Audi A3 Sportback dimensions and boot space

The Audi A3 is an upmarket family hatchback. Sharing much of its insides with the Volkswagen Golf and going head to head with similarly priced rivals including the Golf, Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1 Series.

It's most commonly found as a five-door model with a hatchback boot, known as the Sportback; this is the version we're looking at here. There are also three-door hatchback, two-door cabriolet, and four-door saloon versions of the A3, although these are less popular among buyers.

The previous-generation A3 was on sale in the UK from 2012 until 2020, when it was replaced by a new version that hit the roads in 2020. While there have been some styling tweaks to the new model and an interior upgrade, there is little else to choose between the two when it comes to boot space and dimensions.

The A3 Sportback performs well against its rivals in terms of passenger and luggage space, with plenty of room in the back seats for adults to sit comfortably, and 380 litres of boot space matching the Golf and 1 Series, and beating the A-Class.

Audi A3 Sportback dimensions

From the outside, very little has changed with the new Audi A3 Sportback compared to the old one. It has grown by 30mm in length and 30mm in width, and shrunk by 30mm in height. Despite these changes, the A3 remains 76mm shorter and 15mm lower than the Mercedes A-Class, but is now 20mm wider.

It's also 24mm longer, 17mm wider and 9mm lower than the BMW 1 Series, and 85mm longer, 26mm wider and 67mm lower than the VW Golf.

This makes it one of the wider hatchbacks on the market, which might be a consideration if you have a narrow garage, or find navigating narrower streets to be a touch stressful. On the other hand it's also one of the lowest, which might well be a selling point for drivers looking for a lower and more sporty feel from behind the wheel.

Audi A3 Sportback boot space

There is little difference between the old and new versions of the A3 Sportback when it comes to boot space. The 380 litres on offer are all still there, maintaining its position as one of the bigger boots in this hatchback class.

Most families will find it's suitable for a weekly shop - there's space for a pushchair and luggage for a weekend away, too. But the folding rear seats will come in handy on the odd moment you need space for something bigger, or perhaps the occasional tip-run.

The four-wheel drive system on 'quattro' versions does eat in to some of that space, but the 40 litres you lose may not be an issue that outweighs the need for more grip on slippery or muddy roads.

Audi A3 towing capacity

While the A3 Sportback - or any other hatchback of this size - is unlikely to be the best car available if you're looking for something to tow a caravan, it does have reasonable towing capability.

Its 1,500kg braked towing capacity, rising to 1,800kg for the most powerful diesel engines, is more than the Golf (1,300kg-1,500kg), the A-Class (1,400kg-1,600kg) and the 1 Series (1,300kg-1,500kg).

Just remember these cars are not intended for towing much more than a small trailer. For context, a bigger and heavier Audi Q5 SUV is capable of towing 2,400kg.

Audi A3 weight

A car’s kerb weight is designed to give an indication of how heavy it will be in real-world use, so it includes the weight of an almost-full fuel tank, as well as 75kg representing a driver and some luggage.

In general, the lighter the car, the more economical it will be, and it’s also likely to feel more agile when steering too. The new Audi A3 Sportback sits at 1,220kg, which is lighter than the BMW 1 Series (1,365kg), Mercedes A-Class (1,350kg) and VW Golf (1,257kg). So if you're looking for the lightest upmarket hatchback, there's no doubt the Audi is likely to be your best choice.