my review of it :)

[@jamiep61]

Great Video Review. I particularly like the styling and the Interior quality as well

[@alstjr]

I like his review. He's honest about his opinion. Seeing how Audi is making all their new models (A4-A8) with a touch screen, I think they are trying to immensely cut cost on the manufacturing side. Producing a screen >> cost of manufacturing individual buttons. I'm glad I'm not the only one who preferred the previous gen.

[@user-hb6ms3mb4t]

Another informative, no-nonsense review and comparison. Many thanks. G.

[@abelisraelcruzayuso4682]

The grill is bigger? I saw a couple of direct comparisons with the old A3 and it really looked smaller...

[@maxdepasquale2351]

It's a pity that the building quality has gone down. Hope that it's a problem of the first specimens of this new series. Thanks Doug for the good review - a nice way to distract our mind at times like these!

[@ea9167]

To be honest now it's been out a year the ones I sat in the build quality has come a long way. The issues that the first batch had seems to be absolutely mind blowing loads of cars with wrong equipment etc. Alot of it seems to have been sorted thankfully.

[@brianallan9035]

No trim on the interior window frames? C’mon Audi, this is supposed to be a premium product.

[@person2186]

Mainly the price is premium

[@gunterrr2302]

The previous A3 has trim on the interior window frame, another clear example of the decline in quality and premium feel compared to the old model.

[@minimoto99]

Always a good sign of cost cutting, I'm surprised they kept the gas struts for the bonnet too.

[@mac6899]

Audi... forever the wannabes......despite what VW and Audi fans think, they will never be in the same league as BMW and Mercedes as long as their cars are front wheel drive.

[@Ivzu]

LoL, even my Astra has them.

[@tbri5511]

Really interesting to see someone say the build quality is worse, I got that impression from pictures but one of them things you’ll never know till you’re in the car!

[@biker1011]

Hi @what Car , All : confused between A3(30 TFSI), Leon and Gold 7 , 8. . please let me know which one is suggested by you.

[@HoofHearted2DAY]

14.7 billion dollars in fines will do that to quality

[@Smartion]

G Rodriguez hahaha :)

[@juliusmabanga3849]

Yes Mrs doubtfire 😁

[@CyAn-S]

there you see how a few stupid people can make the life of a whole company quite difficult. I do hope VW group recovers from it sooner than later.

[@joefattal7592]

Love it. Looks contemporary

[@dimitryslyusarenko2252]

Great looking car!! Ordering one this month 👍🏼

[@dominicrusho]

Are you sure that’s an S Line car? The exterior shots show a car with a “Sport” trim exterior.

[@franciscoamaral4383]

dominicrusho Yeah, he got it wrong. That is an S line spec interior with the sport exterior (it will be an option in certain markets).

[@millipekmez577]

any chance this car was still a pre-production one? because 2:18 unacceptable, although explains the very little price difference with the golf a bit.

[@RossMKF1]

milli pekmez I’ve never been a golf that was that badly made

[@arekb5951]

I'm not particularly surprised, after almost 2 year ownership of an A6 C8 all I can say about it is how poorly it's made. The interior is rattly, electronics has mind on it's own, adaptive suspension bags blew up two times, AC compressor died, aerodynamics is terrible, there's a lot water swirls on windows that obstruct vision during rain, panel gaps are all over the place and the doors won't shut properly after some time (although it has been "fixed", now I can shut them, but there's a bit of wind coming through the seals). All this before 80k kilometers mark.

[@millipekmez577]

@Dzek Trbosjek you dont expect 50k+ car to have those basic problems under 80k km. your attitude tells me your point of view will change drastically when you pay more for a car.

[@arekb5951]

@Dzek Trbosjek At least bicycle would get me somewhere. My A6 spent total of 1,5 month in service. Funny thing is, service worker told me that these cars are so underdeveloped that my case is still not that bad, they have a guy that bought an A8 for over twice the price and has to scroll through 6 fault messages before he can start driving. I could write an essay about what was happening with electronics in my A6, but you wouldn't believe it anyway, so it's not worth my hassle. Fyi, I've had an older A4 B7, I got it to over 350k km, I fixed and serviced it myself in my garage. Sold it in great condition. I also have a Megane 3 RS Cup, that I have modded and use on track every now and then. No problems whatsoever. It had a tough life, I know previous owner, he tracked this car as well, but it was well taken care of. Now it has almost double the mileage of my A6 and I only had to fix wheel bearings. You see, I'm not the problem here...

[@patrick93027]

It could be a pre-production model. I remember when one of the early reviews for the new A6/A7, the reviewer grabbed the dash from the passenger side and can wiggle the entire dash assembly (piano black/wood section). Yet the actual showroom models once released don’t budge at all

[@andrisromanovskis9363]

Doug, when did you film it?

