2016 Audi A3 Interior Review

The 2016 Audi A3 would be a 10/10 if it weren't for a small trunk and cramped second row.
Written by Jasmine Kanter
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The premium materials, thoughtful features, and sophisticated style of the 2016 Audi A3's interior prove that luxury and value aren’t mutually exclusive. Just be prepared to compromise on rear seating and storage.
In contrast to competitors like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Audi presents itself as the “smart” alternative. The thinking goes like this: if buyers feel that an entry-level luxury sedan fulfills their needs, then they won’t want to spend more, even if they can. Complete satisfaction is a difficult target and while it doesn’t hit the bullseye, the 2016 A3 comes pretty close.
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2016 Audi A3 interior

Audi offered a 2016 A3 for everyone: there are over 20 possible configurations! In this article, we’ll compare the three
trim levels
of the four-door compact Sedan and two-door convertible Cabriolet.
Today, you can find a used A3 in the wild for $18,000 in good condition. Expect to pay more for packages, options, and the convertible body, just like you would if buying new:
Trim level
Original starting price (1.8 TFSI FWD Sedan)
Original starting price (1.8 TFSI FWD Cabriolet)
Premium
$30,900
$36,600
Premium Plus
$33,600
$39,300
Prestige
$39,750
$45,450
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Seating

The 2016 A3 Sedan seats five, while the convertible Cabriolet seats four. You’ll find bucket leather seats at every trim level with split-folding backs in the second row (60/40 in the Sedan and 50/50 in the Cabriolet).
Though Audi tried to make the backseat appealing, the reality is most adults don't want to sit in it. The Cabriolet's passenger seating is even smaller, so don’t expect to bring anyone on your
weekend road trip
but a couple of pets or kids
Here's the full range of seating options, plus the bodies, trims, and packages where you can find them:
  • Heated front seats (Sedan and Cabriolet): Premium Plus, Prestige
  • 12-Way power driver’s seat with four-way power lumbar adjustment (Sedan only): All trims
  • 12-Way power passenger seats with four-way power lumbar adjustment (Sedan only): Premium Plus, Prestige
  • Eight-way manual front seats with four-way power lumbar adjustment (Cabriolet only): All trims
  • Sport front seats (Sedan and Cabriolet): Sport package for Premium Plus and Prestige
Additionally, the Cabriolet’s front seats are treated with Audi’s proprietary Thermocool pigments. They reduce surface temperatures by up to 20° by reflecting heat, making driving on sunny days far more comfortable.
Interior dimensions
Sedan
Cabriolet
Front headroom
39.6 inches
37.4 inches
Front leg room
41.2 inches
41.2 inches
Front shoulder room
54.8 inches
54.8 inches
Second-row headroom
36.4 inches
36.3 inches
Second-row legroom
35.1 inches
31.9 inches
Second-row shoulder room
53 inches
45.7 inches

Tech

You might miss Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, or a USB port (rather than a proprietary Apple connection), but there’s no shortage of entertainment inside the A3’s cabin. Standard features include:
  • 7.0-inch infotainment screen
  • 10-speaker audio system (nine-speaker in Cabriolet) with a single CD player, MP3 playback, and satellite radio
  • Bluetooth Wireless audio streaming and hands-free Smartphone controls
  • 32GB SD card slot reader
  • 12V power outlet
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control
  • Heated mirrors
  • Automatic windshield wipers and headlights
  • Panoramic sunroof (Sedan only)
  • An acoustic folding roof (Cabriolet only)
Audi’s standard driver assistance technology covers the basics. While parking, you’ll have access to a rearview camera and front and rear parking sensors. The adaptive cruise control can accelerate, coast, and resume automatically. And if it senses a potential front collision, Audi pre-sense basic will tighten the seat belts and close the windows to brace for impact.
Upgrading to
Premium Plus
gets you an Audi music interface, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and keyless start, stop, and entry. The
Prestige
offers the best of everything: MMI navigation plus, MMI touch, and a Bang & Olufsen 14-speaker sound system (13-speaker in Cabriolet). It also adds lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitors, and a forward collision mitigation system with automated braking. The upgraded adaptive cruise control can even manage stop-and-go traffic without driver input.
Finally, you’ll be happy to know that the 2016 Audi A3 has an impeccable safety report. It was awarded a
Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS
and a
five-star rating by the NHTSA
, scoring particularly well in side crash tests.

Storage

The back seats may fold flat, but that doesn’t change the A3’s abysmal trunk capacity. You’ll have to make do with just 10 cubic feet in the Sedan and 9.9 cu ft in the Cabriolet. At 12.3 cu ft, the trunk of the front-wheel-drive A3 is a bit roomier than its Quattro counterpart, but that means giving up all-wheel-drive.

Style

The A3’s interior is less a cabin than a cockpit. The circular, jet-inspired air vents and svelte steering wheel make you feel as if you’re piloting a private aircraft, complete with a sense of boundless freedom. Settle deep into your seat and enjoy the feeling of an upscale lounge—smooth, supportive, and body-conforming, with stitches as neat as a pin. 
The basic infotainment display uses a rotary knob mounted on the center console, while the upgraded version adds a touchpad. Either way, reviewers found the MMI interface becomes second nature with regular use.
Look for an interior with matching upholstery in either Black, Titanium Gray, or gorgeous Chestnut Brown leather. The Premium trim receives a decorative Micrometallic Silver inlay; Premium Plus and Prestige, the subtly-textured Aluminum Mistral.

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