2009 Audi A3

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Interior - What the Auto Press Says

The 2009 A3 upholds Audi's reputation for quality fit and finish. But reviewers report it's hard to get comfortable in the A3's rear row, nor can you carry large cargo in the trunk. 

• "Like all Audis, the A3 boasts a high-quality interior with good fit and finish." -- Edmunds
• "A low seat position couples with a tall, wide center console. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather on all models. Round air vents have aluminum surrounds, and there's aluminum trim on the door and glove box handles." -- Cars.com
• "Parking next to a Range Rover made me feel like little Pee Wee only when I stepped out of the car. While seated inside I never once felt the compromise." -- Atlanta Examiner
• "The A3 is a full five-seater, although it's not very capacious inside. The EPA interior volume rating of 88.9 cubic feet is slightly smaller than a Honda Civic's. Rear-seat passengers have enough head- and legroom, but the middle rider is going to be pretty unhappy with his or her shoulder room on a long journey. At least the A3 has plenty of cargo space and can swallow 20 cubic feet of junk with the rear seats up and a healthy 55 with the seats folded." -- Car and Driver
• "Getting in to the vehicle is a snap -- even for people with the girth of ... er ... my Uncle Barney. Once in it's very comfortable to sit in the seat and drive for hours." -- Chicago Sun-Times
• "The car oozes a sense of stealth. It uses more plastic and rubber than in the typical Audi interior, but doesn't feel cheap." -- Boston Globe

Front Seats

Although the 2009 Audi A3 seats five, reviewers say comfort is reserved for the driver and front passenger. There's a generally high opinion of the spacing and seat support, but Chicago Sun-Times says space in the driver's footwell is lacking. 

• "There's plenty of head and leg room. The seats are all-day comfortable." --  Consumer Guide
• "Excellent seats deliver good support and their bottoms are fairly long, but the windowsill is so high that the driver can barely rest an elbow on it." -- Cars.com
• "If you're wearing wide-soled shoes it's a really tight fit and you could inadvertently slam on the brake when you meant to hit the accelerator. Consider your shoe wardrobe before driving." -- Chicago Sun-Times

Rear Seats

Like most small cars, the 2009 Audi A3 is not exceptionally spacious in the rear, especially if the front seats are positioned too far back. 

• "Head and leg room are adequate, even for six-footers, as long as the front seats are not set far back." -- Consumer Guide
• "If either front seat is moved all the way back, even a shortie like me won't fit back there." -- About.com
• "There's decent room for four six-footers, but legroom becomes tight behind a six-foot driver who moves his seat more than halfway back. The right passenger doesn't have a problem, although neither rear passenger has a surplus of room." -- MSN
• Breaking with the majority, KBB reports, "Rear-seat passengers are treated to better accommodations than one might expect in a compact car." -- Kelley Blue Book 

Interior Features

Reviewers describe the A3 as having abundant high quality features. A 10-speaker audio system with MP3 capability and driver information system is standard on all A3s, with Bluetooth connectivity standard for the 3.2 A3 and optional for the base model. Drivers can also opt for Audi's DVD-based navigation system and a six-disc CD changer. If you're more interested in a portable option, check out our GPS reviews for information on the best units from Garmin, TomTom and Magellan.

• "The cabin is well assembled and Audi definitely has given the A3 all the accouterments one might expect on a larger premium car." -- Road and Track
• "Black dial gauges with red needles drive home Audi's message that precision is one of the A3's strong points." -- Motor Trend
• "Inside the A3, the most noticeable change is that the instrument lighting has switched from Audi's characteristic red to a more generic white." -- Car and Driver
• "With the navigation option in the 2009 Audi A3, the car features the same cabin gear we've seen in Audis for years. An update to this cabin tech is on the way, coming first to the new Audi Q5, but for now you're stuck with this older system. ... The navigation system itself is the same as what you get in other Audi models, even up to the pricey Audi A8. DVD-based, it handles the basics and shows decent-looking maps, but is devoid of advanced features." -- CNET

Cargo

With only 19.5 cubic feet of total cargo capacity with rear seats folded, the A3's utility doesn't match well with many hatchbacks. But the A3 does offer more cargo options than other upscale small cars. 

• "Some folks might be disappointed by the size of the rear cargo area." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "A3 has less space than a small station wagon, but is far more versatile than a compact sedan. The hatch door lacks opening glass, but lifts high for access to a usefully roomy, flat-floor cargo bay." -- Consumer Guide
• " There's not a lot of storage space, though, except for the rear cargo area." -- U.S. News