[@davidyvess]

1. really fond of the steering feedback part of the clip and few critics are willing to spend extra time on it...2. I've never had a chance to drive a 1-series. does it steer better than a focus? ( as for steering precision, feel, responsiveness, etc.)

[@JackKing12.]

I love my 2016 A3 S-line 1.4 this Saloon...should have got it with an S tonic box. Have to agree the interior and user friendliness not as good as the previous

[@DanteGonxhja]

Excellent presenter, love how he points out the flaws unlike other KZbin reviews that are always suspiciously over positive about everything.

[@brwnbbyboy1]

Love the channel...💙💙💙💙

[@leonsiric398]

Great review! You're the only one that I know brave enough to say truth about a tested cars and that's why I watch you and looking forward watching you in the future. Please, just stay like that! Congratulations on your honest observation on the quality of the interior! That is something immediately noticeable but I haven't heard it from anybody else! Greetings to you from sunny Croatia!🇭🇷

[@scoss2]

Bit of step back going all touch screen! Could not live with that volume adjustment. New golf has the same issue.

[@KING0SISQO]

Not really a big deal. Has volume buttons on the wheel right? This is just about trying to move forward not backwards with a nice clean look in the cabin. It’ll take time for some to “want” to get used to that and accept it. But you’ll probably have to blame Peugeot. Vw always seem to copy something they like from them. Check out the 308 infotainment system. It’s exactly like this since 2013.

[@5forwards367]

Does it lean in the corners like the A1?

[@antonthompson7838]

The virtual cockpit looks sick!

[@ohheyitskevinc]

I personally prefer the steering in dynamic - makes you feel more connected to the road. Steering in comfort just feels loose. I think I’ll be keeping my 2016 S3 for a little while longer until Audi get a new interior design team. As you say, there was nothing wrong with the MMI touch wheel or volume/track controls. Having those in addition to the new screen would have been good, but touchscreen only is useless when driving where the old MMI touch wheel - you could use that without looking. Just a point on the volume and track controls though - they’re also on your steering wheel, so I rarely used the knob in the centre console but it is still an unnecessary step backwards. The interior quality is awful now, and it’s a fingerprint and dust magnet. Wish they’d have gone with the TT/TTS/TTRS interior. Nice, well made, minimal. As for the new DSG switch... I love popping mine over to manual when I need to for the paddles or the gear lever, or pulling it down to sport when I feel like it. This switch... ugh.. Anyway. I think I’ll pass.

[@alf7524]

Some of the interior build quality is flimsy. Not a patch on the last facelift version.

[@SDav21]

Not sure why they're all doing this now? It's sad. Even the older Golf 6 was good. After that they started using more hard plastic. And it's bad because non premium carmakers are actually doing better.

[@alf7524]

@@SDav21 cost cutting no doubt. One reason you would buy this over say a ford focus or the cheaper VAG brands is for the more premium feel. But what is the point if the build quality isn't any better?

[@sunnyd6291]

No one puts both there hands on the center console and push it hard lol they are picking little faults on lower down plastics so they actually have something to review about otherwise looks more modern drives much better does better mpg than the old a3. whats the moaning about

[@neojahuty24]

finally a honest review

[@graemetaylor629]

Isn’t there a problem with the 1.5 litre petrol engine that causes hesitation when setting off ?

[@abdullahbinfaisal4930]

I have a question that is this new audi a3 better than that of its alternatives please tell me please

[@danieloceans9652]

When is the new s3 sedan coming out?

[@hiden_827]

Subscribed 👍

[@savvassidiropoulos5952]

I drive a well looked after S3 from 2000. My wife just got a new 30TFSI. I almost like the exterior - save for some fake vents and plastic addons that do nothing - but the inside of the car makes me feel crammed in there. It surely feels brand new and that gives it some points but how badly will it age? My 20year old S3 feels better on the road. I really hate those small toggles that have replaced the parking brake. Mine is covered in double stitched leather - feels and looks nice. And the virtual cockpit is not something I like. I am well into tech but those drawn instruments feel like flight simulator 1981 instruments on SVGA. I was thinking about getting a new S3 when it comes out but now I'm considering I should hurry while the old model is still available. With real instruments. Or keep the old one for 3-4 more years until hybrid or electric cars mature.

[@FlyingScud]

That wobbly centre console is a horror story. Looks like I will be hanging onto my Mk3 for a while longer. Also you can't get that nice blue colour without paying a hefty premium.

[@onkedilz198]

An A3 is a brilliant and also a very reliable and fuel efficient car. I own a 2011 A3 1.6tdi Stronic as my run around. I love it.

