AUDIA3 Sportback 2024 - Present

　　The fourth generation of the A3 received an upgrade four years after its introduction in 2020, and the new model came with significant improvements that made it more distinguishable than its non-facelifted brother.

　　When Audi introduced the first generation of the A3 back in 1996, it offered it exclusively as a three-door hatchback. The five-door version, which was known as the Sportback, came three years later, in 1999. Over the years, the three-door version was axed from the assembly lines due to poor sales, so the Sportback remained one of the original versions of this nameplate. In 2024, the Sportback went through some changes along with the rest of the A3 range, and the upgrades were significant.

　　At the front, the 2024 A3 Sportback surprised its customers with a choice of three headlights. They all featured LED technology, but only the highest one was fitted with the Matrix-LED system. Between them, the automaker installed an active singleframe grille that could open or close its flaps to bring more or less air into the engine compartment. Furthermore, Audi installed a set of air intakes in the center that cooled the front discs. On the sides, the scoops installed were covered by nicely designed caps, but they didn’t let any air pass through them.

　　From its profile, the five-door hatchback vehicle looked almost identical to its predecessor. However, Audi offered new styling for the wheels, which ranged between 16- and 19-inches in diameter. The automaker also added new options for the side trims, including a black one that made the A3 Sportback look more like a three-door hot-hatch than a regular, five-door one. At the back, the automaker added new taillights featuring outward-pointing arrows in their upper area and dynamic turn signals in the lower one. Furthermore, depending on the trims and options, the automaker installed a diffuser.

　　Inside, Audi tried to spoil its customers with rich features that were included as standard. In addition, the dashboard was adorned with new cloth materials in its lower area. Thanks to the new blade design for the vents, these appeared to be narrower than before. Fronting the driver was the same LCD known as the Audi Virtual Cockpit, complemented by a touchscreen atop the center stack for the infotainment system. The most significant update for it was the ability to download third-party apps into the system. Audi redesigned the center console and adorned it with a matte metallic finish that matched the color of the door handles. Furthermore, vehicles fitted with an automatic transmission featured a new drive selector resembling a slider that moved front and rear. Another unique detail of the cabin was noticed on the door cards that featured 300 cuts for the ambient lighting. In the back, the split-folding (40/20/40) bench seat could accommodate three passengers. However, the one seated in the middle had limited legroom due to the center tunnel.

　　Audi launched the refreshed A3 Sportback with a choice of two engines: a gasoline and a turbodiesel. Both were helped by 48-volt mild-hybrid systems that helped them lower emissions. Both were paired with either a seven-speed automatic (dual-clutch) transmission or a six-speed manual.

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