Audi A3 Lease Deals

The Audi A3 is the compact premium car that sits at the entry point of Audi's range, and it has spent four generations proving that a small car can still feel expensive. Five seats, a boot of 280 to 425 litres depending on the version, and a length of around 4.34 metres make it a sensible size for British roads and car parks.

This is the fourth-generation A3, on sale in this form since 2026. Reviewers consistently describe it as the quiet all-rounder of its class: composed rather than thrilling, with an interior that feels a cut above mainstream hatchbacks.

The choice is straightforward once you break it down. Two bodies (hatchback or saloon), three powertrains (petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid), four everyday trims from Technik to Black Edition, and a run of 328 bhp S3 performance versions above them.

Image for illustration purposes only. The actual vehicle and specification may differ.

About the Audi A3

The A3 is Audi's smallest five-door family car, built to offer premium cabin quality and modern driver assistance in a footprint that still fits a terraced street. It seats five and carries a 3-year / 60,000-mile manufacturer warranty.

Road testers reliably praise three things: the ride and handling balance, the clarity of the infotainment, and the sense of solidity inside. The criticism is just as consistent - rear headroom is tight for taller adults, and the larger 19-inch wheels firm up the ride noticeably on poor surfaces.

Practicality depends on which body you pick. The hatchback offers 280 to 380 litres with the rear seats up and 1,100 to 1,200 litres folded, while the saloon holds 325 to 425 litres. Euro NCAP awarded the current car five stars, with 86% for adult occupant protection.

A3 body styles

Two shapes are offered, sharing the same 2.63 to 2.64 metre wheelbase and the same 11.1 metre turning circle. The hatchback is the more flexible everyday car; the saloon adds boot volume and a longer, more formal silhouette.

Hatchback

Five doors and a tailgate, so bulky items go in easily and the load area opens right up. Boot space runs from 280 to 380 litres seats up, or 1,100 to 1,200 litres folded. See the current A3 Hatchback range.

Saloon

Four doors, a separate boot of 325 to 425 litres and a longer body at 4.50 to 4.51 metres. You gain volume and kerb presence, you lose the tailgate's flexibility. Browse the A3 Saloon versions.

Why lease an Audi A3?

Because every A3 arrives well equipped, so you don't have to gamble on options to get a car that feels finished. Adaptive cruise control, a digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless phone charging and three-zone climate control are standard across the range.

Safety kit is standard too: autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, automatic high beam, a rear-view camera, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights. That's alongside the five-star Euro NCAP rating, which included 74% for safety assist.

On the practical side, the diesel will tow up to 1,600 kg braked, and every version carries a tyre repair kit rather than a spare wheel - worth knowing before you order. Our team can talk you through mileage and term choices for the way you actually drive; the choosing your car guide is a good starting point.

Image for illustration purposes only. The actual vehicle and specification may differ.

View Audi A3 deals

Which A3 powertrain is right for me?

Three choices: petrol for flexibility, diesel for long-distance economy, plug-in hybrid if you can charge at home or at work. Petrol covers the widest spread of power and is the only one offered with a manual gearbox.

Image for illustration purposes only. The actual vehicle and specification may differ.

Petrol

Power runs from 114 bhp up to 328 bhp, with manual or automatic gearboxes and front- or all-wheel drive available. WLTP economy spans 33.2 to 55.4 mpg and CO2 116 to 193 g/km, so the version you pick matters enormously. The 114 bhp car suits town and commuting duty.

Diesel

The 2-litre diesel makes 148 bhp and 360 Nm, drives the front wheels through an automatic gearbox, and returns 54.3 to 58.9 mpg on the WLTP test. It also tows 1,600 kg braked. If you're regularly doing motorway miles, this is the one that makes sense - our petrol or diesel guide goes deeper.

