Used 2016 Audi A3 for Sale nearChicago, IL

How much does the 2016 Audi A3 cost?

Prices have softened 7.39% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 605 listings available, which suggests a healthy amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2016 Audi A3 a good car?

Generally — the 2016 Audi A3 earns a 4/5 user rating and a 7.8/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Look and feel at 9/10.

The A3’s appeal is strongest if you want an entry-level luxury car that still feels polished, with a classy interior, a well-sorted chassis, and an invigorating drivetrain. It also gives you useful everyday features and a more aggressive S Line appearance package if you want extra style without giving up practicality.

The market shows 31.4% of listings as good or great deals, which gives you some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2016 Audi A3 reliable?

Owners rate it 4/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction.

The A3’s reliability case is helped by its well-sorted chassis and the fact that Audi added useful standard equipment for 2016, including a reversing camera, parking sensors, and heated washers and mirrors. The expert notes also point to a strong interior and a drivetrain that already made the car compelling before those updates.

The performance notes describe the car as tight, responsive, and supple when configured for everyday use, which supports the idea that it should feel composed over time. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that higher-spec or more complex versions can bring more features to maintain, so condition and service history matter.

What should I look for when buying a used 2016 Audi A3?

At 54% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the car has been modified, heavily optioned, or has a spotty service record. Focus on overall condition, because the A3’s appeal depends heavily on how well the interior, electronics, and drivetrain have been maintained.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base Premium trim brings 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, leather, power seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a 10-speaker stereo, while the Premium Plus adds 18-inch wheels, heated front seats, keyless entry and ignition, and other convenience upgrades. The Prestige adds the most technology and safety equipment, and the base trim misses lane-keep assist.
• Powertrain: You can get a 1.8-liter turbo engine with 170 hp or move up to a 2.0-liter option for more power and less turbo lag. The 1.8-liter is FWD only, while the 2.0-liter brings a stronger punch and better overall performance.
• Safety package: Audi Pre-Sense with collision-avoidance braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise are part of the available driver-assistance suite. The base Premium trim does not get lane-keep assist.
• Infotainment: The standard MMI interface is intuitive, and the upgraded system adds a touch-sensitive rotary dial. The Tech package brings navigation, voice controls, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, configurable digital gauges, and a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo.
• Fuel efficiency: The 1.8-liter sedan is rated at 23 mpg city and 33 highway, while the 2.0-liter FWD setup is described as gaining 1 mpg around town. The AWD convertible is rated at 23 mpg city and 32 highway, and the turbodiesel is rated at 31 mpg city and 43 highway.

Which 2016 Audi A3 trim should I buy?

The 2016 Audi A3 is offered in 3 trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige.

Here's the short version:

• Premium: This is the value play if you want the A3’s upscale interior, standard luxury features, and the lowest entry price. It gives you the core A3 experience without pushing the budget too far, and it’s the trim to start with if you care most about value.
• Premium Plus: This is the best-value upgrade for many shoppers because it adds meaningful comfort and convenience features like heated front seats, keyless entry and ignition, and larger wheels. If you want a more complete luxury feel without jumping all the way to the top trim, this is the sweet spot.
• Prestige: Choose this if you want the most advanced tech and safety equipment, including the full available driver-assistance suite and the Tech package content. It’s the right pick if you want the most feature-rich A3 and are willing to pay for it.

The safety package is strongest on the Prestige, while the base Premium misses lane-keep assist.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2016 Audi A3?

This is a moderate market, so you can shop selectively without expecting a deep buyer’s market.

• Deal availability: 31.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 605 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.39% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 54.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $10,801, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2016 Audi A3's resale value?

The current average of $10,810 sits slightly below last year's $11,673.

That price movement suggests the A3 has already absorbed some depreciation, which can help future sellers if they buy at the right price. If you keep the car in strong condition and choose a well-equipped, desirable version, you may have a better chance of holding value than with a less appealing configuration.

Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2016 Audi A3 safe?

The 2016 Audi A3 earns a five-star overall rating from government crash tests and Good scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

Audi’s driver-assistance suite includes Audi Pre-Sense with collision-avoidance braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Standard safety equipment also includes stability and traction control, 4-wheel antilock brakes, a reversing camera, parking sensors, and a full airbag suite.

One caveat is that the automatic braking system showed some sensitivity in testing, so you should pay attention to how the car’s driver-assistance features behave during a test drive.

Should I buy a 2016 Audi A3 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2016 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2016 if:

• 31.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 54% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.39% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• Audi added a reversing camera, parking sensors, and heated washers and mirrors for this year.

Consider the 2015 if:

• At $9,719, the 2015 costs less than the current year's $10,810 average.
• It broadened the A3’s appeal by adding the sedan body style.

The bottom line: The 2016 is the better pick if you want the newer feature set and a more complete ownership experience. If your priority is simply spending less, the 2015 can still make sense, but the 2016’s added standard equipment and softer pricing make it the stronger all-around buy.

How does the 2016 Audi A3 compare to the 2016 BMW 2 Series?

Our experts score the 2016 Audi A3 7.8/10 and the 2016 BMW 2 Series 7/10.

The A3 is the more affordable choice by a wide margin, and it also has more listings available, which gives you more room to shop. The BMW 2 Series brings more horsepower and slightly better highway fuel economy, but the A3 counters with a lower average used price and a stronger expert score.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 10, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.