The updated Audi A3 family has received a panoramic digital instrument panel. The model, which is the premium “brother” of the Golf, is available in S and RS versions. Additionally, the car has received improved driver assistance systems and a remote parking function.
New interior and digital panel
It seems like only yesterday that the current generation A3 received a mid-lifecycle update, but Audi has already conducted another round of changes, this time focusing on the cabin. The compact hatchback, sedan, and crossover have received a curved digital instrument panel, expanded ADAS systems, as well as updated lighting design and special badges for the S and RS versions.
The main change is on the dashboard. Audi has abandoned the old two-panel layout in favor of a single curved glass unit borrowed from the Q3 crossover. The two displays have diagonals of 11.9 and 12.8 inches, are tilted towards the driver, and are positioned above an illuminated strip. However, the A3 did not receive a passenger screen, which is reserved for more expensive models such as the A5, A6, and Q6 e-tron.
Materials and personalization
Audi knows about personalization, and the updated interior offers four material packages: carbon, Dinamica microfiber, new “Light crepe” fabric, and “Impressum black” fabric.
Safety and driver assistance systems
Safety equipment is now available in three levels: Tech, Tech Plus, and Tech Pro. The main addition is the new Adaptive Cruise Assist Plus, which manages longitudinal and lateral movement at speeds up to 210 km/h, keeping the car in its lane and at a distance with less driver intervention.
Drivers who want to entrust parking to the car can choose park assist plus or the more functional park assist pro with remote parking. The system also includes learning functions that study the owner’s habits and adapt to them over time.
Powertrains
Mechanically, Audi has left the engine lineup unchanged, focusing on refining the existing ones. The base engine remains the turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder with 114 hp. At the top of the lineup, the flagship RS3 still has 394 hp from the turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine — the only one in the family whose sound people are willing to listen to while crossing the parking lot.
Hybrid versions
As for the plug-in hybrids, they produce 201 hp or 268 hp, with an all-electric range of up to 143 km on the WLTP cycle. The updated PHEV models have also received an increased maximum towing capacity of 300 kg, up to 1700 kg.
Prices and availability
The updated A3 model range will arrive at European dealerships by the end of September 2026. Prices in Germany start at €31,850, in the UK from £28,650, and the RS3 tops the lineup with a starting price of $68,500. Audi has not yet confirmed information for the US, but details regarding American availability should appear soon.
The interior and technology updates are likely aimed at increasing the A3’s competitiveness in a segment where buyers increasingly value digital solutions and modern assistance systems. Abandoning a separate passenger screen may be a compromise to maintain an affordable price, but the curved display and new materials should create a premium feel. Keeping the proven powertrains, including the iconic five-cylinder RS3 engine, suggests that Audi is betting on an evolutionary rather than revolutionary approach, focusing on what already works well.