[@EmirDemirovski]

i have a 2012 1.6 tdi but 5 speed manual. Drinks fuel more than my dad's 2.0 TDI Passat. But it is a really fun car all around.

[@user-xv1nn9pu5l]

What’s the better? Audi A3 sportback or BMW series 1??? Thank you!!!

[@reneraff8458]

The vent’s om the Dashboard look as it was build in the 1980’s. Not bad. And a very nice car overall.

[@CristobalZapata81]

Oh! My kingdom for a spin in those andalusian twisty roads.. The exterior has improved, the interior hasn't: 100% agreed Doug

[@joshuafuller2060]

I find new Audi vehicles over designed! To many creases and ‘extra bits’ I think the Leon looks the most sleek and classy in this trio!

[@liamscott555]

Have they fixed that stupid issue where water hugs the lip of the seal past the rear lights and causes your boot to slowly fill up with water? apparently every model audi a3 has this problem to one degree or another, something i only discovered with my car recently.

[@jakehammond7972]

I think volume car manufactures are needing to cut costs to make there electric cars profitable sooner. Golf mk8 has corners cut aswell

[@davidviner4932]

The intrior is built cheaper than the previous car, same as the new Golf. VAG have made a mistake here and the Koreans have closed in. The USP of Audi was always the interior was a class above

[@kareembadr85]

very good report

[@samdurling6053]

I know it shares the golf platform but it seems more like a golf than ever meaning it doesn't cut it with the 1 series and a class. The a1 is the same as it feels very similar to the polo inside. Gone are the days when a new audi was sure to have the best interior in class.

[@colinrenfrew8344]

I see in the film, that Audi haven’t trimmed the door frames in the new model. Bare metal?Fiat Panda. 1982.

[@robinhosleftfoot]

Mercedes A class is the same

[@rickiek]

Great review. The cabin noise / tyre noise seemed a bit much. Must confess, I spent much time looking at the fantastic backdrop to the video. Stunning location!

[@Chrischin99]

Will it have 360 cam

[@keithbrown5953]

Can I ask what colour is the A3 in the video? Thanks.

[@felixsulla7853]

Blue.

[@davidharrison8948]

Hope it’s better than last one. I kept my A3 s.line for 3 months before trading it in. The noise in the back was unbelievable plus faults and Audi in Warrington were hopeless.

[@robinhosleftfoot]

Brand new or second hand car?

[@batandwamoni4336]

Am I the only one who prefer the 2019 A3 than this? I just don’t like the back but the front is good though

[@mihnealazar7039]

I like this one a lot better

[@hamzasbai3831]

Same here

[@garethc78]

I prefer the saloons than the sports back in the A3/S3/RS3 lines

[@Factory101Nl]

prefer the 2019 one over this one

[@duncanidaho7494]

Same here.

[@BenM388]

I do like this car a lot! I definitely do like more modern interiors, I did go for the BMW F40 118i M Sport myself, but this car ticks the boxes aswell!

[@Marioglobetrotter]

I don't like those two air vents situated next to the virtual cockpit. Postition of these two look really weird. I prefer older version of A3. Interior look more aggressive.

[@eliotsalandybrown]

#whatcar well done for criticizing the dodgy usability of all-touchscreen interfaces

[@26TANGOMIKE037]

Thought that was Chris Martin from Coldplay to start with...............

[@OscarLeeMX]

Good. I like touchscreens and hate rotary dials.

[@pd1648]

Exterior with the creases looks way better than the old car, rather than slab sided like the old one and the new A Class Merc

[@lanehogger1532]

Nice car. Don’t think anyone will be buying new cars for the foreseeable future.

[@rumanshaikh1019]

Review 2020 skoda octavia plz

[@ahmedutuber]

When unveiling sedan A3?

[@ianburgess1436]

I can only hope that Audi are going to bring out a version which has the 2 litre engine. I had a Q3 with the 1.4 COD engine which was OK but lacked top end. Recently i was loaned a new Q3 with the 1.5 COD engine. It was no better - where is the beef? It needs the 2 litre 190bhp engine which I have in my A5 coupe. I'd wait to see if there will be a 2 litre version of the saloon.

[@EdgarAlves321]

Filming this in Portugal? :p

[@ariframzan8602]

I do like the new look interior . I didn’t like the pop up screen . Touchscreen looks good , I don’t like the volume touch - looks too sensitive.

