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Used car guide
Used Audi A3: the years to buy and the years to skip
Every Audi A3 from 2015 to 2020: what each year typically sells for (about $13,000 to $23,000), its crash rating, and whether it's a year to target or skip. The best bets are 2017–2020. Look harder at or skip 2015–2016.
2015–2020 Audi A3
A compact luxury sedan with a solid, upscale cabin, turbo power and a quicker sport version.
Years to target: 2017–2020. Look harder at or skip: 2015–2016. It has an average reliability record.
| Year | Typical price | Verdict | Crash rating | Typical miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $13,000* | Look harder | 5 of 5 | ~130,000 |
| 2016 | $14,500 | Look harder | 5 of 5 | ~120,000 |
| 2017 | $16,500 | Target | 5 of 5 | ~105,000 |
| 2018 | $18,500 | Target | 5 of 5 | ~95,000 |
| 2019 | $20,500 | Target | 5 of 5 | ~85,000 |
| 2020 | $23,000 | Target | 5 of 5 | ~75,000 |
* Estimated from nearby years, since few were listed for sale.
Worth knowing
- 2015: owner complaints spike (179, mostly the airbags).
- 2016: owner complaints spike (112, mostly the airbags).
- The rear seat and trunk are small, and the dual-clutch gearbox can feel jerky at low speed.
The trim we'd park in our garage
Look for the 2.0T Quattro Premium Plus: it adds AWD, more power and more features over the front-drive 1.8T; 2017 and later models got a refresh and available Virtual Cockpit.
On the test drive
Get a pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you buy.
Safety tech
- Automatic emergency braking: standard from 2017, optional from 2015.
- Adaptive cruise control: optional from 2015, never standard in this generation.
- Blind-spot monitoring: not standard in this generation, so check the listing.
Also worth comparing at this price
- Toyota Prius 2018–2020 · $17,000–$20,500
- Toyota Corolla 2019 · $17,000
- Acura ILX 2017 · $19,500
Find one near you
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Prices are typical dealer and private asking prices from used listings, collected in September and October 2026, for an average-mileage car. Years with too few listings are estimated from nearby years. Crash ratings, recalls and owner complaint counts come from NHTSA public records. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you buy. Spot something off? Let us know.