Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 451,718 currently licensed in the UK, the Audi A3 is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the A3 5 stars in 2020, with 95% adult occupant and 85% child protection scores.
It has a 79.2% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, lighting.
Annual running costs are estimated at £2,926 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £244/month or 37p/mile.
Theft risk is rated moderate at 7.5 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2020
MOT Pass Rate
79.2%
310,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£244
est. annual total
New From
£30,000
Euro NCAP tested the A3 in 2020 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
95%
Child Occupant
85%
Pedestrian
73%
Safety Assist
87%
There are 26 known DVSA recalls affecting the Audi A3. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/387
Urgent Safety Warning – Do Not Drive Your Vehicle Affected vehicles were originally allocated to or used for an extended period of time in a region with a climate zone considered to as HIGH RISK. Certain front airbags contain an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. If the airbag inflator explodes metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle.
Build dates: 2005-10-19 to 2012-12-26
R/2024/312
On imported Audi vehicles previously used in a warm climate zone and fitted with TAKATA driver airbag manufactured within a specific period it is possible that the gas generator housing may cause small metal parts to become dislodged from the housing and potentially injure the driver or a passenger.
Build dates: 2005-06-29 to 2012-11-13
R/2023/254
On affected vehicles an electrical connector for the power supply for the fuse carrier in the interior of the vehicle may have not been installed correctly.
Build dates: 2020-03-11 to 2023-05-27
R/2022/303
The restraining capability of the belt system for the front seats may be lower than intended in the event of an accident.�
Build dates: 2021-09-22 to 2021-11-11
R/2022/085
The fuse in the high-voltage system (HV system) in vehicles built within a limited period may have been manufactured with an insufficient quantity of extinguishing sand.
Build dates: 2020-10-01 to 2022-02-22
+ 21 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 310,000 MOT tests, the A3 has a first-time pass rate of 79.2% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The A3 is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Audi A3 are estimated at around £2,926 per year, or £244 per month.
Fuel
£989
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,212
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The A3 achieves a combined fuel economy of around 53.3 mpg (43.5 mpg urban, 61.4 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| A3 | PETROL | 53.3 mpg | 1.2L |
| A3 | PETROL | 49.6 mpg | 1.4L |
| A3 | PETROL | 41.5 mpg | 1.6L |
| A3 | DIESEL | 67.3 mpg | 1.6L |
| A3 | PETROL | 42.8 mpg | 1.6L |
| A3 | PETROL | 42.8 mpg | 1.8L |
| A3 | PETROL | 42.8 mpg | 1.8L |
| A3 | DIESEL | 62.8 mpg | 1.9L |
Starting from £30,000 new, a Audi A3 typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £22,500 | −£7,500 |
| 2 years | 64% | £19,150 | −£10,850 |
| 3 years | 56% | £16,850 | −£13,150 |
| 4 years | 50% | £15,150 | −£14,850 |
| 5 years | 46% | £13,950 | −£16,050 |
| 6 years | 43% | £12,950 | −£17,050 |
| 7 years | 41% | £12,200 | −£17,800 |
| 8 years | 39% | £11,550 | −£18,450 |
| 9 years | 37% | £11,000 | −£19,000 |
| 10 years | 35% | £10,450 | −£19,550 |
The A3 has a theft rate of 7.5 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 451,718 licensed and 29,234 SORN A3s in the UK (480,952 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The A3 has a 79.2% first-time MOT pass rate based on 310,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the A3 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2020. It scored 95% for adult occupant protection, 85% for child occupant protection, 73% for vulnerable road users, and 87% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old A3 are estimated at around £2,926 per year (£244/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 26 known safety recalls affecting the A3. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The A3 has a theft rate of 7.5 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new A3 starts from around £30,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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