[@jamiecampbell9648]

Can't wait for the rs3

[@robtt997]

Build quality : there is a cheapening of VAG products ,whether it’s the new Golf or Audi . But VAG has to pay for dieselgate somehow ! Be interesting to see how A3 compares in build quality to new Leon and Octavia . They will be built down a bit but I bet the gap is close

[@robertday8619]

The new Seat Leon is by far the best bet of the 3

[@pfanotheophilus5946]

I’m just waiting tor an S3👌

[@NeillyVille]

So basically the old A3 is better than the new one. Right, got it 👍🏼

[@markturner1722]

Is there going to be a convertable in the A3

[@bartpjdeceuninck8855]

NO...😢

[@nickh8296]

What possible reason would there be for the interior build quality to be substandard compared to the outgoing model? Just makes no sense.

[@CC86CA]

Nick Horton absolutely a means of cost-cutting...which is insane if you think about it. Consumers are not dumb. When they’re buying in the premium segment, they are going to expect solid build quality, few cheap plastic components. This new A3’s interior looks like it was fitted with economy car parts. A travesty.

[@paulsikora5623]

good content,i love all model A3s they ever made,still love my 2010 audi A3 sportback.😁

[@25500]

the front looks like and old gas stove. Reminds me of when I was a child at my grandma's in winter lol

[@VitL-fg3sk]

Very good quality

[@dexterfranklin5020]

I'm sorry Audi but that interior is definitely a step down from the previous generation. i own a 2019 A3 35TSFI and im shocked at how cheap this 2020 interior looks in comparison.

[@tj9382]

I am a big fan of Doug’s reviews, they are comparatively well balanced and no nonsense. As for this car, it seems to me that Audi have sacrificed some quality on the alter of costs, not good imo. The other problem with these new generation Audis is that they are all just VWs with an Audi body - in essence.

[@telboy203]

A very mixed slightly confusing review, comparing with a previous model not relevant as the new version has improvements. The bottom line is it a good car compared to the A class or 1 series when both of these have issues, it depends who the purchaser is and what they want.

[@kinocchio]

Those grey surrounds at the front are ridiculous.

[@dirtybits]

Is this Italy?

[@abelisraelcruzayuso4682]

Reminds me of the FSO Polonez...

[@gunterrr2302]

Thank you What Car for this unbiased review of the new A3, I can't believe how positive all other reviewers are.

[@Rodeh1]

I really love this car but I think the previous gen is more premium than this model, the new exterior design is amazing(if we forget about the fake exhausts), but I’m not convinced by the overall interior design and quality.

[@aybogac4848]

Very nice color! 🚙💙

[@ppc1313]

A downgrade in quality, these air vents near the wheel are horrendous too. I guess it all comes down to nvh and price compared to bmw and mercedes. Too bad volvo doesnt compete anymore.

[@sambutler2k7]

ppc1313 I’ve noticed all the new gen Audi’s interior and exterior look very cheap compared to before. Lots of hard plastics. Not good. Considering they were quite boring looking you relied on them having amazing build quality. Volkswagen are cheapening their premium brand

[@ppc1313]

@@sambutler2k7 They have to make money somehow after dieselgate and the cost of electrification, but at least dont make your product unattractive. Seems like they only care about China sales like BMW with their design language.

[@musiconvinylisbetter.1449]

Agree!

[@richardlabeja]

The interior is behind the competition. Like with the A1, Audi has cut too many corners here.

[@thirst4petrol537]

Iv reviewed it aswell and i like dit a lot. Definetely a step up from the previous version amd i personally like it better than the new 1 series. You're welcome to check out my review of it :)

[@paappan4124]

Reminded me the 2017 renault megane

[@glennhkboy]

The road noise, in the film, is quite noticable.

[@robinhosleftfoot]

From the inside or just the outside?

[@DaveDVideoMaker]

This video was filmed in Spain.

[@matthewarnold4167]

To me, from the front, It looks like a mini E-tron. Which I like very much 😍😁 #futuristiclook

[@RobWeb_1]

VW and Audi have made huge mistakes with their new A3 and Golf. Not as good as previous. Why oh why do they insist on changing things for the sake of changing. The volume dial for one is s shocking idea. And touch screen only is a step backwards.

[@germancarfan]

Rotary dial was awful, the Golfs I had were way easier to use, the S3 and RS3 with rotary dial I hated

[@nikolaradosavljevic1344]

I am an Audi boy but this new A3 looks like a Skoda inside

[@MRT.1977]

I prefer the look of the outside of the new Seat Leon, much more sporty looking.

[@sapientbudgie5652]

Last car you complained it was not touch screen. Interior and exterior looks better then the old one.

[@AdrianMcDaid]

Bring back the KNOB

[@jaaanoooo]

Just noticed how the paint of the car is visible on the doors from the interior.

[@shaheenms5790]

تمام Nice Presentation

[@verdeboyo]

it is a great car indeed. The Lambo connection was regarding the interior dash and centre console layout. Thumbs up for this car from Audi