Carsieve All versions
Show all 18 variants
At a glance
- Years: built 2012 to 2020. Facelift in April 2016.
- Biggest risks: oil use on 1.2 and 1.4 TFSI petrols, and the pump in the quattro all-wheel-drive coupling (Haldex).
- Reliability: 4/5. Engines and gearboxes are rated very reliable, and the German inspection finds fewer defects than average. Oil use and coupling faults are known.
- DIY: 2/5. Engine and coupling work needs a workshop.
- Prefer: a car with records of coupling oil changes and timing chain or belt work. Avoid: a 1.2 or 1.4 TFSI that uses more than 1 litre of oil per 1,000 km.
Engines and gearboxes
- Petrol, before the facelift (2012-2016): 77, 81, 85, 90, 92, 103, 110 and 132 kW. S3 221 kW (Super Plus). RS3 270 kW from 2015.
- Petrol, facelift (2016-2020): 85, 110, 140 and 150 kW. S3 228 kW. RS3 294 kW.
- EA211 TFSI (1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.5 TFSI): oil use on the 1.2 and 1.4 is a known issue. See the EA211 engine guide and the 1.5 TSI evo guide.
- EA888 TFSI (1.8 and 2.0 TFSI): timing chain wear and water pump housing leaks.
- EA855 Evo (RS3, five-cylinder): no common fault confirmed.
- Diesel, EA288 (1.6 and 2.0 TDI): 77, 81, 85, 110 and 135 kW before the facelift; 85, 110 and 135 kW after it. No common fault confirmed.
- g-tron (natural gas): 81 kW before the facelift, 96 kW after it. No common fault confirmed.
- e-tron (plug-in hybrid): no common fault confirmed.
- Manual: fitted to nearly all cars. No common fault confirmed.
- 7-speed dry S tronic (DQ200): smaller engines. Judder and clutch wear. See the DQ200 guide.
- 6-speed and 7-speed wet S tronic (DQ250, DQ381): stronger engines and the RS3. Quattro cars use the 6-speed. Oil change every 50,000 to 60,000 km.
- Haldex all-wheel drive: quattro cars. See Haldex coupling pump clogs.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil use on 1.2 and 1.4 TFSI petrols | 1.2 and 1.4 TFSI petrols | 100,000-200,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Haldex coupling pump clogs | Quattro cars with Haldex coupling | About 60,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Timing chain wear on 1.8 and 2.0 TFSI | 1.8 and 2.0 TFSI petrols | 120,000-150,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Water pump and thermostat housing leaks | Petrol engines; plastic housing on 1.8 and 2.0 TFSI | About 60,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Dry S tronic judder and clutch wear | 7-speed dry S tronic (DQ200) | About 60,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Turbo boost and wastegate faults | 1.2, 1.4 and 1.8 TFSI petrols | 100,000-120,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Rear brakes worn or rusted | All | Not stated | Not stated |
| Infotainment MMI faults | Early cars | Not stated | Not stated |
Before you buy
- Check the oil level after a test drive. Ask for oil change records. Oil use over 1 litre per 1,000 km means engine work on the pistons.
- On a quattro, ask for proof of coupling oil changes. Bad result: no records, or the front wheels spin and the rear wheels do not drive.
- Ask for the timing chain service record on a 1.8 or 2.0 TFSI. Bad result: no record of chain or tensioner work after about 120,000 km.
- Check the coolant level and look for leaks at the water pump and thermostat housing. Bad result: low coolant or a leak.
- On a 7-speed dry S tronic, test pull-away from a stop and in traffic. Bad result: judder or jerks. Ask for clutch history.
- On a test drive, check for lost boost or a whine under load. Bad result: sluggish boost.
- Look at the rear discs and backing plates for rust, and ask about brake wear at the last inspection. Bad result: heavy rust or worn brakes.
- Test the infotainment system on the test drive and ask whether the software update was done. Bad result: faults that return after the update.
- Check by VIN that the front seat belt recall was done. Bad result: the campaign is still open.
Running costs
| Operational | €166 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €116 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €144 |
| Total per month | €426 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €76 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 2,604
- 25th percentile
- €13,900
- Median price
- €16,440
- 75th percentile
- €18,990
- Median mileage
- 110,000 km
- Median first registration
- 2018
- Dealer share
- 69.7%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €18,784
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.