Plug-in hybrid

A 1.5-litre turbo paired with a 25.7 kWh battery (19.7 kWh usable) for 201 bhp and automatic drive to the front wheels. It needs plugging in to be worth having: the best version charges 0-100% in 2.5 hours at 11 kW, or 10-80% in 26 minutes at 40 kW. Boot drops to 280 litres.

Audi A3 at a glance

Which A3 trim should I choose?

Four everyday trims cover the range, then the S3 performance versions sit above them. Technik and Sport prioritise sensible kit and smaller wheels; S Line and Black Edition add the sporting look and the bigger alloys.

Image for illustration purposes only. The actual vehicle and specification may differ.

Technik

The entry trim, starting at 114 bhp with front-wheel drive. It gets 17-inch alloys in the 5 Arm Style design, cloth upholstery, LED headlights with halogen rear lights, connected navigation and infotainment on demand, a twin-spoke leather multifunction steering wheel and camera-based traffic sign recognition. The Technik is currently available from £299.29 a month.

Sport

Sport adds MMI Navigation Plus with a high-resolution 10.1-inch colour touchscreen and heated front seats, along with front sports seats and 17-inch 5-v-spoke alloys. A fixed panoramic glass roof, roof rails and a fixed towbar are available as options. The Sport is currently available from £331.20 a month. Against the Technik, that is currently £31.91/mo more expensive.

S Line

S Line brings LED headlights with LED rear lights pro, twin leather upholstery with S-embossed front sports seats and privacy glass, plus ambient lighting, sports suspension, an LED third brake light and 18-inch 5-twin-spoke alloys. Be aware the sports suspension firms things up. The S Line is currently available from £354.49 a month. Against the Sport, that is currently £23.29/mo more expensive.

Black Edition

Black Edition is about appearance rather than added equipment - 19-inch alloys in the 5-arm-y Structure design and leather upholstery, with the entry version starting at 148 bhp. Reviewers note the largest wheels make the ride busier. The Black Edition is currently available from £376.13 a month. Against the S Line, that is currently £21.64/mo more expensive.

Above those sit the performance S3 versions, all 328 bhp petrol with all-wheel drive.

S3 Black Edition

The quickest end of the range, 0-62 mph in as little as 4.7 seconds across the petrol line-up. It adds a three-spoke flat-bottomed leather sport steering wheel with gear shift paddles and the Extended Ambient Lighting Package Pro, plus a head-up display, matrix LED headlights and sports seats on 19-inch 5 Twin Spoke alloys. The S3 Black Edition is currently available from £553.88 a month. Against the Black Edition, that is currently £177.76/mo more expensive.

S3 Vorsrpung

A fully loaded S3: panoramic roof, three-spoke leather multifunction steering wheel with paddles, 3D and 360-degree surround view cameras, park assist pro with remote functionality and adaptive cruise assist plus, joined by self-steering parking, front and rear parking sensors and lane-keep assist on 19-inch Multi Spoke alloys. The S3 Vorsrpung is currently available from £637.60 a month. Against the S3 Black Edition, that is currently £83.71/mo more expensive.

S3 Vorsprung

The petrol Vorsprung gathers almost everything in one specification: MMI Navigation Plus with the 10.1-inch touchscreen, panoramic roof, three-spoke steering wheel with paddles, heated front seats, 3D and 360-degree cameras, head-up display, matrix LED headlights, privacy glass, ambient lighting and sports suspension. The S3 Vorsprung is currently available from £608.57 a month. Against the Technik, that is currently £309.28/mo more expensive.

Similar cars to consider

If you're weighing the A3 against its closest German rival, the BMW 1 Series covers much the same ground in hatchback form. It's also worth browsing the wider Audi lease range if you need more space than the A3 offers.

BMW 1 SeriesCovers similar ground

From £255.10 a month

Audi A3 FAQs

Specifications from Audi's UK data and Euro NCAP; equipment, dimensions and availability vary by version, so check the individual deal before you order.

Page updated 5 October 2026 by First Vehicle Leasing. Prices and availability shown on this page are live and change as deals are refreshed.