Category: Hot Hatchbacks 
Price Range: £14,995 to £26,445
Beautifully made, compact, exceptionally quick, superb all-weather abilities, useful six-speed gearbox, retains its value well.
A little cramped, slightly notchy gearshift, engine note, handling and ride below par, expensive, a likely target for professional thieves.
A very desirable, high quality car that combines near-supercar performance with hatchback versatility. Not an emotionally-engaging driving machine, though.
Audi's previous turbocharged S-series cars have an exceptional record for reliability. There was a blip with the 1.8-litre engine 2001-2002, when it was prone to ignition coil failure, timing belt troubles and water pump failure, but all affected S3s should by now have had their engine sorted or replaced.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Audi A3
wrote on 18 05 2007
wrote on 07 10 2006
wrote on 09 06 2006