The A3 still looks great, and there are few better ways to avoid the savage depreciation of a new-car purchase, but in truth it's little more than an expensive, rebodied VW Golf. Build quality is excellent all round, and the cabin is solid and comfortable, but it does lack space in the back. The basic 1.6 petrol engine feels underpowered; the turbo petrol or turbodiesel powerplants are the best options. That said, the range-topping 225bhp S3 is expensive and dynamically inferior to the bigger, cheaper Subaru Impreza WRX. Secondhand values are exceptional - the one area where the A3 makes really good sense.
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